Dear PTA Members and Friends:

 

This message is being sent to you on behalf of National PTA: We have a serious situation requiring a major call-to-action. President Obama's new budget proposes to consolidate and eliminate the Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs). Consolidation of the PIRCs will eliminate the only federal program dedicated to family engagement, which serves 16.4 million parents. The proposed FY11 budget would eliminate 62 PIRCs impacting every state and territory.

 

PIRCs, authorized under ESEA/NCLB, provide services to parents, schools, and the community that facilitate and develop parental involvement in education. These centers provide schools and districts with tools to actively engage parents; empower parents through training and skill building to advocate for their children and school reform; and, provide training and professional development for effective family engagement to districts and school staff.

 

This program elimination affects all PTAs and parents. Under consolidation, the sole funding stream for family engagement would be redirected to charter schools. NYS PTA is actively engaged in model PIRC partnerships with EPIC (Every Person Influences Children) and the Cornell Cooperative Extension which have 5 centers throughout the state. Together they have positioned themselves to be valuable partners to the State Board of Regents' implementation of its parent involvement policy and overarching student achievement plans. 

 

Parents need PIRCs. You can help! Please urge the Obama Administration, both of your Senators and Representative not to eliminate PIRCs.