Parent Involvement in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Parent Involvement Project is a five-year effort funded by the National Science Foundation and the Massachusetts Department of Education. The project seeks to engage all parents in the science, math, and technology education of their children. It will focus efforts on parents and caretakers who may not be involved due to common barriers to parental involvement-time and money constraints, lack of information, and cultural and language differences.

Local Community Coalitions composed of community leaders and parents, along with representatives from PALMS, the Massachusetts Department of Education's State Systemic Initiative, will plan and implement outreach activities. One goal of the project is to develop a set of informal science and math outreach activities that can be presented to parents and children in a variety of public sites, such as health clinics and community centers. Adult learning centers will serve as laboratories to test outreach materials and activities.

PALMS and the Museum Institute for Teaching Science (MITS) are collaborating on the design and execution of the project. Partners are welcomed. The project has already engaged community organizations such as the National Urban League, the Council of La Raza, and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. The Regional Alliance will help disseminate the projects research findings.

Spring Seminars

In March and April the Massachusetts Parent Involvement Project is hosting Advocating for Quality Math, Science, and Technology Education seminars to help school councils and parent organizations support student achievement.

For information about the seminars or the Parent Involvement Project, contact Glenola Mitchell Massachusetts Department of Education, (617) 388-3300; or Janet Stein, MITS (617) 695-9771.




Alliance Access

Table of Contents

Vol. 3, No. 1, Spring 1998

Family Involvement in Children's Education

The Idea Book

Parent Involvement in Massachusetts

Regional Networks

TIMSS

Alliance Access index