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Summer Reading List for Parents, 2013

By Michele Molnar on June 21, 2013 2:14 PM | No comments
It's that time of year when students receive their summer reading lists. Do you have yours?
At K-12 Parents and the Public, we think summer is a great time for parents to learn about education. So we asked leaders of several organizations that work with parents for their recommendations on recent books focused on parenting, education and the future of schools.
Two books, Schools That Learn (Updated and Revised) A Fifth Discipline Fieldbook for Educators, Parents, and Everyone Who Cares About Education, and How Children Succeed, were mentioned twice. Below, you will see the full list of recommendations offered by our panel, and their rationale for their picks.

 Kevin Walker, president and national director of Project Appleseed , which promotes parental involvement in the nation's schools:
More....    http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/parentsandthepublic/2013/06/summer_reading_list_for_parents_2013.html?r=1273747215

F o l l o w   P r o j e c t   A p p l e s e e d   o n   F a c e b o o k   a n d   T w i t t e r !

Bye-Bye Digital Divide?
Free Internet Connects Low-Income Parents to Schools

ST. LOUIS, MO., JUNE 2013 - Project Appleseed has joined a national partnership of IT companies and nonprofits that connect low-income Americans to the Internet.  The partnership - calledConnect2Compete - offers free and deeply discounted high-speed Internet, low-cost computers and free digital training. Project Appleseed will focus on helping public school parents get hooked-up.  The goal is to connect families to online student performance information - grades, attendance, learning and more.  Connect2Compete is a nonprofit organization supported byMicrosoft, Comcast, Cox, Freedom Pop and Good PC. Financial support comes from the Knight,Carlos Slim and Wasserman foundations. 

"We can engage struggling parents in their children's education by connecting them to their teachers and schools online.  This partnership eliminates the digital divide and the barriers parents face in securing high speed Internet access.  This is an extraordinary opportunity to equal the playing field in education in America. We urge all high-poverty schools and families to sign up thru projectappleseed.org," said Project Appleseed president Kevin Walker in St. Louis.  More..... 

Our Remarkable Volunteer Week Engages Millions
National Parental Involvement Day Coming On November 21, 2013

ST. LOUIS, MO., - This year's Public School Voluneer Week demonstrated that parents are ready to save public education. Project Appleseed estimates that six million parents and family members participated in the nationwide celebration last April. During the past two decades, Project Appleseed has provided families and schools throughout the country with two widely celebrated events – National Parental Involvement Day and Public School Volunteer Week.  These are our signature celebrations in which schools recruit, engage, count and recognize the services of America’s dedicated family volunteers.  We celebrate those who have offered their time, encouragement, and meaningful contact with students.Over nine million family members participate in our celebrations at over 18,000 schools in all 50 states each school year. More....
Selected 2013 Statehouse Support
  • Pennsylvania General Assmebly, "National Public School Volunteer Week offers the opportunity to recognize and to thank public school volunteers who contribute unselfishly to the success of Pennsylvania's students, teaching and support staff and the goals of public education."
  • Michigan Legislature, "During the school year, countless volunteers are spending innumerable hours serving schools throughout Michigan as chaperones, mentors, after-school tutors, club leaders, booster club members, PTA and PTO members, guest speakers, classroom helpers, athletics coaches, and in countless other ways."
  • Deleware General Assembly, "The National Campaign for School Improvement and Project Appleseed have sponsored 'Public School Volunteer Week”' each year for the past sixteen years; public school volunteers contribute unselfishly to the success of Delaware’s students, teaching and support staff, and the goals of American public education."


LAUSD Joins the Celbration, Nation's 2nd Largest District

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - Public school volunteers give their time, dedication and encouragement to both LAUSD students and school staff.  LAUSD believes parents/guardians are equal partners in the education of its students. School volunteers engage in their child’s education by becoming part of it. LAUSD celebrates our school volunteers for offering their time and encouragement with the ultimate goal of helping all youth achieve. LAUSD celebrated Public School Volunteer Week by thanking our school volunteers for their service. If you are a parent/guardian who would like to join the ranks of school volunteers, please contact LAUSD to inquire on how you can help your student and school by volunteering.  More....


Volunteer of the Year Gives Birth, Accepts Award by Skype
DOBSON, NORTH CAROLINA, — Surry County Schools named its volunteer of the year at the Shelton-Badgett Center for Viticulture and Enology, thanks to technology allowing Tabitha Crouse to Skype her thanks from Forsyth Medical Center to those assembled. Crouse, who is the White Plains Elementary Volunteer of the Year, had given birth to Corbin Tucker Crouse, a 9-pound, 9-ounce boy.

The announcement capped off the reception titled “Volunteering: A Work of Art,” where volunteers each received framed student art work in addition to certificates from the county’s Board of Education. Prior to the finale, Board Chairman Earlie Coe addressed the audience. More....

Joan Parish and Mike Cowan
Mesa Foundation's Priceless Volunteers

MESA, ARIZONA, - Superintendent Mike Cowan honors Joan Parish of Madison Elementary, the March 2013 Mesa Public Schools Volunteer of the Month.  The school board and superintendent honor Volunteers of the Month at school board meetings. They receive $50 gift cards and books titled "The Heart of a Volunteer" from the Mesa Foundation for Educational Excellence. They receive key chains, Volunteers are Priceless mugs and certificates of appreciation from the district.  April 22-26 is National Public School Volunteer Week. The school board and superintendent issue a proclamation each spring to express their gratitude for the countless contributions volunteers make to the quality of MPS and the success of its students. More...


About Us
Project Appleseed is an outstanding educational resource for families in public education.  Our web-based tools utilize the Six Types of Involvement from Dr. Joyce Epstein’s research to engage with families, schools, and communities for student success and achievement in K-12 education. It has many useful resources for both staff and parents including tips, the Parental Involvement Toolbox, and handouts.

Project Appleseed's Parental Involvement Pledge is a learning compact, providing an opportunity for parents to formalize their commitment to working with their child’s school through a written agreement, which they can complete and take to their parent leader, school secretary, teacher, or principal. The Pledge is based on the Six Types of Parental Involvement developed by Dr. Epstein. This resource also includes an example of a survey of parent volunteer interests. The survey identifies areas in which parents can volunteer in school, outside the classroom, and at home.




10 Remarkable Nonprofits You’ve Never Heard Of
Named top 10 in the United States by the editors
of both Teacher & Parenting magazines 





Parental Involvement Day and  
CDC Focus on School Health
By Michelle Molnar, Education Week
 
November 9, 2012 - This year, National Parental Involvement Day, on Nov. 15, sheds a spotlight on strategies to engage parents in school health, according to Kevin S. Walker, founder and president of Project Appleseed.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) joined with Project Appleseed to release resources and host events for this year's focus on parent engagement in school for the 18th annual parental involvement day.

Parents and schools can start on the CDC's new landing page, where they will find a link to a comprehensive strategy guide for involving parents in school health. The site also offers fact sheets for educators and parents, a brochure, PowerPoint® slides for promoting parent engagement and a facilitator's guide.

Events will include a webinar called "Engaging Parents to Foster Healthier, More Successful Students" from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST on Nov. 14, and a Twitter chat on Nov. 15 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST.

The Nov. 14 webinar, hosted by the CDC, will involve a discussion of how parent engagement in school health positively influences the health of children and adolescents. It will feature Joyce Epstein, director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships and National Network of Partnership Schools at Johns Hopkins University, and Shannon Michael, adolescent health researcher at the CDC. The speakers will identify evidence-based strategies and actions for engaging parents in school health. For registration information go to: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/876242102

The Nov. 15 interactive Twitter chat with the CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health will cover "Getting Parents Engaged in School Health." It will feature Kevin Fenton, Director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, and subject matter experts Michael and Patricia Dittus, behavioral scientist in CDC's Division of STD Prevention. Again, the discussion will focus on evidence-based strategies and actions for engaging parents in school health. To participate on Twitter, follow #HealthyYouthChat.

"The CDC approached us about partnering on this," Walker said in an interview. "When I saw the engagement guide, I got excited because it has really good research supporting it, since it hooks into Joyce Epstein's six types of family engagement. I looked at the applicability to average parents—would it make sense to them—and it certainly does," Walker said.

Besides being available on the CDC site, the publication will be provided as a free tool in Project Appleseed's Parental Involvement Toolbox.
Walker touts Clearwire partnership, tech grants of $1.5 million in St. Louis 

ITEF gives $1.5 million dollars to area public, private and parochial schools since 2006


ST. LOUIS, Mo. – October 16, 2012 – Clearwire, a leading provider of 4G wireless broadband services, has teamed up with the Innovative Technology Education Fund (ITEF) to bring CLEAR 4G devices and service to St. Louis Public Schools, namely Gateway STEM High School. Students of the EMT-B Program at Gateway now have access to mobile broadband, which allows them to stay connected in the classroom and in the field.

“For us, this partnership is a perfect example of what can happen when public, private and corporate entities come together to benefit one of our community’s greatest resources, our youth,” said Kevin Walker, ITEF board member and president of Project Appleseed.  Mr. Walker was appointed to ITEF's board in 2001 by Governor Jay Nixon who was Attorney General at the time. “Together we are bridging the digital divide and providing mobile learning opportunities to our deserving and hard-working student. More.....




2012 Parental Involvement Recognition Award
 
Do you know a parent whose involvement in their children’s school has resulted in positive changes at the school? Whose engagement in their community is an example for others who want to make a difference? The State Education Resource Center (SERC) and CT PIRC cordially invite you to nominate a parent from your local school and/or community organization for the Parental Involvement Recognition Award. The National Parental Involvement Day award ceremony will be held on November 15, 2012. It will serve to honor and highlight exemplars of parental involvement in schools and community organizations.
Award recipients will be selected based upon their merits in each of the following:

Active involvement in their child’s/children’s school and/or community; Support of their local school and contributions to high quality education for all children; Evidence of their ability to make a difference in their local school and/or community; and Dedication and advocacy to ensure equity for all parents and their children.
 
For more information contact:
David R. Grice, Ph.D., Consultant SERC/CT PIRC Middletown, CT 06457 Phone: (860) 632-1485, ext. 343 Email: grice@ctserc.org
Website: http://ctpirc.org/s/
 

San Diego, CA
San Diego Unified School District
 
The San Diego Unified School District and San Diego Unified Council of PTAs invite YOU to Celebrate National Parental Involvement Day, November 15, 2012.
 
Overview:
Over 30 years of research indicates that when parents are strategically involved in children's learning at school and at home, student achievement significantly improves and schools are more effective. The San Diego Unified School District and Council of PTAs both agree that parent engagement focused on supporting the learning process, both at school and at home, is critical to increasing overall student achievement.
 
WHAT:
Schools host a new event on - or move an existing event to - National Parent Involvement Day Thursday, Nov. 15, to honor the powerful contributions that parents and caregivers make to support the success of students.
 
WHERE:
All San Diego Unified Pre-K to Grade 12 schools
For more information contact:
Melissa Whipple, Family Engagement Resource Teacher mwhipple@sandi.net http://www.sandi.net/Page/43446
 

Madison, Wisconsin
State of Wisconsin Proclamation
 
Sharon Edwards-Billings, is the brainchild behind this exciting organization. Her personal experience as a Child Advocate, with the National Court Appointed Special Advocates program (CASA) and her personal experiences as an “INVOLVED PARENT” impacted her decision to create ALLPARENTSONDECK, LLC.

Sharon has singlehandedly pursuded state recognition for National Parental Involvement Day, November 15, 2012 in Wisconsin. Governor Scott Walker, demonstrated that he understands the sacrifices that parents make to remain involved in their student's academic journey. “He signed a proclamation at Sharon’s request, on June 1, 2012, that can potentially increase the levels of paren- tal involvement in Wisconsin schools. Wisconsin will celebrate for the first time "Parental Involvement Day" and join ten other states who have officially declared the 3rd Thursday in November as "National Parental Involvement Day." Wisconsin is on the map for yet another positive step that will lead to greater levels of academic achievement for our students, because of anticipated increases of parental involvement in our schools. We will work continue to post updates about events that schools are planning for parents, as they are made available to us.”

For more information contact:
Sharon Edwards-Billings, Parent and Student Advocate ALLPARENTSONDECK, LLC Phone: (608) 515-7309 Email: info@allparentsondeck.com
Website: www.allparentsondeck.com Proclamation: http://allparentsondeck.com/news/31-state-of-wisconsin-proclamation


"What sort of person thinks there is nothing wrong with asking the folks tasked with teaching our children to take a 20% cut on a $50,000 annual salary, but thinks it's a terrible idea to ask millionaires to pay an additional 3% more in taxes?"
 Join the conversation - Like Project Appleseed on F a c e b o o k

Project Appleseed to Request  
$15 million In DoEd i3 Funds In 2013
October 2012 - The U.S. Department of Education's Investing in Innovation Fund, provides competitive grants to applicants with a record of improving student achievement and attainment in order to expand the implementation of, and investment in, innovative practices that are demonstrated to have an impact on improving student achievement or student growth, closing achievement gaps, decreasing dropout rates, increasing high school graduation rates, or increasing college enrollment and completion rates.

With its Capacity Building Partnership grant request, Project Appleseed, will collaborate with three school districts to turn around persistently low-performing urban schools in two states under Absolute Priority 4. This Validation Grant proposal contains a targeted, research-based approach to reform that integrates organized parental involvement into the school model to address non-academic barriers to student achievement and create multiple pathways for students to earn regular high school diplomas. Because organized parental involvement will enable kindergarten through grade 12 (K–12) students, particularly high school students, to successfully prepare for, enter, and graduate from a two- or four-year college, the initiative also meets Competitive Preference Priority 7. The primary components of the proposal are parental engagement and community organizing.

Mobilizing Title I parents, grandparents, and caring adults, the Capacity Building Partnership will recruit 50,000 family volunteers in Maryland and 47,000 Title I family volunteers in Missouri – to benefit 100,000 students. The initiative will center on three metropolitan regions: Baltimore, Maryland, and in Missouri, St. Louis and Kansas City. With an investment of $15 million of Investing in Innovation Funds, the partnership will produce over $54 million in volunteer time.  Start-up cost per student $24.10.

Official Partners:   LEA’s, Baltimore City Public Schools, MD.,  St. Louis Public Schools, MO., School District of Webster Groves, MO., nonprofit Mid Atlantic Equity Consortium, nonprofit Impact St. Louis.  Additional LEAs nonprofits are expected to join. 


Past Media featuring Project Appleseed

10 Unsung Nonprofits
That Should Be Household Words
Project Appleseed, Ms. Foundation & More, Recognized
 



As Japan’s global relief missions move quickly to aid the mind boggling earthquake and tsunami recovery, school students throughout the U.S. are holding bake sales to swap lopsided muffins and chewy brownies for the feeling of being part of the giant cog of good will.
In many respects, this is how the little guns that run lesser known nonprofits make a dent, using what fuel and funding they have to reach out and stir passions. In essence, it’s about changing the world via one dougnut, app or Tweet at a time.
Here are some of the little engines that could make a significant dent in aiding women, children and the planet at large.

1. Halting Underage Killers
Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
2. Power to the People
Ms. Foundation for Women
3. Sew and Dress for Green Success
Clothing Matters
4. Food for Thoughtful Consumption
Food and Water Watch
5. Wind in Our Sails, Lower Utility Bills
American Wind Energy Association



6. Walk the Line
Rails to Trails Conservancy
7. Stir a Cure
The Cancer Project
8. Pleasure Principle
Clitoraid
9. Compassionate Nesting
Housing Works
10. The Race to Somewhere Happy
Project Appleseed



Walker's MLK Day Keynote Stresses Community Service
By Alvin Reid  - The 16th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Celebration in Webster Groves featured keynote speaker, Project Appleseed president, Kevin Walker, “Service is the most important thing that we can get out of Martin Luther King’s message,” said Walker, a Webster Groves High School graduate. “King is remembered for his heroic leadership and his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. He gave his life, in essence, while asking us to help each other. At the end of the day, a little action could be what Martin Luther King called ‘that one small spark’ that could lead to great things,” Walker said. “People doing small things add up to big things.” More...



Tennessee Govenor Embraces Project Appleseed for 2nd Year
NASHVILLE (AP/CBS NEWS) November 19, 2010 - The Tennessee Department of Education is encouraging all parents and guardians take an active role in their child’s education. November 18th, 2010 marked Project Appleseed's 17th annual National Parental Involvement Day. In recognition, Tennessee is promoting new Parental Involvement Standards - which mirror Project Appleseed's Six Slices of Parental Involvement.  Missouri and many other states share these standards.  Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen says more frequent participation from parents both at home and in the classroom is needed.
“Parent involvement is a critical part of achieving a high quality education system and helps ensure student achievement,” said Governor Bredesen. “It is important that parents and educators form strong partnerships that will result in higher achievement of students.”

Tennessee Education Commissioner Bruce Opie says more needs to be expected from parents and guardians and not just students. He said in a statement that active parents can influence policies, practices and programs that support expanded learning opportunities.

Opie released the comment in conjunction with the 17th annual National Parental Involvement Day sponsored by Project Appleseed. He said Tennessee can successfully rise to the top only with the help of parents. Gov. Phil Bredesen said it’s important that parents and educators form strong partnerships that will result in higher student achievement.



NBC & Project Appleseed
New school years are chock-full of optimism and opportunity. For teachers and students at seven (7) schools featured in the new NBC series “School Pride,” the year started off in newly remodeled classrooms outfitted with modern learning technologies from Promethean. 
NBC is highlighting Project Appleseed as a national resource for schools.  Find out how you can help Project Appleseed, a place where they understand that it takes a village to help our schools excel. To get the best results from your parental involvement efforts, we want you and your schools to join our movement to plant the seeds of school improvement in your local schools with National Parental Involvement Day and Public School Volunteer Week!



Calling on parents to stop school bullying

 
ST. LOUIS (KMOX/CBS Radio) Oct. 26, 2010 – The White House and the U.S. Department of Education held a conference call Tuesday with school administrators to address the topic of “bullying.”
The head of Missouri-based Project Appleseed says his group thinks parents should also be involved in talks about violence and harrassment in schools, “Bullying is a problem in schools. Parents need to be aware that children are not so cordial and helpful to each other, and that negatively impacts the learning environment.” 

Kevin Walker says his group has been at the forefront of advocating parental involvement in public schools for nearly 20 years.

Experts say bullying leads to low self-esteem and poor grades among students, and could spurn acts of violence or suicide.



Teachers rule in experimental school
Detroit, MI. (Sept. 3, 2010) - Students at Palmer Park Preparatory Academy this year won't have to worry about being sent to the principal's office. Their school won't have one.
 
When Michigan's first teacher-led school opens Tuesday in the former Barbara Jordan Elementary, the principal and assistant principal will be replaced by two lead teachers and an executive administrator.

Committees of teachers and service workers will make curriculum and operational decisions for the pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade school and, teachers say, do away with the time used to complete paperwork and await approvals from district administrators....

Site-based schools, which exist in other parts of the country, are autonomously controlled either by the principal, teachers only, parents with the involvement of faculty and staff or a combination of teachers, administrators and parents, said Kevin Walker, founding president of Project Appleseed, an 18-year-old education advocacy group in St. Louis. "When you have a building with a good manager, good teachers and the support of the school community, why do you need the central office?" he asked.

In conjunction with team teaching, the school also will allow students to remain with the same teacher for at least two years, deepening the teacher's knowledge about a child's developmental needs.

Parents will be required to sign a contract and agree to get their children to school on time, ensure completion of assignments and regularly contact teachers.   Sept, 3, 2010, More from The Detroit News



Editorial: Parents and Teachers
Chicago, IL. (August 2, 2010) - In Detroit, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy thinks that authorities should be allowed to jail parents for up to three days for repeatedly missing a parent-teacher conference. She's serious. Parents with high-achieving kids would get a pass.

No, we're not going to endorse locking up parents for skipping a meeting at school. The threat would probably get more parents into the school, but it wouldn't make them listen to the teacher. The parent-teacher conference isn't the litmus test for effective parenting. Skipping a meeting shouldn't be a crime.

School districts around the country — including some in the Chicago area — ask parents to sign a "contract" establishing how they will participate in their kids' education.

"We know parental involvement works," says Kevin Walker, president of Project Appleseed, a national nonprofit group that helps schools reach parents. "We know it is a more important input than anything else in education." August 2, 2010, Full Chicago Tribune Editorial...




Opportunities to tout KC School District come knocking 

Kansas City, MO. (July 14, 2010) - Over the course of four weekends, volunteers will marshal enough people to knock on every one of about 73,000 doors in the Kansas City school district.
If the campaign succeeds in hitting most of the district’s doors, it may well be the most extensive door-knocking campaign yet by a school district, said Kevin Walker of the St. Louis-based Project Appleseed.

“Door-knocking is a lost art,” said Walker, whose organization has embarked on a national campaign to rouse involvement in public schools. “People need to be asked face to face to get involved. People need to be invited in.” (July 14, 2010)  Full Kansas City Star article...

 
 Editorial: Community progress starts with parents

Dallas, TX. (April 14, 2010) - This week also provides the chance for parents in the southern half of the city – as well as the rest of Dallas – to get involved with their child's learning.  Project Appleseed's Public School Volunteer Week starts tomorrow, with an emphasis on parents taking a pledge to get – and stay – involved with their child's education. We hope this week sparks a conversation at DISD headquarters about how the district can create its own pledge for parents to sign so they will remain committed to their child's academic progress.

Over the next few months, we will continue writing about parents and their responsibilities. There's plenty that Congress, the Legislature and the school district can do to spur this on. But progress starts with mothers and fathers doing their part, whether that's something as mundane as getting their child to school on time or helping them fill out a college aid form. It may take a developer to put new buildings on a piece of property, like Mark Cuban is wonderfully planning for East Oak Cliff. But change really starts at home, one spark at a time.  (April 14, 2010) Full Dallas Morning News Editorial...


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