“In a global economy, where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a pathway to opportunity. It is a prerequisite.”
Programs & Services
FIS offers a continuum of programs from Pre-K to high school that enable parents to serve as their child’s first teacher, as advocates for their children’s education, and as allies of public schools in ensuring that their children learn to their fullest potential. FIS believes that early collaboration between parents and schools is a vital step to maintaining high levels of parental involvement in later years. All FIS programs are based on a needs assessment of local schools and communities, research, and input from parents and practicing educators. FIS focuses our resources and efforts in the following Strategic Priorities: Early Education and Family Literacy, College Awareness and Preparation, Parent and Teacher Education Programs, Parent Information and Resources and Community Engagement and Advocacy.
Early Education and Family Literacy:
For more information on Early Education and Family Literacy programs, contact Debra Colman at
GOT College! for students: provides grade appropriate modules about college information, financial aid, and career preparation. (GOT College! programs are year-long programs, starting as early as preschool, that helps schools, teachers, counselors, parents and their children nurture a college-going culture in the classroom, at school and at home.) GOT College! for parents: provides information about college, financial aid, career preparation, parent/child communication, and increasing educational expectations. GOT College! for schools (see Parent and Teacher Education programs): provides in-service information for teachers, counselors, and parent leaders about working with parents and building high expectations as well as a college-going culture through school-wide activities. GOT College! Conferences: provides the opportunity to visit college campuses, meet professionals and college students.
For more information on College Awareness and Preparation programs, contact Carolina Hernandez at chernandez@familiesinschools.org
Parent Education - Transition programs: sessions that help parents understand how to support their children’s transitions from elementary to middle school and middle to high school. Parent Academies: workshop series providing parents with knowledge upon which they can build the skills needed to advocate for their children (e.g., NCLB, English Learner Instruction). Teacher Education: Professional Development and Coaching - The Power of Teacher and Parent Partnerships: a two (2) day professional development program designed to build confidence and knowledge in a group of teachers, out of classroom staff, and administrators so that they are able to effectively develop, plan and enhance their parent engagement programs. A Welcoming Environment: a professional development training aimed to support a team of school staff and parent leaders so that they may garner the skills necessary to design a school framework that openly welcomes parents, communities and students. Technical Assistance and Coaching: are customized technical assistance packages to schools, groups of schools and community organizations. Our expertise in parent engagement and using engagement as a tool for school reform allows us to bring a unique set of knowledge and skills to any organization.
For more information on Parent and Teacher Education programs, contact Kathleen Mooney at kmooney@familiesinschools.org
Parent Information and Additional Resources:
Supplemental Education Services (SES): are free tutoring services paid for by the US Department of Education for children that are attending a Second Year Program Improvement School and are considered eligible for free or reduced meal program. SES was made possible by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001.
For more information on Parent Information and Additional Resources programs, contact Jose Cisneros at jcisneros@familiesinschools.org
Community Engagement and Advocacy:
FIS Community Engagement and Advocacy efforts include: Participation in Communities for Educational (CEE) and other education collaboratives, as well as embarking in campaigns such as Preschools We Deserve and Schools We Deserve.
For more information on Community Engagement and Advocacy projects, contact Oscar Cruz at ocruz@familiesinschools.org
OTHER SPECIAL INITIATIVES
Capacity Building: Families Improving Education (FIE): an education initiative that supports organizations engaging parents in education policymaking. Other FIS Capacity Building efforts include School Readiness and Success by 6. |
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College Awareness and Preparation:
