NEWS UPDATE: May 1st, 2008

Showing parents the way

They're encouraged to get involved to help their children succeed in school.

By Kim Minugh - kminugh@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, March 31, 2008

Alex Figueroa is a young, single father supporting a 15-year-old daughter. He works long days. Teenagers can be difficult, and he knows "Dad's not popular anymore" in his daughter's eyes.

Concerned as he might be about Kathlyn's success, he says, he has felt detached from her school life.

At night, "I would probe her, and I would get the canned answer of 'Fine. I had a good day,'" said Figueroa, 34. "Progress reports come, and it would always be a surprise."

Not anymore. As a graduate of the Parent Institute for Quality Education, Figueroa said he has a better understanding of what success for his daughter actually means – and how hard they must work as a team to make it happen.

"We're doing this together," he said. "I want her to know, if it has to do with school, I'm going to be involved. I'm going to be held accountable, and so are you."

Last week, Figueroa received a diploma in the River City High School gymnasium – similar to the diploma he hopes Kathlyn will earn three years from now.

He was among more than 80 Washington Unified School District parents honored for completing nine weeks of PIQE courses, which show parents how to become active in their children's education.

The classes, held in the morning and at night to accommodate work schedules and in four different languages to engage a diverse cast of families, covered topics like self-esteem, college admissions requirements and how the American school system functions.

Julio Hernandez, a new assistant principal at River City High, brought PIQE to Washington Unified to "really open our doors up and invite the community in to participate in school."

PIQE has graduated more than 375,000 parents statewide since it began 20 years ago. Only in recent years has the program spread in the Sacramento region, however.

Thursday's graduating class was River City High's first, but one that administrators believe showed significant promise for the program. It was the largest PIQE class to graduate from the Sacramento region, and the first to include Russian-speaking graduates.

Officials said parents in the community are crying out for help ensuring a brighter future for their children.

"There's so many things out there that are enticing our children," said Catherine Grisaffi, a guidance counselor and at-risk specialist at River City. "I think (parents are) asking for help from us."

More than 100 parents started the program; nearly 90 finished, guaranteeing their children a place in the California State University system once they graduate from high school – as long as they meet admission requirements.

"It's important for us as parents to model for our children an interest in education," said Vanesa Sheared, dean of the College of Education at CSU Sacramento, at the PIQE graduation ceremony last week. "That's what you have done as participants in this program."

Washington Unified board President Barry Kalar called the graduates his "heroes."

Many students attended to cheer on their parents, including Kathlyn Figueroa, Alex Figueroa's daughter. She went to classes with her father and realizes that he knows how to keep up with her grades now – with or without her help.

She thinks more schools should offer PIQE to parents whose children are scared or reluctant to talk to them about school.

Harvard is offering free tuition for students that have a family income below $60,000.   If you are a mentor or have nieces and nephews who might be interested, please give them this information. If you know anyone/family earning less than $60K with a brilliant child near ready for college, please pass this along.
read more

Questions and Answers about California Colleges and Universities

Preguntas y Respuestas Acerca de los Colegios y Universidades de California

top