FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Isaac Cox | Director of Communications

Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) 

Mobile: (415) 933-7164 

Website: www.piqe.org 

San Diego Press Event Unveils Groundbreaking Family Engagement Impact Study

SAN DIEGO, CA — On May 8, 2025, the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) held a press conference at its San Diego home office to release the 2024 Longitudinal Academic Impact Report, a groundbreaking study conducted by the Center for Equity and Biliteracy Education Research (CEBER) at San Diego State University.

This statewide, mixed-methods study tracked over 1,250 students whose families participated in PIQE’s Signature Family Engagement Program between 2012 and 2017. The findings show that 91% of those students graduated from high school—significantly outperforming both state and national averages. Among English Learner students, the graduation rate reached 92%. Additionally, 56.6% of all students enrolled in college, with 57.8% attending four-year universities and 42.2% entering community colleges.

“This report offers compelling evidence that culturally and linguistically responsive family engagement has a measurable impact on student achievement,” said Dr. Cristina Alfaro, Associate Vice President at SDSU and Executive Director of CEBER. “Parents and caregivers consistently cited PIQE’s program as transformational—not only for their children’s academic success but also for their own growth, confidence, and community leadership.”

The study is the first of its kind to include qualitative reflections from parents, whose stories emphasized the power of knowledge, communication, motivation, and self-advocacy. One parent, Janet, whose daughter was recently accepted to SDSU, shared how the program taught her to navigate the U.S. school system, transforming her from a passive bystander into an empowered leader in her child’s education and community.

Dr. Saúl I. Maldonado, co-author of the study, highlighted that PIQE’s work does more than boost graduation rates. “This is about breaking cycles of generational inequity. The data reflects not only academic impact but also personal transformation among parents, many of whom now actively engage with schools, policy, and their communities.”

The press conference concluded with a call for sustained investment in family engagement. “This kind of work isn’t possible without deep partnerships and funding,” said PIQE CEO Gloria Corral. “It requires intentionality, trust, and resources. But the outcomes speak for themselves.”

The full report is available at: https://www.piqe.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PIQE-2024-Longitudinal-Study.pdf

A full recording of the May 8 press conference can be viewed on YouTube: