Act 603 of 2003 mandated all schools to create a Parental Involvement Plan. The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE), along with other partners has provided various trainings within the state. To assist schools in enhancing parental involvement and preparing for the mandated professional development hours, ADE will be sponsoring an ARKANSAS PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT FORUM – STEPPING OUT OF THE BOX. A statewide two-day forum will be held September 8 - 9, 2004 at the DoubleTree Hotel, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Dr. Joyce Epstein, Center on School, Family, and Community Partnership, John Hopkins University, will be presenting and sharing valuable research in parental involvement during the conference. Participants will be given the opportunity to participate in sessions that will assist in preparing schools' mandated two-hour professional development, and three hours for administrators. Schools are encouraged to utilize information and resources from the forum in developing the staff professional development hours and in preparing calendars.
All school parental involvement facilitators, parent center coordinators and administrators are encouraged to attend. Approximately thirty concurrent sessions will be scheduled during the two days. Participants may select sessions focusing on best practices in elementary, middle school or high school, as well as ideas for involving parents during the summer, family nights, improving parent centers, and integrating parental involvement programs into the school day. Registration and agenda information will be sent at a later date.
For more information, please contact Dee Cox, Program Manager at 501-682-4379 at the Arkansas Department of Education, #4 Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR, 72201 or via email at dcox@arkedu.k12.ar.us.