Many, many thanks to Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D - FL), who supports keeping PIRC's (Parental Information Resource Centers) in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) currently being considered by Congress.In remarks to the National Title I Conference held earlier this month in Tampa, Rep. Castor shared her hopes that PIRC's would be retained with an audience gathered to hear about effective strategies for parental involvement and family engagement in their children's education.
PIRC's are the only program funded by the U.S. Department of Education that reaches out directly to both schools and families to bring them together. PIRC's aim to make schools family-friendly and welcoming.They also help parents and family members with easy to use strategies for even the busiest or most challenged families to become respected partners in their children's education.
Rich La Belle, FND's Executive Director, said, "We greatly appreciate Congresswoman Castor's support.PIRC's are where the rubber hits the road in family engagement.If we disappear, there will be no one to fill our role.Families - and children - will suffer if that happens."
La Belle continued, "I've found that the concept of the PIRC's and effective family engagement has broad bipartisan support in Florida's Congressional delegation.I haven't talked to a single member, from either party, who has said that they do not support effective family engagement in education. Everyone supports the idea that parents and families should be heard and taken seriously as real partners in their children's education. PIRC's make that happen.We have to keep them. We have to continue this vital work."
If these issues are important to you and your family, we urge you to contact your member of Congress. Tell them how you feel about keeping PIRC's in the ESEA reauthorization.You can find your member of Congress at http://www.house.gov/. If you'd like to contact Rep. Castor and thank her for her support of PIRC's, you can reach her in Washington or Tampa or by email at http://castor.house.gov/Contact/
137 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone:202-225-3376 Fax: 202-225-5652
4144 N. Armenia Ave., Suite 300, Tampa, FL, 33607
Phone: 813-871-2817 Fax:813-871-2864