600 Blair Pk, Suite 240 Williston, VT 05495 Web site: http://www.pircvermont.org Hours: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

Director: Ms. Kathleen Kilbourne Phone: 802-876-5315 ext. 244 Fax: 802-876-6291 Evaluator: Cheryl Mitchell, Ph. D. , M. Ed.

State PIRC Board:

David Baker, Child Development Division, Agency of  Human Services
David Baroudi, Title I Workgroup Leader, VT Dept. of Education
Jeanne Collins, Superintendent of Schools, Burlington School District
Gayle DiMasi, Community-Based Parent, Involvement Coordinator, PIRC Vermont
Sherry Gile, Director of Professional Programs, Vermont NEA
Winton Goodrich, Associate Director, VT School Boards' Association
Sue Harding, Co-Director, Addison County Parent Child Center
Kathleen Kilbourne, Project Director, PIRC Vermont
Jim McCobb, ESL (Title III) Coordinator, VT Dept. of Education
Herman "Bud" Meyers, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University Of Vermont
Cheryl Mitchell, Ph.D., State Evaluator
Jay Morris, Ph.D., Project Manager, PIRC Vermont
Mary Mulloy. Migrant Education & Title I Coordinator, VT Dept. of Education
Lucy Ely Pagan, Program Associate, North East Regional, Resource Center
Ken Page, Executive Director, Vermont Principals’ Assn.
Blanche Podhajski, Ph.D., President, Stern Center For Language and Learning
Kathy Reynolds, EEE Provider, Mary Hogan Elementary School
Nicole Saginor, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, St. Johnsbury School District
Liz Smith, Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS)
Gail Taylor, Director-Standards & Assessment, VT Dept. of Education
Karin Vogel, ELL Teacher, Chittenden East Supv. Union
Denise Webster, President, Vermont PTA
Jim Woodward, Executive Director, VT Teacher Diversity
Zohara Zarfati, Parent

The Parental Information Resource Center project for Vermont, also known as PIRC-VT, is designed to help Vermont families assist their children with achieving success at school. As part of a national initiative, PIRC-VT will implement effective parental involvement programs, activities, and policies to enhance children’s social, emotional, and academic growth, taking into consideration Vermont’s unique characteristics.

Parental Engagement Model
PIRC-VT hopes to foster effective communication, cooperation and collaboration among families, educators, and communities so that children will succeed. The program uses a partnership approach to its parental engagement model. Leadership, technical assistance and support, and outreach efforts to Title I schools as well as other agencies will be top priorities. Strategies for accomplishing these goals include a yearly conference, direct involvement and support to Title I schools, and reaching out to parents and agencies at the state and local levels.

Early Childhood Model
In their communities, sixteen Parent Child Centers will provide support to families by engaging parents of young children in learning effective communication skills and developing interactive individual and small group activities. “Learning Together” and “Parents as Teachers” (PAT) are the frameworks that the Parent Child Centers will utilize for their early childhood model. Each Parent Child Center will facilitate meetings between parents and teachers to discuss ways in which to build positive working relationships. Parents will also receive assistance from the Parent Child Centers to improve their academic and literacy skills.

Alignment of Work to Statewide PIRC Efforts
At the state level, PIRC-VT will provide assistance through a variety of methods. Direct one to one assistance will be available through a telephone helpline, Monday through Friday. An annual conference on No Child Left Behind and parental involvement will be offered to parents, educators, and community members. The project will gather information and analyze various ways of involving parents in Title I and other schools and share this information through a website and published materials. Individual assistance, the annual conference and participation on advisory committees will promote and strengthen home/school partnerships.

Unique Characteristics
PIRC-VT is able to serve Vermont in a very unique and creative way based on the uniqueness of Vermont itself. Through a collaborative effort, PIRC-VT, the sixteen Parent Child Centers and Parent to Parent of Vermont, will utilize a comprehensive approach to improving learning through the coordination and integration of federal, state and local services and programs. With cooperation from the Vermont Department of Education, the state Parent Teachers Organizations, the state Title I Coordinator, the state Head Start Coordinator and others, PIRC-VT will work to ensure education programs for all children are integrated and coordinated and that parents understand their rights and responsibilities under No Child Left Behind.