Elementary Schools Introduce Parent Education Program

GreatSchools College Bound has selected Danbury and other Fairfield County towns as their first community partners in a parent education program. The animated pilot program will be offered through the Danbury Public Schools and Danbury Children First. According to Kristan Kirsh of Great Schools, in an area where the program was instituted, the principal reported that reading scores went up 12% in the first year.

Surveys showed that parents returned to the program the following year and took additional programs for children in other grades. The program is available for grades K-5, and teaches parents how to take everyday moments and turn them into teachable moments.

“We’re excited to be getting in on the ground floor of this innovative program,” said Dr. Sal Pascarella, Superintendent of Danbury Public Schools. “By using new and innovative tools to help all parents get involved, we will improve academic achievement for our students.”

 The program is comprised of short, educational videos that are followed up with workshops that will be held in Danbury schools. The content of the videos is based on the latest research in child development, and offers simple solutions to everyday problems all parents encounter. If parents have questions about the videos, they can join an online chat where other parents share their own experiences. 

 “This is a great program, especially for parents who have not been to college or who haven't thought about their own children going to college,” said Anne Mead, Administrator of Early Childhood Education and Extended Learning Programs.

"Long term, the program helps students and parents be ready for college," Mead said.  "The program is intended for parents who want to be more engaged with their children and with their schools.  It answers parents most common questions: what to ask during a parent/teacher conference, how to help my child with homework, what can parents do to help out in the classroom, how to turn family time into learning time, teaching confidence, teaming with your child's teacher and simple secrets to success.  The Program is free and we are encouraging parents of all Danbury children to enrolling it."

 The program has already been introduced to the Park Avenue and Shelter Rock school districts during a ten minute presentation at their Open House evening. “We are planning on having several workshops and open houses next month. We will be at Shelter Rock and Mill Ridge Elementary on October 19,” said Araceli Noriega, program manager for College Bound.

At least twelve Danbury families have already signed up and are utilizing the program. “It's not too complicated, and the information is priceless. We are teaching them about things that will empower them. Some people are under the impression it is not accessible to them, and it is,” Noriega said.

Noriega said that orientation and training sessions will show parents how to use the College Bound program, and will be held throughout the fall at Park Avenue, Stadley Rough, Shelter Rock, and Mill Ridge Primary schools. These sessions will also help parents obtain internet access and an email address, even if they currently do not have access.

Families will be able to connect to the program through The Danbury Public Library and the Danbury Public Schools’ Family Literacy Center located at 49 Osborne Street. There is also an opportunity to purchase low cost computers through the Literacy Center and Comcast for families who participate in the free lunch program.

GreatSchools has made an online quiz available beginning Thursday, September 22 for parents who would like to begin participating immediately. Click the link to take the College Bound Is Your Parent GPS Working Quiz.

To sign up for the College Bound program, go to
http://collegebound.greatschools.org/register/ct. For Spanish, go to http://collegebound.greatschools.org/inscribir/ct.

For more information, you may call Anne Mead at the Danbury Public School District at 203-830-6508, Linda Kosko at Danbury Children First at 203-797-8088, or Araceli Noriega, College Bound Program Manager, at 646-504-1041.