Parent Information and Resource Center, Republic of the Marshall Islands
Pacific Resources for Education and Learning operates a Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC) in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), funded by U.S. Department of Education (U.S. ED) under a Parental Assistance Grant. The established purposes of the RMI PIRC are to: (a) develop and strengthen the relationship between parents and their children’s school and (b) further the developmental progress of children assisted by the project.
The RMI PIRC has offices on Majuro and Ebeye from which PIRC staff assist schools to implement a new, parent-inclusive governance structure known as Cluster PTA. Schools implementing the Cluster Model of school reform demonstrate increased involvement of parents in their children’s education, improved learning environments, improved child development, and enhanced reading readiness among participating children.
The RMI PIRC contracts a Marshallese nonprofit group, Women United Together Marshall Islands (WUTMI), to deliver the project’s early childhood education component.
Goals and Objectives
The goals and objectives of the RMI PIRC include the following:
- Goal 1: Develop and strengthen partnerships between parents and schools to improve educational outcomes for students at risk of educational failure.
- Objective 1.1: Establish a school reform model at RMI schools.
- Objective 1.2: Increase parents’ roles and responsibilities as partners in children’s education.
- Objective 1.3: Increase parents’ school-based participation in meeting the educational needs of children.
- Goal 2: Ensure that the children of families assisted by the RMI PIRC are ready for school.
- Objective 2.1: Improve parents’ understanding of early childhood development.
- Objective 2.2: Increase parents’ exposure to early literacy materials.
Program Services
To meet its objectives, the RMI PIRC offers the following services:
- Replication of the Cluster PTA model to ensure parents understand standards, parents demonstrate an increased involvement in their children’s schooling, and young people are better prepared for success in school
- Disseminating and implementing the Parents as Teachers early childhood parenting program
- Translating early childhood education materials into Marshallese
- Workshops for parents on how to involve themselves with schools
- Workshops for teachers and administrators on how to encourage parental involvement
- Network development to bring communities and schools together
- Parent leadership training
- Parenting classes
- Radio and television spots on parenting and educational issues
- Information dissemination on parenting, parental involvement, and early childhood education
Contact
This work is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information, contact Ms. Evelyn Joseph, Director, at josephe@prel.org.