The Harvard Family Research Project separated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education to become the Global Family Research Project as of January 1, 2017. It is no longer affiliated with Harvard University.
School Zone: Facilitators greatly help transition to high school (Reno Gazette-Journal, 7/20/11)
July 20, 2011
The Reno Gazette-Journal features an article by Barbara Clark, member of the Washoe County school district board of trustees, about the district’s efforts to ramp up family involvement for ninth graders. Twelve AmeriCorps parent involvement facilitators in Washoe County high schools are supporting freshman students and their families during this often-difficult year of transition to high school.
These parent involvement facilitators reach out to families who face barriers—such as inflexible work schedules or inexperience as advocates for their children—to helping their children succeed in the critical first year of high school. Parents can also access data on grades and attendance and communicate with teachers through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. More than 50% of parents logged into the portal regularly, and the students whose families were supported by the program showed improvement during the school year.
The program is being studied by Harvard Family Research Project as part of United Way Worldwide’s Family Engagement for High School Success initiative, funded by AT&T.
Read “School Zone: Facilitators greatly help transition to high school” on the Reno Gazette-Journal's website.