Engaging Parents in Education: Lessons From Five Parental Information and Resource Centers
NH State PIRC -- Frequently Asked Questions
What's a PIRC?
PIRC is short for "Parent Information and Resource Center." It is the acronym used by the US Department of Education in designating 60 such organizations it funds around the country that are dedicated to promoting family engagement in education. (Read more about PIRCs here.) NH State PIRC is a program under the umbrella of the Parent Information Center of NH, which is most recognized for its support of parents of children with disabilities. So, you may wonder, are there two Parent Information Centers in NH? No indeed, just the one, with a program called a PIRC. We promote the PIRC name because the US Deparatment of Education is working to establish a nationally-recognized brand. So, for better or for worse, we are "PIRC at PIC."
When should we choose workshops or technical assistance?
NH State PIRC will work with your school , school district or parent-teacher group in whatever way contributes most to your goals and outcomes. For some needs, this might involve one or a series of trainings for targeted groups of teachers, administrators, or parents. For others, technical assistance during meetings, such as meetings of the school improvement team, may be an efficient way to build capacity for expanding Parent Involvement. We can even offer help by phone if, for example, a school is organizing an event and would like advice on reaching hard-to-reach parents.
When can parents or educators participate?
The main focus of our workshops and technical assistance is developing strong partnerships between parents and schools; it is therefore usually beneficial to involve both. When the purpose of a meeting is to obtain uncensored input from teachers or parents or other stakeholder groups, that group may choose to exclude others in order to encourage more candid responses.
How much do your services cost?
In most cases, there is no cost to the school, school district, or parent for the services we provide. That said, if your school or district can contribute any amount from your existing Title I funds, it can help NH State PIRC defray expenses such as travel and materials and therefore help us reach more NH parents and schools with our services.
Can our staff receive professional development credits for attending workshops?
Workshop attendees will receive certificates of attendance with a description of the workshop content. In most cases, this is sufficient to count for professional development credits.
How can I attend a workshop?
PIRC Workshops are typically organized by a school or parent-teacher organization, sometimes by a library, church or other community organization, and also by volunteer trainers (in the case of early literacy workshops). You can view our current schedule of events to see if a workshop is being offered near you, or you can encourage your local school, PTA/PTO, church or social group to sponsor a workshop (minimum of 10 participants). Please call (800) 947-7005 for more information.
See also: 
NCLB FAQ Page
