Expand Supply of Great Schools  

 

Create Conditions for Great Schools  

 

Act Strategically When Schools Fail  

 

Inspire and Equip Parents to Act  
 

PUBLIC IMPACT
504 Dogwood Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
919-967-5102
919-928-8473 fax info@publicimpact.com

Inspiring and Equipping Parents

Parents are uniquely positioned to catapult their children’s education to the highest levels. They know their children best, and they care the most. And they have an increasing array of options for their children’s schooling, with approximately 15 million students attending schools other than their assigned public schools. Millions of others choose pre-schools every year.

Yet parents often lack the know-how to make the best decisions about their children’s educations and to help improve the schools and preschools their kids attend. Many are intimidated by their lack of expertise, and others who are well-informed need help communicating effectively with school staff. We need a large-scale effort to inspire and equip parents to play their central role in education.

The core of our work in this area is our book, Picky Parent Guide: Choose Your Child’s School with Confidence, published by Armchair Press in 2004, its companion website PickyParent.com, and a set of briefer “Quick Kits” available as downloadable PDFs. We’re also partnering with The Savvy Source, an outstanding new online resource providing parent-gathered information about pre-schools, to offer an e-book to help parents choose pre-schools.
Quick Kit: Choose a School for your Gifted Child
Quick Kit: Basic Tools for Choosing a School
Articles and Media Appearences on Choosing Schools
  Shopping for a School, Here's How to find the right fit for your elementary-aged child - whether you're moving into a new community or simply assessing your neighborhodd options,” Ellen H. Parlapiano, Scholastic.com, 2007.

“Which School Is the Right School? Five questions every parent should ask.” Appeared in numerous publications such as Carolina Parent Magazine.
“Parents Take Choice Driver’s Seat, But Few Have a Map,” Education Week, September 2004. Commentary by Bryan and Emily Hassel.
“Helping Colorado Parents Choose Wisely,” HeadFirst Colorado, October 2004."
Picky Parent Guide named “Must Read Book of the Year,” PPI 21st Century Schools Bulletin, December 2004.
“Parent 2 Parent: Information for picky parents about schools,” WCBS TV, New York City, February 2005.
“School Choice: Knowing What’s a Good Fit for Your Child,” Appearance by Bryan Hassel on National Public Radio’s The Parents’ Journal with Bobbi Conner, May 2005.
“Picking the Right School for your Child,” Tampa Bay’s 10 News, January 2005.
Competencies for Turnaround Success
  Series of resources to help select leaders and teachers likely to be successful in school turnarounds.
Mayoral Academies
  New Rhode Island law allows mayor-led new school networks
School Turnaround Stories
  Real-world vignettes illustrate how school principals have used 14 leader actions to turn around schools
North Carolina Charter Schools
  A report to the Blue Ribbon Commission to guide recommendations to the State Board of Education
Improving Teaching Through Pay for Contribution
  Report published by NGA Center for Best Practices outlines research-based agenda for pay reform
Fund the Child in Ohio
  How Ohio can make its finance system more equitable and effective through weighted student funding
NCLB Remedies in Action
  In a new book examining lessons from a half-decade of NCLB, Public Impact contributes detailed profiles of four “restructured” schools
Quality Authorizing
  This new US Dept of Ed “Innovation Guide” highlights promising practices from leading charter school authorizers nationally
   
   
   
   

 

Public Impact • 504 Dogwood Drive • Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-5102 • info@publicimpact.com