The Barksdale Reading Institute is accepting applications through July 15, 2019 for schools who wish to participate in our Train the Trainer Model Parent Academy program.  The application will close at midnight, July 15, 2019. The program is open to public schools as well as Head Start centers.

The Parent Academy is designed to train parents of RISING  KINDERGARTENERS (i.e. preschoolers) from the community that feeds into your school.  The mission of Parent Academy is to help parents understand what "kindergarten readiness" is and what it looks like... as well as equip and empower parents to work on kindergarten readiness skills with their child at home.  The program is broken down into five hands-on, developmentally appropriate modules (think "make and take" style!) that cover: oral language, the alphabet & writing, print awareness & comprehension, early reading, math, general development (gross and fine motor skill, social/emotional development). We have developed a parent handbook for each module as well as take-home materials for family-friendly instructional activities. The modules are designed to be taught in 1.5 hours one evening a month. The Barksdale Reading Institute will train your staff to implement Parent Academy at your school/center.

If you are selected to participate in our Parent Academy program, we will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding partnership with your school/district and equip you to successfully conduct the Parent Academy at your site. The following can be expected:

The Barksdale Reading Institute will:
-provide training to three or more staff members (one must be an administrator) from your school who will conduct the Parent Academy sessions at your school
-pay for carpool mileage (one vehicle per school) and hotel accommodations for three staff members attending trainings (hotel for participants 60+ miles away)
-provide ongoing support and coaching
-provide all PowerPoints, printed materials, supplies, and take-home parent materials


Your School will:
-provide three staff members (one must be an administrator) to attend training September 26-27, 2019 in Jackson.  
-commit to conducting one Parent Academy session a month at your school (October, November, January, February, March). These are typically held one evening a month, 5pm - 6:30pm
-attend the one day follow-up trainings (3 in person and 3 virtual)
-provide a one-time $500 registration fee paid to The Barksdale Reading Institute to offset cost of parent take-home materials (this can be paid with district / Title I / parent engagement funds)

Please visit our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BarksdaleReading/) to view photos and samples from our 2016-17,  2017-18, and 2018-19 Parent Academy.  Please direct questions to gproctor@msreads.org