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, 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.
The Big U-Turn
  Education Next article explains how turnarounds work across sectors
Competencies for Turnaround Success
  Series of resources to help select leaders and teachers likely to be successful in school turnarounds.
Hard-to-Staff Pay
  Cross-sector research on using financial incentives to recruit and retain teachers in hard-to-staff positions
Data Mining and Crowd Wisdom
  What public education can learn from other sectors about getting and using data
How Business Can Support Charters
  A menu of options for businesses interested in supporting charter schools featuring real-world examples
National Charter School Policy Briefing
  A quality-driven vision for the future of the charter sector with the steps necessary to achieve the vision
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
Improving Teaching Through Pay for Contribution
  Report published by NGA Center for Best Practices outlines research-based agenda for pay reform
   
   

 

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