State Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council

The State Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council (PAC) provides advice on education issues to the state superintendent and offers networking opportunities for parents with education leaders. Following the lead of his predecessors, State Superintendent Tony Evers appointed parents from around the state to represent the diversity of Wisconsin families on the council.

The Parent Advisory Council provides an example of how school districts can listen to the voices of families. “Clearly, when families are engaged in their children's education, children do better in school, are more likely to graduate from high school, and attend better schools,” Evers said. “The Parent Advisory Council will play a vital role in helping us get this important message out to all families, educators, and policy makers at the state and local levels.”

About 20 members serve on the council, appointed on a rolling basis. The council meets at least twice annually in person. Members have the option of using technology to meet virtually from their home, work place, their children’s school, or library for other meetings. Opportunities to provide a parent voice and to serve on other groups within DPI are also available. The group will work to:

• foster communication and engagement of parents and community members on how to achieve “Every Child a Graduate,” a key priority of State Superintendent Evers,
• share information on positive programs and resources,
• help parents network with each others to initiate school-wide student achievement projects, and
• provide a parent voice to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and its initiatives, including its VISTA grant.

For more information, please contact Jane Grinde, director of the Community Learning and Partnerships Team, at 608/266-9356 or jane.grinde@dpi.wi.gov.

August 22, 2011 meeting

• Agenda
• Notes
• PowerPoint on Technology in Wisconsin's Schools by Kurt Kiefer, DPI Assistant Superintendent for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning
• PowerPoint on DPI's Education Data Reporting Solution by Laura Pinsonneault, Director, DPI Office of Educational Accountability

The council will provide input to the DPI web site, consider use of technology in learning, address school accountability, and provide on-going advice to the state superintendent. Previous parent advisory council members worked on the following projects:

"What Parents Want School Staff to Know" to promote the nurturing of positive and trusting relationships with educators. This document was also developed into a PowerPoint presentation: "What Parents Want School Staff to Know"

Effective Partnership Practices to address five key challenges that families, schools, and communities face as they strive to work together for children's learning.

DPI Policy on Family-School-Community Partnerships

For questions about this information, contact Jane L. Grinde (608) 266-9356

Last updated on 11/17/2011 12:49:24 PM