PPS of Buffalo, New York

In the mid 1990's a group of parent leaders worked for two years on the New York State Compact for Learning's Shared Decision Making Plan and were troubled by the school district's inability to implement the proposals.  These parents organized as H.O.P.E. (Having an Opportunity to Pioneer Education) and committed to improving the Buffalo public schools.  After sending two parents to training through the Cross City Campaign for Urban School Reform, the group decided to create an independent community-based parent organization and incorporated as PPS of Buffalo in 1999.

PPS Buffalo played a role in the first generation Parent Advisory Committee for the Education Fund for Greater Buffalo.  The chapter initiated the Education Fund's Community Conversations on Education and Race, which was published in Public Education Network's Quality Now!  They also acted as volunteer parent consultants on the Education Fund's Community Walk and their Parent Partnership Report:  Parent Perceptions of the Schools We Have, the Schools We Need.  PPS Buffalo brought the Mayor's Parent Initiative to the Education Fund of Greater Buffalo, which resulted in $150,000 being awarded as community grants to improve student literacy through parent involvement.

The chapter is also involved in collaborative work with the school district, local colleges, universities and other education groups in developing small schools and best practice initiatives.  Boston's Center for Collaborative Education is working with them to duplicate the CCE pilot school model.

Most recently, The Wallace-Reader's Digest Funds have awarded a $30,000 "Ventures in Leadership" grant to PPS of Buffalo to strengthen leadership in the Buffalo Public Schools.  PPS Buffalo will be piloting their "Learn While Doing" workshops, which will support parent leaders in demonstrating how to build collaborative relationships between families and schools.  Each school that participates will receive a "School Cooperation Fund" to support parent involvement in shared decision-making.

PPS Buffalo believes parents need to be valued stakeholders in all the schools.  The Buffalo chapter of PPS is dedicated to school improvement through increased parent participation in the decision-making process.  This is of particular concern in Buffalo where public schools continue to falter in the face of increased state achievement standards and crumble under the weight of serious budget shortfalls.  The chapter is committed to providing organized active parent leadership in schools.