PPS of Waco, Texas

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 Mission Statement:  PPS promotes excellence for all children in the Waco Independent School District by empowering parents to be constructively engaged partners across campus and district levels.  We believe strong schools make a strong community.

 Twelve years ago, a group of Waco Independent School District parents founded the Waco chapter of Parents for Public Schools (PPS) to give parents an organized voice in the affairs of our public schools.  PPS knows that parent involvement is vital to the educational success of students regardless of income or educational level, ethnic or racial background.    [Who Are We? - English / Spanish]

But what does parent involvement look like?  What's working to support these important relationships between school and home?  What changes need to be made to improve the partnership?

Consider some of the ways PPS addresses these questions through important and exciting work:

~Preparing for the superintendent's retirement, the School Board voted to use a superintendent search process that PPS helped create.  PPS hosted forums for parents and the community to share the qualities they would like to see in the next superintendent.  PPS members also served on the parent, business/community and educator advisory committees. Along with those who responded online, almost 200 parents and citizens provided input to the School Board regarding a new superintendent.  Dr. Roland Hernandez was hired and provided his vision for Waco public schools as the keynote speaker at our November meeting.  PPS will host two "Conversations with the Superintendent" this spring.  Watch for details here.

~The PPS Parent Leadership Institute trains and supports more active parent leaders in schools across the District.  This award-winning program has been used successfully in Kentucky since 1997 to connect parent involvement efforts to improving student achievement.  Twenty-three parent leaders graduated from the Institute in late November and are now finalizing their projects.  Fifteen Waco schools will benefit from the training that these parent leaders will bring to their schools.  Watch for school-specific parent-led projects on these campuses and get involved.

~Recruiting families to enroll their children in Waco public schools continues to be a priority for PPS.  Host a recruiting reception for families in your neighborhood or for your friends who want to know more about the good education offered in Waco ISD.

~A few local schools have been identified as not meeting state or federal achievement goals with some of their students.  PPS calls on all citizens to help the students and faculty at these schools.  Volunteer to tutor a student or assist a teacher - these are OUR schools.

~The First Generation College Student Initiative is now in phase 2.  This collaborative between PPS, MCYC (local youth collaboration) and McLennan Community College is preparing to survey Hispanic families in Waco public schools to gather information about their views and knowledge of college.  PPS will host a College Information Parent Hotline that will be up and running soon, to provide accurate information to families as they assist their children in applying for college and technical schools.  For more information, click on http://www.mclennan.edu/firstgen.

Public Education Works When You Do Your Part.