Search

Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle 

Description

CPPS serves families and schools across Seattle through leadership education and family engagement outreach.  We help immigrant and low-income communities develop system knowledge and leadership skills to influence their schools, and equip parents at all levels to engage effectively with the education system.  CPPS elevates family voices in education by mobilizing parent-led reform and advocacy initiatives for school and district improvement, accountability, and achievement for all students.  

Mission Statement
Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle educates, engages, and mobilizes parents to strengthen and promote local public schools.

We envision that our community guarantees an excellent public education for all children.
Donate Now
Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle
PO Box 23055 
Seattle 
WA
98102 
(206) 604-4408 

Stephanie Alter Jones 
Executive Director 

Programs

Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle Programs

CPPS helps communities of parents find local solutions to educational concerns, share best practices across schools, and advocate for policies that improve local educational outcomes for our children. Our programs focus on increasing the power of parents to impact student achievement and improve public schools. 

CPPS prepares parents to understand and expect quality educational experiences and outcomes in their communities through parent leadership training.  Groups of up to 30 come together for one or two-day workshops to learn about school improvement issues, local standards, and resources for change.  CPPS parent development programs introduce school volunteering to English learning families, demystify parent partnership for those just beginning to understand the expectations of the educational system, and offer more advanced leadership training for those ready to leverage their knowledge into school or district improvement action.  CPPS helps all parents to stand as leaders and engage others in change for the benefit of all students. 


CPPS also supports the formation of parent-led advocacy agendas demanding quality school leadership, culturally competent and student-focused teachers, and active family engagement opportunities. Recent Parent Leadership graduates have mobilized a Parents' Bill of Rights for Quality Neighborhood Schools in Southeast Seattle, an academic summer learning program for three elementary schools and more!          

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

CPPS has achieved both program success and community recognition for our unique blend of parent leadership training and coaching support for parent-led reform and advocacy.  Over the past two years, we have trained over 130 parents and community members from across south Seattle. We have developed connections in a number of cultural communities, and have begun to establish school and regional partnerships within which our parent trainees can effect change.  That these accomplishments were largely realized by the efforts of volunteers is an achievement in itself.

Our most pressing need is to secure organizational capacity for our promising programs.  We are excited by the potential ahead -- parent engagement has become a local and regional priority, and we believe that our model promotes the kinds of parent engagement that impacts student performance.  This next year, CPPS is committed to building the capacity to serve more Seattle parents and to pilot fee-for-service training regionally.  We intend to broaden our outreach to African- American and Asian communities, and to families just entering K-12 education.  At the same time, we seek to deepen our work with the parents we find most ready for action leadership, to support their development via the design and implementation of school and community action projects.  Your investment in the potential of parent leaders will help us achieve these goals!  

Evaluation


Communities & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle (CPPS) works to ensure high-quality public schools in all communities by empowering parents and community members to strengthen public education. By combining outreach, organizing, and leadership training, CPPS mobilizes parents to advocate for school and district improvement, community accountability, and student achievement for all children.

Accessibility
CPPS is focused on deepening community engage in public education, particularly among families who are low-income, non-native English speaking, and/or immigrants where understanding about how the education system works is most needed. Currently, CPPS is working with Somali and Latino parents to develop additional training modules, translated materials, and parent support groups in order to better meet the needs of these communities.

Collaboration
CPPS partners with family support workers, principals, and community organizations, such as Rainier Beach Community Empowerment Coalition, the Vietnamese Friendship Association, East African Community Services, and the Filipino Community Association, to offer parent leadership opportunities to families. As part of the Community Center for Education Results’ Community Engagement Task Force, CPPS coordinates their parent engagement efforts with a network of other organizations.

Proven Success
The Parent Leadership Project in southeast Seattle brought together a diverse group of 67 parents from 10 schools to support one another, share ideas, and develop common participation expectations. Graduate from this program have started two new PTAs and led a number of projects including, a Parents' Bill of Rights for Quality Neighborhood Schools, a Welcoming Schools Challenge to inform schools how to better engage underrepresented families, and an advocacy strategy for addressing technology gaps.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
3/10/2013 $10,000.00support general operating expenses.
6/10/2012 $5,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

Similar Organizations

Give broadly to Education
If boosting student achievement and aspirations, teaching skills for success in college and career, and increasing the quality of public schools is important to you, then make a difference by giving to the Grantmaking Program.
Questions or comments about this organization?
Contact us to learn more.