Black Parent Network is an organization that teaches a strength-based model, uplifting students and parents as they navigate the school system to lead to improved family engagement. We aim to provide them with tools and resources to navigate the school system and other life challenges.

The Black Excellence Course offerings are:

● Readers Rise: 5 weeks in length, 2-hour training sessions

● How to Navigate the Education System: 4-6 weeks in length, 1.5-hour sessions

● Cultural Relevancy: 4 sessions, 2-hour sessions

● Mental Wellness: 6-8 sessions, 2-hour sessions

● BPN’s trainings are designed for anyone; however, our primary target audience is parents of students who identify as Black.

Contact BPN to learn more about how these offerings could support your community.

"Las Familias" is a training offered by the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition (CSPC) that empowers diverse families and promotes inclusive parenting by providing English and Spanish resources on:

● Parenting styles.

● The unique intelligence of all children.

● Navigating the education system and parental/guardian rights.

CSPC’s goal is to ensure all children receive the best opportunities for academic success.

The Las Familias Curriculum includes six, two-hour sessions on the following topics:

● Structure of the Family

● Parenting Styles

● Communications

● How Children Learn

● Adults Working Together

● Navigating the school system

This curriculum will provide the knowledge and skills that all families should have to raise healthy children and help them do well in school.

Contact CSPC to learn more about how these offerings could support your community.

The National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) is a national nonprofit that has worked for more than 35 years to eradicate poverty through education solutions for families. We believe education is a shared, nonpartisan responsibility and that collaboration among families, schools, and community members can lead to powerful learning experiences. NCFL’s vision is to establish coordinated and aligned family learning systems in 60 communities by 2030, built with and for families, to increase education and economic outcomes and create more equitable communities. Each Family Learning System includes the following key components:

Family Literacy

Family literacy – in which multiple generations from the same family engage in learning together – has been at the heart of NCFL’s work for more than 35 years. NCFL’s 4-component model of family literacy programming is a powerful and adaptable tool to support family well-being and serve as a catalyst for positive change in communities. Sustained positive impacts of family literacy include:

● Increased parent involvement in at-home family literacy behaviors.

● Increased parent engagement in their children’s schools.

● Improved student attendance.

● Improved student academic outcomes.

Family Engagement

NCFL defines family engagement as the partnership between families and practitioners aimed at providing children and families with voice and agency throughout educational systems and within communities for the benefit of improving learning outcomes. 

Play with Purpose is a facilitated playgroup that supports family relationship-building and child development through play-based learning. Young children (ages 0-3) and preschoolers (ages 3-5) learn alongside other families during weekly in-person sessions, and are provided with books, supplemental materials (toys, tools, etc.), and additional Play Cards for at-home Parent and Child Together (PACT) Time® between sessions. 

Family Leadership

As a child’s first teacher and primary advocate, parenting adults need and deserve family leadership opportunities to expand their advocacy skills;  network with other families, school-based professionals, and local leaders; and create positive change in their schools and communities. 

Activate! Local is a project-based leadership model created specifically for parenting adults to identify and address critical issues within the school or community environment. These cohorts strengthen peer-to-peer relationships and build advocacy skills over an eight-month period.

Visit the NCFL website to learn more about how these offerings could support your community.

Contact NCFL to learn more about how these offerings could support your community.

Colorado Education Initiative (CEI) supports school districts through consulting, task force leadership, and trainings.

Task Forces

CEI co-creates and co-produces with localized task forces consisting of students, parents, community members, and school and district staff. Leaders identify the key challenge they want to create an action plan for. CEI leads the facilitation and process in a way that builds empathy and allows leaders to implement a clear, community-driven plan.

Wonderful experience and process. More districts need to take advantage of this opportunity! - Participant

Family Partnerships

A three-part series for school and school district staff to build skill and will for family, school, and community partnership. Training can be virtual or in-person. Topics are:

1. Building trusting partnerships.

2. Strengthening two-way communication.

3. Anchoring family partnership in student well-being and academics.

“Your class was fantastic, I loved it because it was very didactic and participative. The instructions were very easy to follow. I appreciate the time and dedication you and your team put into preparing it.” - Participant

Leadership and Governance

Based on Leadership St. Vrain, CEI supports districts to create a modified version of this training that has increased trust between community members, parents, and the school district. Participants have often gone on to run for school board, and studies have suggested that this promising program has increased bond and mill levies being passed. Participants better understand how school districts are run and feel more equipped to influence policies and practices locally.

Flexible Futures

CEI offers trainings for students, school and district staff, and community organizations as stand-alone or a three-part series on:

1. Individualized Academic and Career Plan (ICAP): Learn how to support students in being active participants in the ICAP process and how families can help make the ICAP an impactful tool to develop a successful future for students.

2. Pathways to Graduation: Learn about the new Colorado Graduation Guidelines and opportunities within your school that may provide a pathway to graduation for students. Navigate the pathway to graduation empowered with knowledge of the benefits and potential pitfalls of each graduation option.

3. Meaningful Career Conversations (MCC): Engage in the MCC Framework, where you learn how to instill trust, improve confidence, and support students to identify and work towards postsecondary career goals.

Consulting and Coaching

CEI works with school districts and school leaders through cognitive coaching and shared planning on strengthening family, school, and community partnership to meet their unique contexts and goals.

Contact CEI to learn more about how these offerings could support your community.