What will parents learn during a Learning Session/Class?

 Parents will have the opportunity to learn more about:

• how to support their children’s learning at home and to access resources to ensure their child reaches academic success

• the teaching and learning approaches used in schools

• how they could build upon their own skills for personal and professional development

• how they can assume leadership roles in their schools and the community

The Hartford Parent University learning sessions are divided into five areas that engage and empower parents to become leaders, advocates, and trainers for student learning and school improvement. 

Parent Leader Certificate Requirements

• Parents will become more active and effective members of the School Governance Council, Parent Organization or community and learn different strategies on how to reach out to other parents.
• Must attend 10 classes between September and June within the same year
• Must commit to actively participating in either the School Governance Council, Parent Organization at your school or any community committee/task force

Parent Advocate Certificate Requirements

 Parents will increase their skills to advocate for students with special needs and work with families and school staff to create and develop plans that meet the student needs.

• Must attend 10 classes between September and June within the same year
• Must be a parent of a student with special needs
• Must commit to providing support for families of students with special needs after graduating 

Parent Trainer Certificate Requirements

• Must acquire a Parent Leader or Parent Advocate certificate
• Must complete the Parent Trainer Certificate program
• Must commit to leading at least 3 classes per year after graduating
• Parent trainers will receive a stipend for each class they lead contingent on funding

Parent coaching services are provided to Hartford parents by HPU parent coaches who live in the community.   

They assist parents with connecting to community resources/programs provided throughout the Hartford community that assist families with accessing food, housing, energy assistance, employment, education, healthcare and/or mental health services.

Please click on button below to access parent coaching services.

The Bottom Up Approach Parent Organizing Model (POM) is a parent-led model to address the need for effective parent engagement in schools. A network of parents at each school will create a structure and curriculum for engagement that reflects their particular needs and interest to better support their children’s learning.

Each school who implements this model will commit to achieving the following goals:

1. Create Parent Network Action Teams

2. Administer parent survey with Parent Action Teams

3. Review/Create Every Student Succeeds Act Parent Engagement Plan

4. Develop new parent leaders to take part in the decision-making process in their child’s school and child’s education

5. Deliver Parent Summer Empowerment Leadership Training Classes 

To receive more information on our parent organizing model, please email Milly Arciniegas, Executive Director at Millya@hartfordparentuniversity.org.