The effects of the pandemic were felt by all, but they were especially challenging for the families we serve who had never turned on a laptop or had access to reliable internet access until last year. Our Parents Advocating for Student Excellence (PASE) program helped parents successfully navigate the transition to virtual learning, teaching them how to communicate effectively with their children’s schools and ensure their children were on track while learning from home.
The effects of the pandemic were felt by all, but they were especially challenging for the families we serve who had never turned on a laptop or had access to reliable internet access until last year. Our Parents Advocating for Student Excellence (PASE) program helped parents successfully navigate the transition to virtual learning, teaching them how to communicate effectively with their children’s schools and ensure their children were on track while learning from home.
“PASE taught me how to get involved at my children’s school and communicate with my children’s teachers,” said Juana, who participated in the program last fall. Through PASE, she also learned how to support positive learning habits, boost her children’s self-esteem, and set expectations and boundaries.
Thanks to a $200,000 North Texas Cares grant, we have been able to help parents like Juana take an active role in supporting the academic success of their children, even while they were learning virtually. Additionally, we are a resource hub for Spanish-speaking families offering access to mental health, food insecurity, financial assistance, workforce, and homelessness prevention. We’re so thankful to W.W. Caruth Jr. Fund at Communities Foundation of Texas for investing in the future of more than 1,500 families who participated in PASE during the 2020–21 school year.