Useful Links
Parent Driven Approved Resources
All the organizations on this list have been reviewed for quality information and ease of use. If you know of a site that can be a great resource to our parents or have a particular need and can’t find resources, e-mail us at info@parentdrivenschools.com.
Area of Focus
Career Focus
Career Reality Check
After high school you will need to pay for housing, transportation and clothes. You will need money. You will need a career. This site is very hands-on and helps parents and youth get a "grip" on what the real working world costs of living and earning are. Want to be a basketball star, nurse, lawyer, or hairdresser? Find out the demand for the job you want in the economy right now, the likelihood of getting that job, and what you need to do in order to prepare yourself to qualify for that job. After filling out the quick questionnaire, this site shows you what the entry level pay is and how you will live on it. It lets you choose your own budget and expenses to see how far a paycheck really goes—talk about a REALITY CHECK! The website was created by the Texas Workforce Commission. This is a GREAT example of our tax dollars at work.
Want to learn more? Contact your local workforce commission. They help youth get ready for the world of work while still in high school. Every county in the nation has at least one office. Check your yellow pages under workforce commission
Website: www.cdr.state.tx.us/realitycheck
Career Mentor Press, LLC
The mission of Career Mentor Press, LLC is to provide information and advice to teens to help them prepare for happiness, fulfillment and success in their work life. Our first book, A Roadmap To Career Success -- 25 Tips For College Bound Students is a practical guide parents can use to coach their children regarding occupations and workplace competition. It is authored by John G. Bendt, a business executive with over 40 years of experience. The book speaks directly to teens to guide them through a process of career exploration and acquisition of workplace skills, so when they enter their work life, they can achieve success at something they like to do. The book not only describes what to do, it teaches students how to acquire the workplace skills they will need to succeed in today's competitive global world. It charts a journey that starts in high school, continues through college, and into one’s early work life. It’s available through the following website.
Website: www.roadmaptocareersuccess.com
Gifted Children
Open Spaces Communications, LLC
A Colorado-based company serving those who live and work with Gifted Children.
Website: http://www.our-gifted.com
Phone: 1.800.494.6178
Government Agencies
The Department of Education
Promotes educational excellence for all Americans.
Home page gives an overview of all that’s current on a national level. Every parent should glance at this page at least once a school year. The parent tab takes you straight to the resources that help you get the most out of the educational system for your child.
Website: http://www.ed.gov
The Department of Labor
Website: http://www.dol.gov
General Education Information
One Tough Job
This website presented by the Massachusetts Children’s Trust Fund is geared to parents. General information on how to care for your child, plus features that coincide with the topical events on a regular school calendar year. This site is a 2007 National Parenting Publication award winner—and here is why: Access a fun and easy-to-use tool which spotlights age development issues in one click. The page opens to a short summary of growth and development of the selected age phase and then great articles (20 plus articles in each listing that address specific issues), books to read and quick reference tabs for hot topic parenting issues like stress, discipline, and safety.
Website: http://www.onetoughjob.org
Massachusetts Children’s Trust Fund
Phone: 1.888.775.4KIDS
Parenting Teens Online
An information resource for parents of teenagers. The home page has a topical feature as well as clear and easy to use navigation buttons.
Two favorites:
Ask the Expert—You can ask the panel of experts a question. They will respond to you and if your question is picked, it is added to the ongoing dialogue page.
Book Excerpts—Who wouldn’t like to have a summary of a great book to read? Includes great blogs, which you must sign up to join, of course; general information arranged according to a teen’s point of view; information relating to what teens and parents are talking about; and of course all the essential hot topics that you would want while parenting a teen. You can also sign up for a free online magazine.
Website: http://www.parentingteensonline.com
Phone: 1.609.336.0323
E-mail: info@ParentingTeensOnline.com
Service Learning
Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities.
Learn and Serve, America's National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (NSLC), operates America's premier website supporting the service learning efforts of schools, higher education institutions, communities and tribal nations. They offer timely information and relevant resources, thousands of free online resources, the nation's largest library of service learning materials, national service learning email discussion lists and reference and technical assistance services.
On the home page, click “Instant facts and info” and it will lead you to a parents’ page that is jam packed with resources and ideas to get connected to service learning in your area—or to start your own project. Great tool for those who are working with an Interest and Abilities Map.
Website: http://www.servicelearning.org
Phone: 1-866-245-SERV (7378)
E-mail: info@servicelearning.org
PBS KIDS Sprout
PBS has a parent information page full of ideas, video clips from “Sesame Street” and articles from a panel of experts that inform you about various topics. For a commercial-based site, this is not bad. The advertisements are not overtly "in your face" and the site is easy to use. When you enter your zip code, the site provides information regarding how to contact your local television/web provider to get local information and support. You can even order Sprout Direct and get information and educational programming on your computer or TV with just one click.
Website: http://www.sproutforparents.com
Parent Involvement
Parents Reaching Out
Parents Reaching Out is a network of programs woven together to meet the ever-changing needs of New Mexico families. Information and resources abound for workshops and printed materials designed for families. The main focus is to provide opportunities for connecting with other parents and resources in communities across the state of New Mexico. The mission is to enhance outcomes for children and their families and build strong partnerships with the systems that touch their lives. The information and ideas are applicable to all parents and can be modified to meet individual needs. This is a very approachable website with helpful information.
Website: http://www.parentsreachingout.org
Phone: 1.800.524.5176
National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education
At NCPIE the mission is simple: to advocate the involvement of parents and families in their children's education and to foster relationships between home, school and community to enhance the education of our entire nation's young people. This website is comprised of an extensive and well laid-out resource database that navigates you to all the family, community and school organizations at the state and national level. The database is comprised of their partner/members. Many of the items that are listed here can be requested for free or are downloadable upon entering your email and/or signing up for a newsletter. Each category has over 50 listings.
Website: http://www.ncpie.org
Phone: 1.202.289.6790
Project Appleseed
Project Appleseed is the #1 ranked resource for 'parental involvement in public schools' in Google and Yahoo!
Named Top 10 education and parent leader in the United States by the editors of both Teacher and Parenting magazines.
Project Appleseed’s leadership is among the Top 10 in American education. The organization was one of the first nonprofits in America to utilize the Internet to build social capital. They engage parent leaders and educators to participate in the improvement of our public schools and educates parents in how to take advantage of the uniquely democratic nature of America's public schools.
Website: http://www.appleseed.com
What we love: All the videos that last about 2-3 minutes.
Concrete ideas that get you VERY inspired to be involved and engaged in your child’s education. Think you are too busy to do this? Go to www.appleseed.com/reportcard and view the video quiz. WOW!
Parent Net Association
Parent Net Association is a nonprofit organization that trains teachers and parents to create an opportunity to communicate in structured meetings held onsite at school about school, parenting, and current issues that affect the same age group. When parents and schools collaborate and cooperate, the student and school community benefit greatly.
What we like: 5-minute video that explains how Parent Net meetings work.
There are resources and an extensive library for you to access, after you become a member.
Website: http://www.parentinvolvementmatters.org
Political Action
Strong American Schools
Strong American Schools is a nonpartisan public awareness and advocacy effort aimed at elevating discussion amongst America's leaders about the need for education reform.
This campaign seeks to unite all Americans around the crucial mission of improving our public schools by elevating the discussion to a national stage.
Strong American Schools is a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, along with The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, (two of the largest philanthropic organizations in the world), have provided grant funding for Strong American Schools.
Roy Romer, the former governor of Colorado and most recently superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is the chairman and lead spokesman.
Strong American Schools and the ED in 08 campaign are the successors to the STAND UP campaign launched in 2006.
What we love: Current, up-to-date reporting on the facts around education and why they need to be on the national agenda. Interactive map that allows you to see your school and how it rates compared to the rest of your state and nation.
Website: http://www.edin08.com
Ready by 21
The Ready by 21™ Challenge calls on states and communities to change the odds for children and youth by changing the way they do business. Working in partnership with national organizations representing the business, government, education and nonprofit sectors, the Forum for Youth Investment provides frameworks, coaching, and tools to help leaders think differently, act differently, and act together. The Ready by 21™ Big Picture Approach helps leaders – from young people to parents, program directors to policy makers – bring precision to their passion, ensuring that all young people are ready by 21 – ready for college, world, and life.
Rigorous research and data to support a movement that is a collaboration between business, nonprofits, government and of course, schools and communities. Plenty of current articles and information about events happening all over the nation.
Website: http://www.forumforyouthinvestment.com
Phone: 1.202.207.3333
Mental Health Concerns
National Mental Health Information Center
Listing of National toll free help lines with a drop-down menu that covers a wealth of topics.
Special feature: under the resource menu there is a comprehensive dictionary which lists hundreds of terms regarding mental health, services and the various acronyms that are found on all these types of websites. Very helpful and easy to navigate.
Website: http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/hotlines
Tough Issues
Talking with Kids
Raising a child is probably the most gratifying job any of us will ever have -- and one of the toughest. We live in an increasingly complex world that challenges us every day with a wide range of disturbing issues that are difficult for children to understand and for adults to explain. This website can help by offering practical, concrete tips and techniques for talking easily and openly with young children ages 8 to 12 about some very tough issues: sex, HIV/AIDS, violence, drugs and alcohol. The website is a collaborative effort between Children Now, Kaiser Family Foundation and several media companies such as Nickelodeon and CNBC. Great Top 10 list for talking points and suggestions on how to use current television shows to help you and your kids have those tough conversations.
Website: http://www.talkingwithkids.org
Parenting is Prevention
Parenting is Prevention offers a link from the SAMHSA’s website to a page that offers good guidance on how to talk to your children about all kinds of tough issues. Side tabs that link to a wealth of resources.
Website: http://www.parentingisprevention.org
Homework Help
NPIN
Main target audience: Kids with autism and learning disabilities
NPIN has great links to homework help lines—two are free, the rest are fee-based. A clean site, each page contains a list of resources. Mostly commercial. The main purpose is to get you connected to information about disabilities and the laws governing this area, homework help and behavioral issues.
Website: http://www.npin.org
Math Focus
College Work Ready
Great 30 and 60-second interviews from all types of professions on why math matters. Having trouble getting your student to sit down and finish the math assignment? Having trouble getting your student to show up for math class? Watch these quick and to-the-point videos that will inspire you both to brush up on your math together. Also a great resource on how to make sure you are taking classes that get you ready to go to work and college. We love this site!
Website: http://www.collegeworkready.org
Phone: 1-800-550-5437
E-mail: info@collegeworkready.org
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