Center for Parent Education

Parent Teacher Education Connection (PTE Connect)

Click here for Parent Teacher Connection Curriculum

Project Summary

The University of North Texas Center for Parent Education and partner teacher education programs at the University of Mississippi, University of North Dakota, and the University of Texas El Paso have received a three-year grant from the Office of Postsecondary Education - Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). These universities have written and disseminated online modules that prepare teacher candidates to engage parents in the education of P-12 students. Modules that reflect the areas for parent involvement articulated by Epstein and the National PTA standards will be piloted in partner site programs with attention to their contribution to development of candidate attitudes, knowledge, and skills that promote parental engagement across cultures.

The North Texas Partnership for Parent Engagement, a grant funded by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and the Metropolitan Life Foundation project, originally developed six online modules embedded in courses of initial teacher education programs. The curriculum reflects the areas for parent involvement originally articulated by Dr. Joyce Epstein of Johns Hopkins University. These areas (parenting, communication, learning at home, volunteering, advocacy, and community) also form the basis for the National PTA standards for parent involvement. Five of the six modules developed were pilot tested by faculty in teacher education classes. Results of pre-and post-tests showed improved scores for most of the soon-to-be teachers at the University of North Texas and the University of Texas at Arlington.

The No Child Left Behind Act mandates schools to adopt policies and practices that actively engage parents and families in partnerships. This FIPSE project supports the academic work of children at home and the participation of parents in educational decision making.

Goals & Objectives

The goal of PTE Connection is to help teachers to work more effectively with parents and families across cultures to improve student achievement. Our curriculum has been revised to align with the 2007 National PTA Standards.

Project Partners

• University of North Texas
• National PTA

Publications & Presentations

• Newsletters
• Publications

For more information email: pteconnectproject@coe.unt.edu.