Maryland Parental Information Resource Center (MD PIRC) Launches Website in Spanish to Engage Spanish Speaking Parents and Community Members

    BETHESDA, Md., July 15 /EMWPresswire/ -- The Maryland State

Parental Information and Resource Center (MD PIRC) is proud to announce the

launch of its website in Spanish (http://www.mdpirc.org). The Spanish section of

the website is aimed at giving Spanish speaking parents and educators the

tools they need to boost family engagement and achievement for all

students.



    The Maryland State PIRC was launched in October 2006 as part of a

five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation

and Improvement. The grant was awarded to the Bethesda-based Mid-Atlantic

Equity Consortium (MAC), which oversees the project, in collaboration with

community partners.



    Though the Department of Education began offering the PIRC grants in

1995, this is the first time that "the emphasis of the program is a

coordinated, statewide effort," according to Maryland PIRC Project Director

Susan Shaffer. Except in large states like California or New York, Shaffer

points out, "there is now only one PIRC grant per state."



    The Spanish website, which can be accessed by clicking the "en Espanol"

link on the homepage, has a wealth of information for Spanish speaking

parents. Currently, only the "Parents & Families" section of the website is

available in Spanish. The English website, which has been fully functional

since September 2007, features two additional sections intended for

Advocates and Educators. In the near future, the "Advocates" section will

also be available in Spanish. The Maryland PIRC already offers a bilingual,

toll-free Parent Hotline.



    Spanish speaking parents and community members will find an abundance

of useful information spanning a range of topics that include, but are not

limited to: Achievement Gap Issues, the No Child Left Behind Act, Early

Childhood Education, Literacy & Reading, Health & Wellness, Learning

Disabilities, Social Services, Legal Issues, School Reform, and Learning

Tools for Children. Users can browse answers to frequently asked questions;

consult insightful studies, reports, and guides; access a list of helpful

websites and organizations; and read relevant news articles from a variety

of local and national publications.



    The goal for the Spanish website, according to Shaffer, is for it to be

"a one stop destination for our Spanish speaking families and partners. We

want Spanish speaking parents and advocates to be able to look to our

website for all of the information they need regarding parental

involvement, education, and raising successful children." She continues by

emphasizing that the PIRC will "work diligently to keep the information

current."



    The website's content will be comprehensive, featuring content that is

up-to-date, and reflective of current educational and parental involvement

issues.