Results of PLTI

University of New Hampshire Evaluation

An evaluation led by the University of New Hampshire revealed that parents' civic involvement grew in a multitude of ways after graduating from the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI)^SM. Respondents were asked whether they participated in certain activities at least once a month.

mother and daughter Here are the percentages of those who said yes:

Working with types of people they hadn't worked with before: 93 percent;
Working with children other than their own: 80 percent;
Advocacy work: 73 percent (an increase of 34 percent);
Conflict resolution: 67 percent;
Serving on community boards: 52 percent (an increase of 31 percent);
Community organizing: 52 percent (an increase of 29 percent);
Public speaking: 58 percent (an increase of 29 percent); and
Participating in new community activities (an increase of 27 percent.)

In addition, there has been an assessment of PLTI's impact on one community, Meriden. In seven years, PLTI generated approximately 43,000 hours of parent volunteer time there. Graduates helped protect school budgets from cuts during a state budget crisis, guided the implementation of a school breakfast program at eight elementary schools, and created a report on the well being of city children and the status of the various programs meant for their education and safety.

Executive summary of the University of New Hampshire evaluation (11 pages, PDF)

RMC Research Corp. evaluation of PLTI and Parents SEE

In 2009, the RMC Research Corporation issued a report entitled, "The Evaluation of the Parent Leadership Training Institute and Parents Supporting Educational Excellence Programs: Impact of Civic Leadership Training for Parents." Read more about it here.

National research on parent involvement

"When schools, families, and communities work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more." That's one of the findings in a 2003 report from the National Center for Family & Community Connections with Schools, at the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL).

The 241-page report, "A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement," may be downloaded for free in PDF format or purchased in book form via the SEDL website.

More about parent engagement

PLTI curriculum and other program details
"But I'm Just a Parent," a speech by COC Executive Director Elaine Zimmerman
How Community Leaders Can Reap Parent Involvement
Parent Involvement Checklist for Public Officials
A Guide to Engaging Parents in Public-Private Child Care Partnerships (This is a publication of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and hosted on its website.)

^SM"Parent Leadership Training Institute" and "PLTI" are service marks owned by the Connecticut Commission on Children. They may not be used without the Commission's written permission.