News Briefs

Parents as Reading Partners Program Update 

Nothing is more precious than seeing the excitement on a child’s face when they have participated in a Parents As Reading Partners Program (PARP)!! PTA units throughout the state are participating in the love of picking up a book and reading. Drop everything and read can be seen in many school districts within our state. We are so lucky to be able to promote this program and encourage PTA units, councils and libraries to participate. The idea is to raise awareness of literacy and student achievement while children learn to enjoy books and reading. Parents are encouraged to read with their child for at least 15 minutes a day - a memory that a child will never forget.

New York State PTA can provide you with the materials and tools you need to help you get started. Currently, we have a PARP Resource Guide available for purchase through the New York State PTA website or through the PTA Store at our events. We are working on a tool kit which will be launched next summer 2010.

Although New York State PTA will not be holding our annual Long Island PARP Conference this year, we will have PARP related programs at our annual NYS PTA Convention and training workshops at our NYS PTA Summer Leadership Conference, July 30 - August 1, 2010. We are also encouraging our regions throughout the state to conduct workshops. If your region has a website, check it for details.

For further information and questions, you may contact your Region Director or the NYS PTA PARP Chair.