Guilford Parent Academy, formerly referred to as Parent University, is an initiative outlined in the district's Strategic Plan. It's a community collaborative designed to support parent and family involvement across the district. 

Guilford Parent Academy is a point of connection for parents to resources and information regarding ways they can support their child's education.

Guilford Parent Academy has three major components:

1. Learning Experiences/Events. Guilford Parent Academy offers new programs for parents and connects them to programs that currently exist in the community.
2. Information. Guilford Parent Academy is a one-stop shop for parents to learn how they can support their children. The website houses and organizes a myriad of information in an easily accessible way.
3. Connections to Support and Resources. Creating access to parent resources and making it easier for parents to navigate the school system are of paramount importance to Guilford Parent Academy. Guilford Parent Academy also is a point of connection for parents and educators to various resources offered by partnering organizations throughout Guilford County.

All learning experiences/events are based on four major themes:

• Tools for Parents. Information and experiences for parents to help children feel good about themselves as they grow and learn successfully. 
• School Success. Empowering parents to support children to reach for 21st Century opportunities and to meet 21st Century challenges.
• Health and Wellbeing. Information and activities to support healthy family lifestyles.
• Personal Growth and Development. Opportunities for personal growth for parents to enrich their lives and their children's lives.

Guilford Parent Academy programs are held at area churches, neighborhood centers, schools, businesses, universities, community colleges, non-profit organizations, cultural institutions, museums, hospitals, libraries, parks and other places that are convenient, welcoming and inviting for parents. We also offer programs for parents via the Internet and GCSTV-2.

Guilford Parent Academy is part of the district's strategic plan. The initiative supports Area II, Supportive Family & Community Involvement.

Parent Academy was included in the strategic plan after the district received an overwhelming amount of responses through the "Mo Wants to Know" campaign about the need to do the following:

• Increase parent involvement/engagement in students' education;
• Ensure positive, respectful exchanges between principals/school staff/parents/students;
• Provide more opportunities for input/feedback;
• Create an extended community outreach program from the schools into the local neighborhoods; and
• Develop positive parents/teacher/student relationships.

In other districts across the nation, similar parent universities have provided much-needed resources to parents. Research proves that students and schools benefit tremendously when parents and families become involved in a child's education.

Although Guilford Parent Academy is designed for parents, it is not necessary to be a GCS parent to participate in Guilford Parent Academy. GCS recognizes that all family and community members play a role in helping students achieve success.

To register, visit the Guilford Parent Academy website and click on the "register" tab. If you don't have computer access, call 279-4924 and we will be happy to assist you. Although the program and services are free, we do want to track participation and parents' satisfaction levels with the programs for research and evaluation purposes.

We are always accepting proposals for workshops, seminars, classes and learning activities that focus on the four Parent Academy themes. To submit a proposal, click here.

Parent Academy is parent-led and parent-driven, and has been since its inception.

A diverse project team of more than 30 parents, educators and community members representing various geographic areas, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds and perspectives helped Guilford County Schools create Guilford Parent Academy. The project team developed the Mission and Vision statement. Parents chaired or served as co-chairs for three project team subcommittees: research and evaluation, program and communications.

Throughout the planning process, we also had a community advisory committee that included service providers and representatives from local agencies that work with families. This group provided additional guidance, input and advice.

Currently, a Curriculum Review Committee consisting of parents, district administrators, principals and community members, reviews all proposals to ensure program offerings are research-based and meet high standards for quality. The committee meets on an as-needed basis, usually twice annually.

We also have the Friends of Guilford Parent Academy, which is a grassroots committee of parents who work together to encourage other parents get involved with Parent Academy, either by attending workshops or by signing up for online learning resources.

Visit our website at http://www.gcsnc.com/parentacademy or give us a call at 279-4924.