Washington Alliance for Better Schools receives $25,000 grant from Discuren Foundation

SEATTLE – In support of immigrant and refugee children, the Discuren Foundation has awarded a grant of $25,000 to Washington Alliance for Better Schools to help children in Monroe and Marysville School Districts be successful in school. Best practices research has demonstrated that family involvement in education is a major contributor to school success and high school graduation. Because of cultural and linguistic challenges, many immigrant, refugee, and multi-cultural families lack the understanding of the public education system or the confidence to participate in their children’s schools and academic lives. Many schools have difficulty building relationships with families that are people of color, English language learners, immigrants, and/or refugees. Best practices research also demonstrates that the most effective strategy for encouraging and supporting multi-cultural families’ participation in their children’s academic lives is leadership from within their own ethnic communities—from peers (Parent Natural Leaders) who are able to speak their language, understand their culture and past experiences, welcome them to their school communities, and help them navigate the public education system. The grant will allow expansion of the Parent Natural Leader project to 2 more districts — Monroe School District (Frank Wagner Elementary and Fryelands Elementary) and Marysville School District (Liberty Elementary and Cascade Elementary). These 4 schools have 1,238 children whom are eligible for free and reduced lunch, 496 are English Language learners, and 34-61% are not meeting math and/or reading standards. There are many impacts that the project has: families will become connected with each other, and they will become more engaged in their children’s education in the following ways: feel connected to school, understand what their children need to be successful in school and help their children be ready for school. By increasing parent engagement, drop-outs can be prevented. Parents are essential to keep kids in school and graduating from high school. For more information on this project, contact WABS at info@wabsalliance.org or 206-393-4918.