The Mississippi Link
Although school is more than a month away, parents can keep their children in top academic performance during the rest of the summer and into the school year by taking advantage of the Mississippi Parent Information and Resource Center (MS PIRC).
Based in Lexington, Miss., the MS PIRC offers services to all parents across the state. According to its website, www.mississippipirc.org, the MS PIRC “is a state-wide parental information and resource center program funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide information about school choice, school report cards, school activities, school issues, and educational resources through web-based information.”
Collaborating with the Mississippi Department of Education, the MS PIRC offers a variety of services and information to parents, such as:
• a lending library that allows parents to check out resources to use at home with their children.
• free information to help their children succeed in school.
• education for parents regarding the No Child Left Behind Act
• parent-training classes on an ongoing basis.
• technical assistance to parent liaisons and parent coordinators of Mississippi school districts as well as local nonprofit and educational agencies to help them implement successful and effective parent involvement policies, programs and activities that lead to student achievement.
According its press release, the MS PIRC is under the auspices of the Community Students Learning Center (CSLC), a non-profit organization, and it makes its resources available “to parents in school districts and various educational programs throughout the state.”
A number of parents have already discovered the benefits of the MS PIRC. “The boys and I are reading, coloring and writing. We are really enjoying the learning activities and are excited about receiving more,” said Pamela W. Everett, a Jackson parent. The learning activities Everett is referring to are a part of FREE age-appropriate educational packets through the MS PIRC’s Ages and Stages service.
Bernice Catchings says the service has been very helpful in getting her daughter Teirra prepared for Pre-K by reading books, recognizing alphabets and numbers, identifying pictures and sounds. “She truly enjoys reading the books that I have gotten from the center. The resources also aids in teaching children to respect each other. I highly recommend the program to parents of any school-aged children,” said Catchings.
“Through a wealth of free educational services and materials, Mississippi PIRC empowers parents,” said Beulah Greer, executive director of CSLC and MS PIRC.
“We are blessed to have the only MS PIRC program in the state,” said Greer, “and we want parents of Mississippi school-aged children to know that we are committed to serving and empowering them to help their children to be the best that they can be.”
For more information about MS PIRC, visit the Community Students Learning Center, 333 Yazoo Street, Lexington, Miss. 39095, or call (662) 834-0905.You may visit www.mississippipirc.org or email: beulahgreer@bellsouth.net.
Matthew Caston contributed to this article.
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