We know that education is most effective when schools, families, and communities work as partners. ParentCamps are opportunities for parents to come together with educators, advocates, and other interested people to talk about what is best for our children’s education. ParentCamp Inc. is a new national nonprofit corporation established to support the growth of ParentCamps across the country. The effort is designed to unite schools, families, and other members of a community. ParentCamp events, usually half a day, include a series of discussions that include the experiences and perspectives of everyone in the room. ParentCamp is about raising the voice of families in education. It is based on four core beliefs, outlined in the book Beyond the Bake Sale: 1. All parents have dreams for their children and want the best for them. 2. All parents have the capacity to support their children’s learning. 3. Parents and school staff should be equal partners. 4. The responsibility for building partnerships between school and home rests primarily with school staff, especially school leaders. Here is a short video produced by a group of students explaining ParentCamp: https://youtu.be/KezFARKQPPU ParentCamp is about improving education for all kids. Lifelong educators, disability advocates, parent activists -- ParentCamp participants are deeply invested in schools that serve kids of all needs and backgrounds. The U.S. Department of Education has established family and community engagement as a central policy to achieve this goal. It is a partner in the ParentCamp effort, hosting a few of its own over the past two years. A short clip from the October 2016 Parent Camp - Improving Literacy Outcomes with Secretary King. https://www.facebook.com/parentcamp/videos/1006407476147940/ Storify from ParentCamp - https://storify.com/ParentCamp/parentcamp-improving-literacy-outcomes-october-14-
