Parent University
San Joaquin Valley Rural Development Center – a subsidiary of the Office of Community and Economic Development at Fresno State – has been providing San Joaquin Valley school districts in its rural communities the opportunity to engage in Fresno State Parent University since 2013.
School districts and school sites throughout the eight-county Valley region have committed funding for parent digital literacy, parenting skills, and leadership/engagement under the Parent University model.
Since its initial inception, well over 4,500 parents have participated in Fresno State Parent University.
Fresno State Parent University offers school districts and sites the following classes:
Digital Literacy | Parenting Skills | English Language Comprehension
Course Overview
-Parents are refereed or recruited by the District’s Student Support Services and/or site principals and Parent University program staff.
-Maintain minimum 75% attendance/participation rate at all Parent University sessions.
-Provide classes for a minimum of 20 unduplicated parents, with no maximum required. Classes will be 9 weeks per cohort; two weekly meetings at a total of 5 hours per week; morning or evening sessions as needed. 2 cohorts per year.
-Empower families to be skilled, confident, positive leaders in their homes, their children’s schools, and their communities.
-Teach family leadership development skills that help develop strong public speaking skills, community mobilizing and enhance leadership qualities
-Increase parent/guardian-child interaction through family involvement and assure that family leaders are invested in the outcomes of their involvement through Parent University.