Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
PHARR – The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) Parental Engagement Department was recently awarded a $1,000 Spring Innovation Grant from the National Literacy Directory to promote literacy among parents.
The National Literacy Directory helps individuals find local literacy and education programs and GED testing centers in their area. The directory contains over 7,000 educational agencies located across the United States. The Spring Innovation Grant is provided by the National Centers for Families Learning. They award a $1,000 grant to recognize and reward innovative literacy programs and educational programs that find solutions to challenges.
Through the district’s nationally recognized parent program, each year over 6,000 PSJA ISD parents participate in free classes in any of the eight Parent/Community Education Centers throughout the tri-city area. At these centers, parents are able to earn college credit and certifications through partners like South Texas College and the Region One Education Service Center. Courses include: ESL, GED, Citizenship, Nutrition Arts & Crafts, Welding, Auto Mechanics and even Security Guard Certifications.
“One of our goals we are working on right now is to make our classrooms-literature ready,” said PSJA Parental Engagement Program Coordinator Norma Garza. “Now, as our students are learning English, we want to provide more literature books.”
To participate in the free classes available through the PSJA Parental Engagement Program, individuals must be parents of PSJA ISD students and volunteer a minimum of 10 hours at their child’s campus each semester.
