Thanks to increased funding from the City of Austin, the Parent Support Program in Austin Independent School District (ISD) is expanding its reach. The program introduces a new Regional Support Team aimed at enhancing engagement with families across the district.
The Parent Support staff play a crucial role by engaging directly with families, campus staff, and community members. This initiative seeks to ensure effective school-community partnerships and optimize the allocation of community resources.
The newly formed team includes two facilitators and two regional associates. Their mission is to connect with families in non-Title I schools and promote educational opportunities throughout the district.
Joy Diaz, Assistant Director of Community Engagement, expressed enthusiasm about the expansion: "We are excited to add these new members to the team. The Team will now support 116 campuses instead of only 73. It's a huge lift because there are families in need all over the school district and Austin ISD wants them to feel supported."
The program receives partial funding through a grant from the City of Austin. Previously, support was focused on Title I schools with 73 specialists working within those institutions.
The full team is expected to be operational by December 2024.