October 13, Ottawa, ON — Fifty-one Ottawa-Carleton District School Board schools will receive over $45,000 thanks to the Parent Reaching Out (PRO) Grants for School Councils from the Ministry of Education. (Attached is a complete list of OCDSB school projects).

Parents play a fundamental role in public education and Ontario’s PRO grants are intended to promote parental involvement in their children’s education and to support continuing student learning.

School councils apply for grants to support school-based initiatives concentrating on encouraging parents who may experience challenges in becoming involved in the school community due to language barriers, recent immigration, poverty, newness to Ontario’s school system, or other factors.

Director of Education Barrie Hammond says the 51 schools receiving the grant money will use the funds to improve communication avenues. The money will allow for the creation and sharing of multilingual information brochures, as well as networking opportunities including parenting workshops. He added that all school councils are to be congratulated for their interest and resolve in applying for these grants, which will foster enhanced communication between parents and their greater school community.

PRO Projects must be completed and all funds spent by June 30, 2011. School councils and the District are required to complete a report for the finished project by August 31, 2011.  Improving the interaction of parents in the education of their children is a key strategy of the Ministry of Education in support of improved student achievement.

Officials with the Parent Engagement and Regional Offices remarked that the response regarding the initiative was overwhelmingly positive, with 1871 schools in the province submitting applications. The total amount received in Parent Reaching Out Grants is $45,480.00

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Should you have any questions about the PRO grants, please contact Sharlene Hunter, OCDSB Communications and Information Services at 596-8264.