Parent Resources
This page includes links to information on parent involvement, suicide prevention, childcare, healthy and safe schools, academic standards, internet safety, and much more.

Multidistrict Online Providers
Recent legislation requires that online schools that contract to serve students from more than one district be approved by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Check here to see how various online schools scored on the OSPI assessment process.
www.digitallearning.k12.wa.us/

Center for the Improvement of Student Learning
The legislature reactivated CISL in 2006 with the purpose of facilitating access to information and materials on education improvement. www.k12.wa.us/cisl/

Office of the Education Ombudsman
A new public service agency, the OEO provides information about the public school system, how to get involved, conflict resolution between families and schools, and referrals to education-related resources in Washington State. www.waparentslearn.org

Dictionary of Education Terms
The Office of the Education Ombudsman published this first edition in 2010 to help parents unravel the mysteries of the language used by educators. It lists acronyms and their meanings as well as the meanings of many current terms used in Washington State’s education system. Click to Download

Links to Parent Resources
Action for Healthy Kids
Healthy students are better able to develop and learn. This website is designed to help you learn more about ways to support positive changes in children's fitness and nutrition in your community whether at a local, state or national level. www.actionforhealthykids.org

ADD Resources
Articles and information intended to help people with attention deficit disorder reach their full potential.
www.addresources.org/
 
Bright Futures
Bright Futures is a national health promotion initiative dedicated to the principle that every child deserves to be healthy and that optimal health involves a trusting relationship between the health professional, the child, the family, and the community as partners in health practice.
www.brightfutures.org

Child & Family WebGuide
Operated by Tufts University, the WebGuide is a directory that evaluates, describes and provides links to hundreds of sites containing child development research, parenting information, and practical advice.
www.cfw.tufts.edu/

Child Care Resource & Referral Network
Finding the right caregiver for your child means thinking about the needs of both your child and the family when deciding if a particular setting meets those needs. This website offers up-to-date referral information on licensed child & youth care.
www.childcarenet.org/

Crisis Clinic
An array of support services, immediate and confidential assistance, including information and linkage to community resources, for people in emotional distress and in need of help.
www.crisisclinic.org/main.html

Edge Foundation
The Edge Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that works to help students with ADHD, as well as students with executive functioning challenges that have not been diagnosed with ADHD, to achieve their full potential. The Edge Foundation provides life coaches who are trained in Edge’s specialized ADHD coaching model, which has been scientifically proven to effectively improve students’ self regulation and approach to learning. Edge Foundation coaches help students address issues such as transition to college, organizational skills, time management, goal setting and focus. The Edge Foundation also trains coaches and school personnel in its proven coaching model.
www.edgefoundation.org

Edutopia
Parent involvement articles and resources from the George Lucas Educational Foundation (GLEF), a nonprofit operating foundation that documents and disseminates information about exemplary programs in K-12 schools to help these practices spread nationwide.
www.edutopia.org

Family Guide to Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug Free
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website offers new ideas and support to families and caring adults in their efforts to keep youth mentally healthy and drug free.
http://family.samhsa.gov

FCC Parents' Place
This website, created by the Federal Communications Commission, has an array of information to help parents deal with, decipher, and monitor the communications that their children can access.
www.fcc.gov/parents/

Getting School Ready
This website, created by Project Lift-Off, is dedicated to "helping our children to be ready for school, and our schools be ready to meet the needs of our children."
www.gettingschoolready.org

Great Schools
This website helps you choose the right schools, track school performance, and find the resources you need to help your child succeed. Discover how to make the school system work for you.
www.pfl.greatschools.net

National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education
NCPIE serves as a clearinghouse for resources created to help build and facilitate effective family-school partnerships.
www.ncpie.org

Partnership for a Drug Free Washington and America
Resources to help kids and teens reject substance abuse by influencing attitudes through persuasive information.
www.drugfreeamerica.org

Partnership for Learning
Find out about the changes in Washington's schools and how you can help your child excel. Partnership for Learning produces a variety of resources to help raise awareness about Washington's school improvement efforts.
www.partnership4learning.org

Smithsonian Education
Educational activities, interactive lessons, teaching tools and tips for making museum visits fun and educational.
www.smithsonianeducation.org/families/index.html

Teen Workers
From the Department of Labor and Industries, the Teen Worker website covers information about Hiring Minors, the Hours of Work Allowed, Prohibited Hazardous Occupations, and safety topics such as Construction, Agriculture, Noise Exposure, Ergonomics, and Use of Lawn-care equipment, among others.
www.lni.wa.gov/WorkplaceRights/TeenWorkers/

The Washington Poison Center
The Washington Poison Center, a 501 c 3 non-profit, is available 24/7 to answer your calls concerning medications, drug interactions, chemicals, plants, and other poison concerns for people of all ages. All calls are confidential and free with the exception of calls concerning pets ($30 charge). Call 1-800-222-1222 for questions or emergencies and www.wapc.org for information.

Washington State Alcohol/Drug Information Clearinghouse
Provides information to the people of Washington State on issues relating to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
http://clearinghouse.adhl.org

Washington State School Safety Center
The Washington State School Safety Center provides guidance, technical assistance, and resources relative to keeping students and staff safe in our schools. We help schools develop comprehensive safety plans that address the four stages of safety planning: prevention/intervention, mitigation, response, and recovery. We also assist schools and parents with questions about student discipline, truancy, and bullying or harassment.
www.k12.wa.us/safetycenter/

Washington Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities
A reliable source of information and support including government programs, grassroots organizations, and parent support groups.
www.yellowpagesforkids.com/help/wa.htm

Youth Suicide Prevention Program
The YSPP mission is to reduce suicide attempts and deaths among Washington State youth. This website provides tangible ways to build a safety net for the youth of your community, and to change the staggering youth suicide statistics in our state.
www.yspp.org/

Zero to Three
Ideas and information about all areas of a young child's development from the National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families.
www.zerotothree.org