The parents assist in a variety of functions ranging from duplicating papers to working with individual students or small groups. A letter explaining PAL goes home during registration asking for volunteers, along with a checklist of ways they are willing to help and days and times for volunteering. These students, after turning three, are also eligible for the prekindergarten program at Lincoln School. These classes meet four days per week. The prekindergarten program provides a developmentally appropriate curriculum with integration for special needs students.
Parental involvement is very important to the program.
As part of the Early Childhood Block Grant, we have a parent coordinator who works with families who have children aged birth through kindergarten age. Our parent coordinator provides information through workshops, classes, and home visits stressing that parents are their child's first teacher. This program also works with teen parents. Counseling is provided to families in need through Egyptian Health Department. In its second full year of implementation, the Accelerated Reader Program has met with incredible appeal among students and staff.