The Mission of the Parental Readiness and Empowerment Program

The Parental Readiness and Empowerment Program (PREP) works to improve K-12 student performance, retention, and access to equal educational opportunities. We serve low-income and minority children in targeted communities by helping parents stay engaged in school and advocate effectively for their children. Our goal is for every child to have meaningful access to a quality education.
PREP brings together parents, schools, civil rights groups, volunteer attorneys, and community partners to address situations where students are excluded from or denied educational opportunity.

PREP stands for equal access to education and practical skills for self-advocacy. What started as a single pilot program now operates through workshops, webinars, and volunteer legal support in communities across the country.

Why parental empowerment? Why PREP?

Parental empowerment is an important part of ensuring that children have the opportunity to succeed in education. Research clearly demonstrates that parental involvement is one of the pillars of educational achievement. The difference between an involved parent and a disengaged one can make as much as a whole grade level difference in a child’s academic achievement.

Parental engagement matters for academic success in a variety of ways:

• Parental effort correlates with high achievement and high levels of school resources
• Parental involvement produces higher achievement in urban schools
• Parental engagement has long-term effects on student success

PREP builds on this research through workshops and trainings where parents practice real advocacy skills. Attendees report a stronger ability to speak up for their children, and sustained parent involvement leads to better long-term academic outcomes.

By focusing on low-income and minority communities, PREP works to improve academic achievement for historically disadvantaged populations and help families respond to exclusion or discrimination. PREP gives parents the resources they need so the next generation has fair access to educational opportunity and success.

PREP Today: A National Network for Parents

PREP operates as a program of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, with parent workshops hosted in cities across the United States. Volunteer attorneys and education specialists help families understand topics such as special education, school discipline, English language learner rights, and enrollment disputes.

Parents can access free resources online, including state-specific parent guides, video tutorials, and live webinars. Community library workshops, like those held at Hennepin County Library in Minneapolis, bring PREP training directly to neighborhoods. To learn more about getting involved as a parent or volunteer, visit Get Involved or read How Does PREP Work?.