CAPE'S PROGRAM EXPANDING TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND

Cape Girardeau's Parents as Teachers program has proved so popular with parents it will expand for the coming school year.

In Cape Girardeau, 283 families participated in Parents as Teachers last year. A waiting list was in place most of the year for parents who wanted to participate. Space was not available.

The district is hiring a fourth parent educator to help eliminate a waiting list for the program, said Richard Bollwerk, director of elementary education for Cape Girardeau Public Schools.

Missouri's Department of Education estimates that 60,000 families statewide take part in PAT during a school year, representing about 30 percent of Missouri families with children under age 3.

Bollwerk said, "Parents tell us all the time that their involvement in the program has helped prepare their children better for school and (has helped them) become better parents. We've had real good response from parents."

In addition to adding a staff member, Bollwerk said parent educators hope to reach more Cape Girardeau families with children who may be "at risk."

"The general concept of the parent as the first teacher is good for anyone," Bollwerk said. "But one of the real thrusts of the program was to try to help those families who don't know where to seek information about child development, especially teen moms, single-parent families and low-income families."

He said parent educators are taking extra steps to get these types of families involved in the program.

"Many are apprehensive about having someone come into their homes. They're afraid the parent educator might say this home is not what it should be, or that they will be penalized because they are seeking a little advice," Bollwerk said.

"We are concerned about the child's development and how to help parents prepare that child for school."

Bollwerk agrees with Missouri Sen. Christopher Bond that the program can benefit other schools and states. Bond has proposed legislation to provide seed money to expand Parents as Teachers nationwide.

But he added, "There is always a concern when you generalize and say everyone can use this program.

"The concept is excellent. Parents do need some help in fully understanding how a child develops and what they can do to prepare that child for school. I think it's a program that can be adapted to the community."

Parents as Teachers operates during the school year and each Missouri school district is required to provide the service.