Parents United for Responsible Education

Parents Save a School District, Offer National Model

One story is familiar: parent involvement can improve a school. But can parents transform an entire public school system?

Parents in Chicago did just that.

In the process, they created a model for school districts across the nation.

Read the transcript from April 2, 2004 Leadership Talks Archive

Join Leadership Talks on Friday, April 2, 2004 at 1 pm EST for a live, online interview with 2003 Leadership for a Changing World awardees from the leadership team of Parents United for Responsible Education (PURE), in Chicago. They will discuss how PURE has empowered parents to be advocates for quality schooling and, in the process, helped rebuild the Chicago public school system.

PURE was created in 1987 by parents and teachers who pledged to hold public officials accountable for a series of crises in the Chicago school system. In an early move, the organization helped establish a six-parent majority on each of Chicago’s elected LSCs. But in 1998, the LSCs’ power to help set school policy and curriculum, hire principals, and decide on local expenditures was threatened. When local officials tried to eliminate the school councils, PURE and other organizations stopped the move. PURE has also tackled school budget crises, controversial disciplinary procedures, alleged misuse of system funds, and barriers to parent involvement.

PURE is particularly concerned when children are denied enrollment. When this occurs—through suspension or the threat of expulsion—PURE’s leaders work to return children to the classroom. They have helped stop grade retentions they judged inappropriate, won needed bilingual services, and trained approximately 25,000 parents to understand their legal rights. The organization has further helped reverse policies that based third-, sixth-, and eighth-grade graduation on passing one standardized test. PURE also operates an extensive electronic and newsletter network and produces cable TV programs to reach often-isolated parents.

With 800 paying members, the organization remains Chicago’s only citywide, parent-based school reform group. “Each of us was that one parent in the school who researched the law, made dozens of phone calls, stood up in front of everyone, and said what needed to be said,” the PURE leaders say. Now they train other parents to take similar action.

For more information

PURE Leadership for a Changing World profile

Parents United for Responsible Education