Building Parent Leaders in Education!
As parents, we all want the best for our children: a quality education that sets them up for success.
Yet, many families often face barriers that prevent meaningful engagement. One key challenge is that parents may not know how to engage with the school in ways that feel impactful.
CPLAN provides a clear pathway for parents to support their children’s academic success by offering resources, training, and guidance. Beyond that, CPLAN empowers parents to become advocates within decision-making councils, working in partnership with schools to create a high-quality, holistic, and more just and inclusive education system.
The Need
Across Massachusetts, persistent disparities in educational access and outcomes disproportionately impact families facing language barriers, economic hardship, and systemic inequities. Traditional family engagement models do not create a pathway for families to meaningfully contribute to educational outcomes.
Families frequently report:
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Limited understanding of the education system and their role in contributing to their child's academic success
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Barriers to communication with schools due to language and cultural differences
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Lack of access to leadership opportunities within school systems
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Disconnection from decision-making spaces that shape school policies and practices
Families play a critical role in student success, yet many lack practical guidance for supporting their children's learning at home. Meanwhile, educators face increasing demands to address diverse student needs while experiencing their own barriers to maintaining meaningful family engagement that contributes to student success.
These gaps produce unhealthy school culture and climate for all school community members, low family engagement, low teacher retention, and ultimately poor student outcomes in academic achievement. Our leadership program (Powerful Partners Program) aims to address these challenges directly by building family and school capacity, fostering trust, strengthening relationships and creating pathways for authentic partnerships.
The State of Education in MA
40%
English language arts
Massachusetts students in grades 3–8 meeting or exceeding expectations on the 2026 MCAS.
−12 percentage points
ELA since 2019
The decline in grades 3–8 meeting or exceeding expectations.
41%
Mathematics
Students in grades 3–8 meeting or exceeding expectations on the 2026 MCAS.
−8 percentage points
Math since 2019
The decline in grades 3–8 meeting or exceeding expectations.
Our Solution
Parent Rights &
Local Control
CPLAN ensures parents have the knowledge and tools to take an active role in shaping education in their communities.
Transparency & Accountability
Our workshops empower parents to work with schools and districts on school improvement initiatives that benefit all students.
Student Success & Workforce Readiness
We help parents understand how to advocate for high academic standards & career readiness so students have the skills to succeed in a competitive economy.
Family- Centered Values
CPLAN supports families in navigating school choice options and ensuring their children receive the education that aligns with their needs and values.
What Our Members Say
"At my kids’ IEP meeting, I felt like I was on the same level as them for the first time and that’s because of CPLAN."
LIZ
Mother | Parent Advisory Council Member
Use the arrows to click through!
Announcements
Join a Parent Council!
Visit our Parents' Guide to Advocacy to learn more about strategies, resources, and ideas to strengthen the parent voice in your child's school!
Contact us if you have questions about ensuring your parent council is representative of the student body and effective at creating change in your child's school.
Annual Report
Our 2024 Annual Report highlights the progress we've made over the past year, from supporting District Parent Advisory Councils to promoting restorative justice practices in schools. We’re proud of the impact we've had and look forward to continuing this important work in the coming year!
We couldn't do it without the support of our amazing sponsors!
Thank you for everything you've done to further our mission and ensure all students have access to a high quality, holistic educational experience.
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