LEXINGTON – The Governor’s Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership is seeking public school parents to attend an institute in Eastern Kentucky in the fall of 2013.

This institute will provide leadership training and support to parents to help them become advocates for improved education in their schools and communities. It will be conducted at the Jenny Wiley State Park, Prestonsburg, Kentucky on Aug. 16-17, Sept. 27-28 and Oct. 25-26, 2013. It is open to any parents or other caregivers with children in the public schools.

The Governor’s Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership is based on the 16-year program of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence which has received national recognition for the training program it began in 1997. Since then, about 1,600 parents have participated in six days of intense instruction to gain the knowledge and skills they need to become leaders in school improvement.

The Governor’s Commonwealth Institute’s curriculum focuses on leadership skills, planning and strategic development as well as elements of Kentucky’s education and accountability systems. After completing the institute, parents work with educators and other parents on projects targeting specific areas of student achievement.

Applications are now being accepted from parents in the Morehead State University and University of Pikeville service area which includes the following 32 counties: Bath, Bell, Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Greenup, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Martin, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike, Powell, Rowan and Wolfe. The deadline for applications is April 25.

The GCIPL class size is limited to 30 participants. Interested parents may apply online at www.kygovcipl.org, by contacting Lutricia Woods, Community Support Coordinator, at (606) 524-4560 or llwoods@bellsouth.net, or contacting Lou Ann Cavenee-Ramos, administrator, at (859) 233-9849 ext. 231 or lramos@prichardcommittee.org.

The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence is a nonprofit citizens’ organization that works to improve education for all Kentuckians.