TAF Instructional At-Home Plan (IAHP)® Addresses the Root of the Student Achievement Gap by Actively Involving Parents

CHICAGO, June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Early childhood education has been heralded as the great equalizer in children's lives. However, without strong parental involvement every step of the way, the full benefits of pre-kindergarten programs cannot be realized. With this in mind, TAF™ Educational LLC is advancing the process of engaging parents in the academic wellbeing of their children. The Instructional At-Home Plan (IAHP) is a straightforward pre-k through grade three parental engagement strategy that makes student achievement a cooperative team effort (http://tafeducational.com/2-2).

After four years of implementation, IAHP has shown consistent and remarkable success in helping at-risk students break the cycle of academic underachievement. Classrooms where IAHP has been introduced have achieved as high as 90 percent or more of their students being at or above grade level proficiency by the end of the school year.

"Not only is the IAHP an undeniably effective tool, it's also quite affordable," explains Dr. Tanya Foster-DeMers, president of TAF Educational LLC. "At only 7 cents per day per student, the return on investment of this program is too good to pass up. One only needs to consider the high personal and societal cost of undereducated young people to see the value of any plan that bridges the achievement gap."

The IAHP is an evidence-based approach to improving literacy and math proficiency. For parents, the strategy is easy to understand, providing feedback and accountability measures. Research has proven what educators long suspected: early childhood is the ideal period during which to attack the achievement gap. Strong parental engagement is the most effective and sustainable way to do so.

The principal of a predominantly African-American, low-income Chicago elementary school had the following praise for the IAHP: "The tool has provided clear academic expectations for students that are then reinforced at home. Parents understand how students should perform academically and are provided the tools to support their child's learning. The IAHP has helped us all speak the same language, which ultimately translates into student achievement."

The mission of TAF Educational extends beyond short-term academic success. Children who grow up in poverty have only one guaranteed avenue to a better life for their family, and that is through academic success and empowerment. The IAHP makes such an outcome possible.

About TAF Educational LLC

TAF Educational LLC is dedicated to making a difference in the educational lives of children and their families. TAF assists schools, educators, and communities with the goal of ensuring that students reach their potential. It also strives to help educators understand that collaborating with and maximizing their relationships with parents is one of the most valuable tools in education today.

Media Contact:  
Tanya Foster-DeMers, Ed.D.  
President, TAF™ Educational LLC  
855-TAF-EDUC  
(855-823-3382)   
http://www.tafeducational.com  
Email

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SOURCE TAF Educational LLC