Parents as Teachers has been named one of the highest-rated applicants in the Department of Education’s Investing in Innovation (i3) program, scoring higher than Harvard University in the category of validation.

Parents as Teachers has been named one of the highest-rated applicants in the Department of Education’s Investing in Innovation (i3) program, scoring higher than Harvard University in the category of validation. Out of a field of 1,700 submissions from public and nonprofit applicants, just 49 were judged worthy to receive a share of $650 million in i3 grants, which will be awarded contingent upon securing a commitment for a 20 percent private sector match.

The i3 fund is part of a $10 billion investment in school reform included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to support innovative programs that help close the achievement gap and improve outcomes for high-needs students. For Parents as Teachers, this means funding to work in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) on 24 Bureau-funded schools across the country to reestablish BabyFACE, a home visiting/parent education program for Native American families of children birth to 3years old. Research on FACE, a similar 20-year-old program which uses the Parents as Teachers model to provide services for Native American children up to 5 years old, has already demonstrated that the program contributes to school readiness and third-grade reading achievement. BabyFACE will serve high-needs American Indian families living in the catchments areas of BIE schools not currently offering the FACE program.

“Inclusion on this list is an important opportunity for Parents as Teachers and a key investment toward reaching children and families during the critical, early years of a child’s life,” said Susan Stepleton, president and CEO of Parents as Teachers. “It also establishes a new level of credibility for us and greatly increases awareness of Parents as Teachers as the trusted resource for a proven home visiting model among the most respected organizations and professionals who serve the evolving needs of families.” The 49 selected applicants must still secure matching funds, she acknowledged, but this recognition places Parents as Teachers in a highly coveted position for corporate and foundation support.

The i3 competition was open to schools, nonprofits and institutions of higher education in partnership with public schools. Applicants were required to demonstrate previous success in closing achievement gaps, improving student progress toward proficiency, increasing graduation rates, or recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers and principals. The complete list of 49 selected applicants can be found on the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site.