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PIQE program offers parents education on education for kids

ARVIN —

After years of working in the fields in Tulare County, Teresa Ortega realized she was away from home far too much.

Her eldest son Jaime, 16, began to talk to back to his parents and his grades started to slip.

Ortega, 39, weighed in her options — earn a little extra cash or stay closer to home to keep an eye on her son. She chose the latter.

Ortega began asking questions to Arvin High School administrators on her son’s academic growth. On Jan. 31, she attended her second class in the nine-week course created by the Parents Institute for Quality Education (PIQE).

“I came here tonight to help guide my children in their studies. I want them to go to college,” said Ortega, who has three children between the ages of 9 and 16. “As for my eldest, he’s doing well, but I have to make sure he keeps doing well.”

Ortega was among the 190 parents, who will participate in the nine-week course developed by PIQE to help parents become their children’s best advocate. During the program, parents will meet for an hour and a half once a week to learn things like how to read a transcript, figure out their children’s GPA,  the ‘A through G’ requirements for universities and how to apply for scholarships and financial aid.
More than seven classrooms on the Arvin High campus were used to accommodate the large group of parents.

PIQE began in 1987 by Vahac Mardirosian and Alberto Ochoa in San Diego. It was created on two principles — every parent loves their child and wants a better future for them, and every child can learn and learning is a natural process.

Now in its 20th year, the program is a statewide organization and has expanded to  places like Dallas and Phoenix. PIQE provides the information and tools that parents, especially low-income immigrants, need to become more involved in their children’s education.

PIQE classes have been taught in 14 languages. In Kern County, they’re taught in Spanish and English. In the future, they hope to offer classes in Tagalog for the Filipino community in Kern County.

The Bakersfield office of PIQE opened its doors in November 2006. Previously, staff from the Fresno and Santa Ana offices would trek to Bakersfield to offer classes on a two-year trial basis. Due to its popularity in Kern County, the PIQE office was established.

Since PIQE has been in Bakersfield, they’ve graduated more than 1,000 parents. Statewide, PiQE has graduated 325,000 parents in its 20 years.

“Some parents enter the class shy and timid. They leave the class with self-confidence and motivated,” said Juan Avila, director of PIQE in Bakersfield.

“We believe there shouldn’t be a barrier (to obtain higher learning) because of economic status, and there shouldn’t be a barrier because of language. It’s not because of the students don’t have potential, but the lack of information.”

Parents crammed inside the classrooms on this particular evening and were attentive, taking notes like students preparing for a final exam.

PIQE parents are provided with a binder and worksheets. These materials will be used during the class sessions. Parents will later use what they’ve learned in the program to help in their child’s educational life.

 Avila says he sees the challenges facing Kern County, but remains optimistic that PIQE will be able to help.

“We want kids to go to the university. Community Colleges and vocational training are wonderful, but we want them to go even further with their career and educational goals,” said Avila. “Also, we want them to pay closer attention to the State Standard test that students take in seventh grade. Many don’t know this is a test that chooses your classes in high school, so some students don’t apply themselves completely.”

Parent Manuel García, 50, said he’s attending the classes because his daughter Estefany, 16, wants to go to Cal State Bakersfield when she graduates from Arvin High. She’s currently a senior.

García wanted to see what he can do to help his daughter attend CSUB because she lacks one of the “A through G” requirements to attend the university.

“I know they will have the answer. I want to help my daughter in any way I can because this is something she wants to do,” said García. “I hope these classes can give me the tools I need to help Estefany and her younger sisters to do well in school and attend an university.”