WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced that the Rhode Island Parent Information Network, Inc. will receive $696,674 to continue its work in getting parents more involved in their childrens education.The Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN) is Rhode Islands federally designated Parent Information and Resource Center (PIRC).  The grant, which is distributed by the U.S. Department of Education, will enable PIRC to implement effective parental involvement policies, programs, and activities that lead to improvements in student academic achievement and strengthen partnerships among parents, teachers, and other school personnel in meeting the educational needs of children. Increased parental involvement can make a significant difference in student achievement.  When parents get personally involved in their kids education, the children tend to do better in the class room, Reed stated. This federal funding will help the Rhode Island Parent Information Network continue its work to get more parents involved with their childrens education.The grant will be used to improve communication between parents and schools by providing technical assistance to parents and school personnel and develop workshops, newsletters, and tip sheets for parents on a variety of parenting issues including literacy and violence prevention. It will also be used help RIPIN work directly with individual schools and school districts to develop community involvement strategies.In 1999, Reed introduced the PARENT Act to boost parental involvement in schools by providing parents with better access to information about their childrens education; making sure that there is an active, effective, and ongoing collaboration with schools; and requiring states to disseminate to every school proven, research-based practices that actually involve parents. This legislation was ultimately included in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.