Founded in 2001 by Steve & Joyce Schuck, Parents Challenge exists to provide families with tools that enable them to exercise educational choice and achieve academic success while advocating for all students in our community.

In the last ten years Parents Challenge has helped provide educational choice to over 1,600 students and their families. Almost two million dollars have been disbursed in scholarships and grants to ensure that choice is never limited to only those of means. Hundreds of families have been empowered with educational choice that they otherwise could not afford. Parents have been motivated and encouraged. They have taken responsibility for their children’s education and, in the process, taken more control of their own lives.

• Parents Challenge believes all kids have the right and the ability to be educated.
• Parents Challenge believes all parents care about their kids’ education.
• Parents Challenge believes parents, not bureaucrats, know what is best for their children.
• Parents Challenge believes schools exist to serve children and should be accountable to them and their parents.
• Parents Challenge believes all parents should be free to choose the best educational option for their children.
• Parents Challenge believes empowering all parents means better education for all.

Parents Challenge students have prospered, gaining the confidence and skills to succeed in life. Ten years of measuring academic performance have taught us that empowered parents and guardians working through the support system of our programs have dramatically improved their lives and those of their children. Through the work of Parents Challenge, families have been transformed and they, as well as our community, are better as a result.

Currently Parents Challenge works in four operational areas:

Parental Empowerment
Economically disadvantaged parents are resourced with interactive training so that they are more effective educators of, and advocates for, their children and for those of others as well. Monthly meetings enhance their skills, confidence, and engagement and are supplemented with 40 hours of annual volunteer service in the community and/or within their schools.

Grants and Scholarships
Partial tuition funding is provided to kids choosing private school; computers, transportation or tutoring is provided to kids choosing public schools, including charters; or a stipend to cover cost of curriculum materials to those choosing to home school.

Student Services
When entering the Parents Challenge program, every student is tested cognitively and academically, providing tools and data that will assist parents and teachers in addressing his or her needs individually. Similar testing is administered at the end of each academic year.

Community Engagement
Parents Challenge partners and collaborates with other service providing organizations and individuals throughout the community in an effort to take maximum advantage of all available resources while minimizing duplication, overlap, and inefficiencies. Parents, board members, and staff maintain constant interaction with schools and elected officials, community leaders, donors, and all others who share a commitment that a quality education is accessible to every child.