Learn More about CPEO

Program Overview

CPEO is a free program designed for parents that brings schools, parents, and the community together as equal partners in education so that all students can achieve their greatest academic potential. CPEO helps parents understand children’s social and emotional development, develop skills for navigating the school system and collaborating with staff, create home learning environments and learn about post-secondary and college options. 

Program Specifics

CPEO offers two different types of programs for parents who have students in the elementary, middle, and high school age ranges. In the fall, the traditional model is available, and, in the spring, we provide the seminar model. CPEO programs provide free dinner, transportation, and childcare. In addition, program instruction is available in English, Hmong, Spanish, and Somali. Parents are taught in the language of their choice and the facilitators of the program are ethnic and language specific.

Fall Traditional Model

The program runs for a total of 5 weeks with classes occurring one evening each week. The curriculum for the program was adopted from the Parent Institute of Quality Education (PIQE). Topics in this model help parents with the following:

• Create home learning environments
• Develop skills for collaborating with school staff
• Support parents in understanding the emotional and social development of their child(ren)
• Help parents navigate the school system
• Provide parents with the necessary information for post-secondary and college options

We highly encourage the traditional model for high schools for the following reasons:

• During the fall months, students complete the bulk of applications for their post-secondary options (i.e. FAFSA, scholarships, college forms/tours, etc.)
• Students are at the beginning of their high school academic planning for the school year.
• Parents receive the basic information on the high school system to help them understand the importance of their active and effective participation in the education of their child(ren).

Spring Seminar Model

Seminars run for a total of 3 weeks with presentations occurring one evening each week. The seminars are aligned with Minneapolis Public School (MPS) best practices and priorities, specifically, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Special Ed. / District Support, and Technology & Cyberbullying. The seminars teach parents the following:

• How to help and support children through time of change and growth
• Educate parents on the importance of their children developing positive self-concept by modeling and encouraging loving and respectful communication at home
• Provide insight into how your school specifically offers Special Ed services and at the district level.
• Discuss the commitment your school has to preparing all students for academic achievement, shared accountability, and professional development (PACs)
• Develop self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, and positive relationship skills

We highly encourage the new seminar model for Elementary and Middle Schools and/or schools that have already had the traditional CPEO Model for the following reasons:

• It is critical to establish healthy patterns of communication and conduct, especially at an early age for children.
• Validating children during their elementary and middle-school education will set them up for a positive relationship with themselves and their parents as they grow older
• Parents will learn how to motivate, encourage, and support children both in their academics and personal-growth
• The seminars focus on topics that should be instilled earlier, rather than later.

If you are interested in having CPEO at your school, click here for more information