In June 2002, The University of La Verne Literacy Center was awarded a grant of $12,000 from the LA Times for materials and the development of parent information classes. The first round of classes was held during the week of February 24, 2003 through February 27, 2003.

The Literacy Center's Parent Information Classes are open to parents who have children currently enrolled in our tutoring program. Classes are conducted during the hours that children are tutored; parents attend the class being held on their child's scheduled tutoring day. Each day's information is geared toward the age group receiving tutoring that day. Presenters, Erica Landmann-Johnsey and Catherine Padilla, both graduates of our Reading and Language Arts Specialist Credential Program, have utilized their knowledge from the program, experience with the tutoring aspect of the center, and their real-world background in their own classrooms to plan for these classes. The first set of classes focused on comprehension and motivation; future classes will be tailored around parent feedback, and are set to include information on parent motivation and the language to use when trying to motivate the struggling reader.

Participation in our parent information classes is not required, nor is a child's standing in the center dependent upon parent attendance; however, we encourage each parent to join us for these presentations. We know that the home support system is the most important key to a child's success; we value our partnership with parents and want to provide one more way to help each child reach his or her literacy goals during, and after, the tutoring process.