Parent Academy

Applications for the 2026-2027 Academic Year

The Mississippi Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (MS CGLR) is excited to announce that the application period for organizations to join the Parent Academy network as partner sites for the 2026-2027 academic year is open. Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm on Friday, November 13th.

Completing an Application

To apply as a partner site and join the Parent Academy network for the 2026-2027 academic year, download the APPLICATION, complete it in full, and submit the finished application to Kayla Denton at kndenton@olemiss.edu.

**Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm on Friday, November 13th, 2026**

For questions, contact Kayla Denton at kndenton@olemiss.edu

About Parent Academy

Parent Academy is a free program designed to help parents prepare their four-year-old children for a successful start to kindergarten. The program covers kindergarten-readiness topics such as oral language, early reading, math, and general development. The modules are conducted monthly at a local partner site, focusing on eliminating barriers to access by providing childcare on-site, food and beverage, and activities families may take home and use with their children to support their learning and development.

Initially developed by the Barksdale Reading Institute (BRI), Parent Academy was successfully implemented in 32 schools statewide between 2016 and 2019. More than 1,400 parents and caregivers attended and graduated from the program.

The program was relaunched for the 2024-2025 academic year under the leadership of the Center for Excellence in Literacy Instruction (CELI), in partnership with MS CGLR communities. During the 2025-2026 academic year, Parent Academy was successfully implemented across seven communities in the state, which included Bay Waveland, Galena, New Albany, Starkville, Tylertown, Vancleave, and Vicksburg.

Reflecting on the program’s impact, MSCGLR Director Alissa Hobart says she is “excited to see Parent Academy continue to grow across our state” and hopes “every family will feel empowered, and every child will walk into kindergarten feeling confident, curious, and ready to learn.”

Click here to read the 2024-2025 Pilot Evaluation Report.

Families attending Parent Academy events in Starkville (left) and Oxford (center, right)

The Parent Academy Network (Programs in Progress)

The 2026-2027 programs are currently underway! Explore active programs below, stay tuned, and follow @msglreading to find the Parent Academy program closest to you!

Communities currently implementing Parent Academy:

Starkville Emerson Family School
The Exchange Club of Vicksburg Child and Parent Center
Cleveland School District
Cary Christian Center
Hinds County School District
University of MS - Parent and Caregivers Success Program
Wayfinder Initiative - Gulfport
United Way of South MS - Gulfport
Operation Shoestring - Jackson
Oak Park Elementary School - Laurel
Tylertown Primary School
McCoy Elementary School - Yazoo City
Earl Nash Elementary School - Noxubee