State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lillian M. Lowery today announced the 24 semifinalists for the 2013 Parent Involvement Matters Award.

The Parent Involvement Matters Award (PIMA) Program is the nation’s first statewide initiative of its kind – recognizing parents and legal guardians for their exceptional support of public education. Parents are nominated for demonstrating significant, positive impact in their education communities.

The 2013 Parent Involvement Matters Award will be presented during an evening celebration on Friday, May 17. Five finalists and a statewide winner, selected from the 24 semifinalists, will be announced during the award ceremony to be held at Eastern Technical High School in Baltimore County. 

“I am grateful and enthusiastic for what parents and guardians across Maryland are capable of accomplishing in our public schools. I take pleasure in honoring them because they play a fundamental role not only in the nurturing, but also in the edification of our future leaders,” said Dr. Lowery. “There is no denying that parent involvement is the single most important factor that pilots student achievement.”

The PIMA Program recognizes parents from local school systems across the State of Maryland, nominated for their contributions in one or more of the five areas of parental involvement:  Communication; Volunteering; Learning; Decision Making; and Community Collaboration.

Many of the semifinalists from previous years have become parent involvement advocates on the statewide level – serving as members of task forces, presenters at statewide meetings, and participants in education conventions as well as focus groups. For a list of the 24 PIMA winners and their brief bio, please click on the following link,
http://marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/pima/2013_PIMA_Award_Honorees.

Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) is the Platinum Sponsor for the PIMA Program. This sponsorship is part of Target’s ongoing efforts to build strong, safe, and healthy communities across the country. These efforts include Target’s long history of giving five percent of its income to communities, which today equals more than $3 million every week. As part of this commitment, Target is on track to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015 to help kids learn, schools teach and parents and caring adults engage.

The PIMA Program is also supported by the Maryland PTA – Silver Sponsor; with additional support provided by Cullins Trucking Inc.; Harvest Enterprises, Inc.; and the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium, Inc.