In 2003, as New York City began an intensive restructuring of its high schools, a group of parents in the Bronx realized they and their neighbors lacked clear and up-to-date information about how to take advantage of the new educational options that were suddenly available to their middle-school children. In response to this need, Madeline Perez, a doctoral student at the CUNY Graduate Center's Urban Education Program, convened a group of parents who had successfully navigated their children's transition from middle to high school, and began developing what would come to be known as Family-to-Family: The Guide to the Schools of Hope. The guide, aimed at families whose children are eligible to attend the 85 new small high schools in the Bronx, is the result of an action research project conducted by staff from the Bronx Institute in collaboration with a steering committee made up of ten parents with children in the Bronx GEAR UP and ENLACE programs.

Parents worked with Madeline on researching the content of the guide and making decisions about its organization and design. The guide features an overview of the city's high school admissions process, the research team's findings about what Bronx families want in a high school, and information about the new high schools-all presented in a family-friendly and engaging format. Once the guide is published, the parents will facilitate meetings to introduce the guide to other Bronx families. Meetings will be held in middle schools, community centers, and in the parents' own living rooms. "Our goal is to introduce the concept of choice to our Bronx families, many of whom have no idea what that's all about," explains Naomi Barber, a leader at the Bronx Institute. "We want them to exercise their choosing muscles now, so they'll be ready to use them again when the kids get to college," says Barber.

To obtain a free copy of the guide, contact Naomi Barber.