Grand Rapids Parent University

Eliminating Barriers Together

Emotional support from families makes a difference for low-income students

Student Success Begins with 180 Days of School

Did you know that some chronically absent students have poor attendance for reasons beyond their control, such as unstable housing, unreliable transportation and a lack of access to health care?

GRPS’ Family and Community Engagement (F.A.C.E.) office aims to build a culture of attendance that begins with identifying and tackling those barriers.

Parents.grps.org is dedicated to helping our families. We recognize that COVID-19 has presented additional barriers. Therefore, we have provided local links to resources around Kent County to support you and your families.

Under the Resources tab on our website, you’ll find a link to the GRPS Student Handbook. This handbook contains information about attendance, grading scales, uniforms, behavioral expectations, and more.

The Zendesk Partner Difference - Our Reseller Program

Strive for Less than 5 Partnerships

Kent School Services Network

  • KSSN is a community school initiative that brings comprehensive health and human services to schools so that they can be easily accessed by students and families in a neighborhood setting. Learn more at https://www.kentssn.org/

Believe 2 Become (B2B)

  • Believe 2 Become, an initiative of the Doug and Maria DeVos foundation, works to ensure that young people achieve their full potential. B2B developed Strive for Less than 5, Parent University, Project Lift, and provided GRPS with essential program and funding support to launch and continue these initiatives.

Kids’ Food Basket

  • This lifesaving food program nourishes children, living at or near the poverty level, with critical evening meals to level the playing field for their academic achievement. The meals equip children and families with better access to fresh, locally grown food in order to build a more vibrant, healthy West Michigan. The recent addition of a growing farm increases access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Volunteers are essential, and new faces are always welcome! Learn more at kidsfoodbasket.org.

Attendance Works

  • Attendance works is the leading resource for districts, schools and families in reducing chronic absenteeism. The mission is to advance student success and help close equity gaps by reducing chronic absence. Learn more at https://www.attendanceworks.org/