A new breed of booster: Charlotte nonprofit is helping parents to tackle complex issues, take active role in kids' learning.

Byline: Ann Doss Helms

Apr. 18--When a staff member at Pineville's Sterling Elementary approached Whitni Wilson-Wertz about parent-leadership training, her response was immediate: If it's about raising money, no thanks. It wasn't. Gift-wrap sales and hot-dog suppers remain a staple of life for school parents. But many families are pioneering a new generation of activism.

They're analyzing test scores and demographic trends, building electronic networks and reaching across cultures. They see themselves as partners in education strategy, not just teachers' helpers. The nonprofit Charlotte Advocates for Education is leading the shift. The group is recruiting a third "parent leadership network" class, which will start a two-year training and advocacy stint this fall.

Today, test scores and other data drive everything from how a teacher gives reading lessons to how much money schools get. Parents who want to make a real difference must develop sophisticated skills and a broad view beyond their own children, say Carolyn Allred and Margaret Carnes, leaders in the Charlotte Advocates network. "Our eyes need to be focused on the…