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Keys to Successful Family Engagement !

PTA Mission

To make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.!

Background!More than 30 years of research shows that family involvement promotes student success. No matter what their family income or background may be, students with involved parents are more likely to:• Earn higher grades and test scores,• Pass their classes,• Attend school regularly,• Have better social skills and adapt well to school, and• Go on to postsecondary education.

When families, schools, and communities work together:• Student achievement improves,• Teacher morale rises,• Communication among parents, teachers, and administrators increases, and• Family, school, and community connections multiply.

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Standard 1—Welcoming All Families into the School Community!

Questions to ask:

When families walk into the building, do they feel the school is inviting and is a place where they “belong”?

Do the school’s policies and programs reflect, respect, and value the diversity of the families in the community?

Standard 1—Welcoming All Families into the School Community!

Keys to Success:

1.  Establish a PTA welcoming committee responsible for identifying ways to make all families feel welcome.

2.  Recruit bilingual parents to greet and interpret for families whose first language isn’t English.

3.  Offer family activities at low or no cost so everyone can participate; budget PTA funds for this purpose.

4.  Hold meetings in a variety of community locations (e.g., the local library, a community center, a church) to make them accessible to all.

5.  Greet other parents at school activities and events; sit with someone you don’t know and get to know them.

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Standard 2—Communicating Effectively!

Question to ask:

Does the school keep all families informed about important issues and events and make it easy for

families to communicate with teachers?

Standard 2—Communicating Effectively!

Keys to Success:1.  Make use of all channels of communication: automated phone systems,

text messaging, school and PTA websites, social media (Facebook, Twitter), eblasts, traditional paper flyers and newsletters, etc.

2.  Make sure all information is communicated in languages and formats to reach all parents.

3.  Host events that allow educators and parents to interact socially (coffee chats with the principal, for example)

4.  Role-play a parent-teacher conference for families and school staff, demonstrating effective ways for parents and teachers to share information and plan for the future.

5.  Survey your parents to get their feedback on your programs and on the school’s needs

Standard 3—Supporting Student Success!

Questions to ask:

Do families know and understand how well their children are succeeding in school and how well

the entire school is progressing?

Are families active participants in their children’slearning at home and at school?

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Standard 3—Supporting Student Success!

Keys to Success:1.  Determine what parents need to know and need to be able to

do to support their children’s academic success. Also determine how family and community engagement can support school goals.

2.  Work with school leadership to conduct workshops for parents and students on study skills, individual curriculum areas, standardized tests, and college and career planning.

3.  Create a checklist and tip sheets for effective parent-teacher conferences.

4.  Provide parent involvement suggestions through signs at the school and articles in the local newspaper.

5.  Link all events to student learning.

Standard 4—Speaking Up for Every Child!

Questions to ask:

Do parents know how the local school and district operate and how to raise questions or concerns about school and district

programs, policies, and activities?

Do they understand their rights and responsibilities under federal and state law as well as local ordinances and policies?

Are parents prepared to monitor students’ progress and guide them toward their goals through high school graduation,

postsecondary education, and a career?

Standard 4—Speaking Up for Every Child!

Keys to Success:1.  Involve parents in ongoing training on topics such as being an effective

advocate, identifying and supporting learning styles, resolving difficulties, and fostering student achievement.

2.  Get a copy of your school’s parent involvement policy and work with school leadership to update the policy to meet the needs of your community.

3.  Include a one-question poll in each PTA/school newsletter and post it on your website. Over the course of the year, cover a wide range of issues affecting students and the school. Use the parent feedback in making school and program decisions.

4.  Reach out to underrepresented populations to ensure access and equity for all students.

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Standard 5—Sharing Power!

Questions to ask:

Are all families full partners in making decisions that affect their children at school and in the community?

Do families have a strong, broad-based organization that offers regular opportunities to develop relationships

and raise concerns with school leaders, public officials, and business and community leaders?

Standard 5—Sharing Power!Keys to Success:

1.  Make sure the PTA membership and leadership is reflective of the school community.

2.  Work with the principal to identify ways the school can include and consult parents in decisions and ways the PTA can support the school improvement plan.

3.  Work with students, parents, teachers, school and community leaders, and businesses to develop a parent/family involvement policy that establishes the foundation for involvement programs in your community.

4.  Host a forum for candidates running for public office; focus questions on issues that affect children, families, and education.

5.  Get to know your elected officials at all levels of government.

Standard 6—Collaborating with the Community!

Question to ask:

Do parent and school leaders work closely with community organizations, businesses, and institutions of

higher education to strengthen the school, make resources available to students, school staff, and families,

and build a family-friendly community?

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Standard 6—Collaborating with the Community!

Keys to Success:1.  Reach out to a broad base of partners in and around the school to help

achieve your desired results. Develop a shared vision of success among your partners and an understanding of the contributions each organization can bring.

2.  Host a community-resource fair highlighting programs that support the cultural, recreational, academic, health, social, and other needs of families.

3.  Invite senior/retired citizens to volunteer at the school. Also, invite high school students to volunteer at your elementary school events.

4.  Create a school alumni program to encourage alumni to volunteer time or make a donation to the school.

5.  Work with the local newspaper to promote events at the school.

National PTA School of Excellence!

National PTA School of Excellence is a recognition program that supports and celebrates partnerships between PTAs and schools to

enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students.

As a National PTA School of Excellence, families feel welcomed and empowered to support student success, and PTA is a key partner for

continuous school improvement.

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Resources!Georgia and National PTA

Educational & Programmatic resources (www.georgiapta.org and www.pta.org)

Your School’s Improvement Plan

Georgia Department of Education (www.gadoe.org)

Parent Engagement Program

Resources!

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PTA Mission

To make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.!