The National Parent Teacher Association strives to achieve higher teacher satisfaction, parent involvement, and academic success for all students. To make this goal a reality, the PTA developed six standards for parent/family involvement. These six standards are used as a tool to build quality family-school partnerships with the outcome of student success.
All Families to Be Welcomed
Families need to be active participants in their child's school, be made to feel welcome and important. Parents should feel connected to other parents, the school staff, and be knowledgeable about what students are learning and doing in class. This standard is accomplished by creating a welcoming school environment with a school community that is respectful toward families.
Effectively Communicate
Families and school staff must participate in regular and successful communication about the students' education. Families should be kept well informed about their children's school and teachers, and the principal, and school staff should be open to family communication at all times. The flow of ideas and trust are kept intact by making sure that all families are equally informed about their children's school.
Support Student Success
Families and school staff must continually work together to promote learning and healthy development in the home, as well as at school. Schools must share information about student learning progress and support learning by including families in decision making about their children's education.
Advocate for Every Child
A parent's should be advocates for their children by knowing who to contact at their child's school for each issue that may arrive, as well as understand the legal rights their student has. When a problem does arise, the parent needs to know what the school's problem resolution procedure is and be involved in the process. Parents are offered the opportunity to learn how to make the best choices for their child's education with this fourth national standard.
Collaboration
The fifth standard in the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships encourages sharing the power between all parties involved in a child's education. Families, students, teachers, staff and community members should share power by voicing concerns and making decisions in a democratic manor.
Connecting With Community
Parents and school staff should work with neighborhood associations, local government, companies and post-secondary schools to strengthen the school. The goal for these collaborations is to make resources available to students, school personnel and families to build a well connected community.
