Educational leaders know it truly does take commitment by the entire school community to ensure students reach their full potential. Partnerships between administrators, teachers, parents and the community are key to student success. To this end, ACSA and the Parent Teacher Association have been working together to strengthen the bonds that bring them together: the common goal of increased academic success for students.

According to the California PTA, whether at the county, school district or local school level, administrators can ensure that a PTA is an informed and contributing part of the school community. PTA leaders and members often take their cues from the administrator’s advice. An administrator’s active support, cooperation and inspiration are vital to the success of a PTA.

Specific steps school administrators can take to strengthen these ties include:

• Become familiar with the basic policies and purposes of the PTA and their interpretation.
• Encourage teachers, staff members, parents and students to join and participate with the PTA.
• Invite teachers and staff members to contribute ideas for programs and projects.
• Assist the PTA in reaching out to community and local business leaders as potential members for coalition building and as resources.
• Encourage the development of PTA membership and informational packets for distribution to parents of new students enrolling in schools and the community at large.
• Advise the PTA on school district policies regarding classroom visitation, field trips, class parties, parent participation, directories, etc.
• Attend meetings and events of the PTA.

California State PTA President Pam Brady said the organization strives to increase and strengthen partnerships between administrators and parents. Numerous publications and trainings – both at the state and local level – focus on building strong relationships.

In addition, the state PTA is creating a section on its Web site devoted to “best practices” for parental involvement that features innovative ways schools, parents, teachers and administrators can work together to achieve greater parental engagement. ACSA has been asked to participate in sharing ideas from administrators.

“At both the state and local level we’re also talking with and listening to principals and superintendents whenever possible to see how we can work together even more effectively on behalf of children and families,” Brady said.

Brady said administrators should be proactive in involving parents. They should validate that parent involvement improves student achievement, and have scheduled meetings with the PTA president to update each other on what is going on. They should work together to develop ways parents can be involved in their child’s educational process.

“The key to any relationship is understanding each other’s roles and then setting goals together,” Brady said. “Work together on how to involve the larger community in supporting your school and public education.”

Brady said there are several steps administrators and parent leaders can take to keep their relationship strong. Plan parent education nights together. Develop strategies to support and welcome all families to the school. Share articles in newsletters. Develop a joint Web page. Jointly present best practices with your school board and city council.

Brady said strong relationships between administrators and PTAs are important because there are high expectations for schools, with dwindling resources to support them. Added to that is concern over the achievement gap, which research has shown can be closed by involving parents in the learning process.

“Public education is the cornerstone to an effective democracy because it ensures all children will receive a quality education,” Brady said. “It is imperative that administrators and PTAs continue to work together as partnerships, as they are both vested in the same high stake outcomes. Connecting the school and the home ultimately maximizes the outcomes for all children.”

ACSA Vice President Chuck Weis, superintendent of Ventura COE, said not only does he support PTA, he actively encourages all principals and parents to join a PTA or start one if one does not exist. He is a member of PTA and has worked closely with the Tri-County Education Coalition, which includes PTA, for many years.

“It is my belief that parent involvement in schools is essential to creating a great school,” Weis said. “Organizations like PTA give the children a voice and the educators a partner in the success of the children. At the secondary level, Parent Teacher Student Associations give the students a vehicle to exercise their voice. It is my belief that schools get better when they listen to?students and parents. Parents get stronger when they belong to PTA and listen to their colleague parents and work closely with educators.”

Weis said an added bonus to the PTA is the relationships that can be formed between teachers and parents by working side-by-side in PTA. The all-too-common teachers’ union perspective does not seem as present when teachers and parents work closely together.

“Often, teachers take on a different set of behaviors when they sit with PTA members to solve school problems,” he said.

ACSA Executive Director Bob Wells said forming partnerships with PTA – and other educational groups for that matter – greatly benefits public education in general.

“It takes dedication by the entire school community to ensure student success. From the county office to the classroom, every player is an integral part of a child’s learning,” Wells said. “But learning doesn’t stop outside the school walls. Parents also have a crucial role to play, and strong parental involvement has been proven to have a dramatic affect on student achievement.”

Because of this, Wells encourages all school leaders to work to strengthen their relationships with their local PTAs, and to form new relationships if need be.

“Naturally, strong partnerships between parents and schools aid in student achievement, and ACSA knows the importance of school administrators working closely with their parent-teacher associations to strengthen these bonds and ensure all students excel,” he said. “That is why ACSA encourages all its members to collaborate with the PTA in our quest to make public education in California the best it can be.”

For more information on how to support local PTAs, visit the California State PTA online at www.capta.org or call (916) 440-1985.