BUILDING SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS

Parent Involvement Initiative

Schools with strong parent involvement programs experience profound benefits for students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Research shows that when parents are involved in student's education, those students generally have higher grades and test scores, better attendance, and more consistently completed homework.

Building Successful Partnerships is a multifaceted program focused on increasing awareness and implementation of the National Standards for Parent/Family involvement programs. National PTA launched a major initiative in August 1999, to train PTA leaders to present the organization's new Building Successful Partnerships program. Throughout the country, U.S. Virgin Islands and Department of Defense schools located in Europe and the Pacific, nearly 300 PTA leaders are available to give presentations on the benefits of parent involvement, the components of effective parent involvement programs, and how to implement the National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs.

These are interactive sessions designed to be adapted to your school community's individual needs. Our most recent presentation was at the Indiana Youth Institute Conference, in the university education classes, before administrators, parent groups, and others. Everyone can benefit from this program.

Trained Presenters:
Traci Davis, Dee Jones, Marilyn Jones, JoEllen Lee, Janet Malacina, Sue Switzer, Connie Trowbridge, Ingrid Voelker, Beth Wimmer

Goals of the presentations include:

Examine research findings that validate parent involvement as a critical predictor of student success.

Share best practice ideas for involving parents and families in the education of their students.

Provide steps that outline a process for taking action and effecting change.

Explore definitions/examples of positive parent/family involvement in the school setting based on the National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs.

Research studies indicate that although the six National Standards are closely related, each produces distinct and, in many cases, unique benefits for students, parents or schools.

The purpose for the standards is threefold: To promote meaningful parent and family participation To raise awareness regarding the components of effective programs To provide guidelines for schools that wish to improve their programs

The six National Standards are: Communicating, Parenting, Student Learning, Volunteering, School Decision Making and Advocacy, Collaborating with Community.

Indiana PTA has eight trained presenters that can visit your school and present this very informative program. Presentations range from 30 minutes to 120 minutes. Contact the State PTA Office at (317) 357-5881 or email us to request a Building Successful Partnerships parent involvement presentation for your local or state business, school boards, Chamber of Commerce, PTA meeting, or other gathering of parents, educators, administrators, community members, or legislators. Please contact the National PTA info@pta.org or (800) 307-4782 to request a presentation at a national conference or meeting.