Programs

Raise Awareness

Step One: Raise Awareness

PTA’s process for building successful partnerships is grounded in the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships and consists of three basic steps. The first step is raising awareness about the power of family and community involvement.

Raising awareness involves continually educating school stakeholders about the importance of family and community involvement in children’s academic experience, and the vital roles they can play.

Stakeholders include parents, extended family members, other caregivers,teachers, school staff and administrators, community leaders, local businesses and organizations, and more.

You can present the message about involvement not only to regular PTA and school audiences but also to local service and social clubs, town meetings, church groups, major area employers, etc. Tell them how they can help improve your school, raise student achievement, and benefit themselves and the rest of the community.

As you talk about roles and opportunities, introduce the National Standards and the Building Successful Partnerships process as tools for increasing involvement. By reaching out to these groups and individuals, you’ll build trust and ownership, gaining support for the school, the students, your PTA, and the work ahead.

Tools to Use

Use the PowerPoint presentations below to educate school stakeholders about the National Standards and how to strengthen partnerships.

The handouts (under Parent Guides) can be used to enhance presentations, be published in newsletters or on websites, or be distributed at events.

Background

The Power of Partnerships: A Guide to PTA's Building Successful Partnerships Process
The three-step process to building successful family-school partnerships.

El Poder de las Asociaciones
Una guía al proceso de edificación de asociaciones exitosas de la PTA—en Español (The Power of Partnerships booklet in Spanish)