National PTA: New Standards to Bolster Parent Involvement in Education

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 1997 -- The National PTA has developed standards to encourage parent involvement in their children's education. In a handbook released today, the National PTA highlighted six standards it believes are essential for any school or program involving parents and families. The standards are included in a guidebook that is designed to help educators and program administrators incorporate parents in their child's learning process.

"We know from three decades of research that children with involved parents do better in school and are more successful in life," said National PTA President Joan Dykstra. "Our organization is taking the much-needed step of identifying what factors are effective components of consistent, high- quality parent involvement programs."

The six factors identified by the National PTA are:

• Regular, two-way, meaningful communication between home and school
  
  
• Promotion and support of parenting skills
  
  
• Active parent participation in student learning
  
  
• Parents as welcome volunteer partners in schools
  
  
• Parents as full partners in school decisions that affect children and families
  
  
• Outreach to the community for resources to strengthen schools

"We believe that if schools consistently apply all six of these standards when they work with parents, a very effective team will develop that can only benefit the students," Dykstra said. In addition to outlining the standards, the new handbook offers examples of how they can be applied, and ways to measure the effectiveness of putting them into practice. Suggestions are included on how to launch a parent involvement program, along with worksheets to help guide the process.

"This is a very important tool for anyone who cares about providing quality education in America today," Dykstra said. "We hope everyone will use it for the good of all our children."

The standards have been endorsed by more than thirty national education and parent involvement organizations. They will be distributed to National PTA members and affiliated partner associations.

The National PTA, founded in 1897, encourages its 6.5 million members to be involved in key child education, health and welfare issues. The organization serves as an advocate for children and families in schools, the community, and before government agencies.

The complete text of the handbook, as well as a summary of background reports on parent involvement, can be found on the National PTA Web site.

CONTACT: Melissa Krylowicz or Patty Yoxall, of the National PTA, 312-670-6782