TNPTA Recorded Videos of the
National Standards for School-Family Partnerships

Standard One-Welcoming Families

Standard Two-Communicating Effectively

Standard Three-Supporting Student Success

Standard Four-Speaking Up for Every Child

Standard Five-Sharing Power

Standard Six-Collaborating with the Community

 

PTA Resources for Families on Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

Six Keys to Engaging Families in ESSA
This National PTA document can be downloaded. Every unit should have a copy to get involved in ESSA.  Download

Parent and Family Engagement in ESSA 

ESSA specifically calls for parents to be meaningfully involved and consulted in the development of state and school district education plans. These education plans provide the framework for how a state and school district will deliver education services to public elementary and secondary school students.

Additionally, the law requires that parents must be involved in the creation of “state report cards” that provide information on how all schools in the state are performing—such as graduation rates, attendance and student achievement levels. The report cards must be written in a parent-friendly manner so that families can understand the information provided and take action to support their child’s education.

What can you do to support family engagement at the local, state and federal levels?

At the Local Level

• Join and volunteer with your local PTA to increase family engagement opportunities at your school.

• Volunteer to serve on your child’s school improvement plan team.

• Visit the school district website to see how you can become involved in the district’s parental involvement and family engagement initiatives.

• Reach out to school district leaders and engage with local education stakeholder groups.

At the State Level

• Volunteer with your state PTA.

• Reach out to state education leaders and engage with state-level education groups to inform implementation of ESSA.

• Check your state’s Department of Education website.

 • Nominate yourself to serve on the committee that drafts the state’s education plan and seek to include family engagement as an indicator of school success in the plan

 • Encourage your state to adopt the National PTA Standards for Family-School Partnerships and to prioritize family engagement in its state policy and guidance on school improvement.