PTA Urges Inclusion of Four Key Principals in NCLB Reauthorization
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 27, 2007) – As the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) approaches, the national Parent Teacher Association’s (PTA) released today their recommendations on revising the education law.
The recommendations outline four major principals: assuring the implementation of parent involvement provisions required in NCLB; delivering clear, timely information to parents; integrating Parent Information and Centers (PIRCs) into parent involvement plans; and providing incentives to businesses and community groups to encourage school-community partnerships. A summary of PTA’s four principals of parent involvement to include in NCLB:
PTA recommends every state designate an office or position, within their education department, responsible for overseeing the proper implementation of the parent involvement provisions required under NCLB. It will maintain records of all comments made to or about any local education agency (LEA) in that state with regard to an LEA’s development and implementation of their parent involvement plan and shall annually send a report to the state’s PIRC listing every LEA’s and school’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and state assessment scores, as well as information on their compliance with legal requirements for parent involvement.
PTA recommends the federal law require schools to provide information from the accountability systems in language that is both clear and understandable to parents. The information must not only reach parents in a timely manner, but it must also be presented in a format and using language that is easy to comprehend.
PTA recommends states be required to integrate their PIRC into the plan to increase parent involvement. PIRCs should be at the forefront of not only disseminating information and materials to parents but also providing valuable assistance to schools that have not achieved AYP.
PTA recommends federal law support business and community involvement by providing incentives to encourage school-community partnerships. Schools must be an essential part of a community, working cooperatively to build partnerships within the community in order for the school to be more successful. Also, school-parent involvement plans must include community outreach and partnerships.
PTA’s complete recommendations outline the steps necessary to implement them, as well as the NCLB revisions needed to increase parent involvement and, in turn, increase student achievement.
It’s a fact, there is a direct link between parent involvement and student achievement. Although the government can not mandate parents to be involved, PTA urges Congress to give parents every opportunity to do so.
“With the appropriate funding, the implementation of these recommendations will connect parents and families, communities, and schools to ultimately help children succeed,” said PTA national president, Anna Weselak. “Whether it’s ensuring every school district in the country implements their parent involvement plans or providing schools the resources to inform parents quickly and clearly, this is about giving parents every opportunity to be involved in their child’s education.”
Visit www.pta.org to view PTA’s recommendations for parent involvement in NCLB reauthorization.
About PTA
PTA comprises nearly 6 million parents and other concerned adults devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that prides itself on being a powerful voice for children, a relevant resource for parents, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who is concerned with the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.
