National Standards for Family-School Partnerships

PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships

Standard 1: Welcoming all families into the school community—Families are active participants in the life of the school, and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class.

Standard 2: Communicating effectively—Families and school staff engage in regular, two-way, meaningful communication about student learning.

Standard 3: Supporting student success—Families and school staff continuously collaborate to support students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school, and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively.

Standard 4: Speaking up for every child—Families are empowered to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success.

Standard 5: Sharing power—Families and school staff are equal partners in decisions that affect children and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs.

Standard 6: Collaborating with community—Families and school staff collaborate with community members to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation.

See below for more information and resources to build family-school partnerships.

Background

Report: The Positive Relationship Between Family Involvement and Student Success
A discussion of the finding connecting parent involvement to higher levels of student achievement.

National Standards for Family-School Partnerships (339k)
What parents, schools, and communities can do together to support student success.

Third Party Resources

Family Guide to Getting Involved With Correctional Education (NDTAC): Example of the Standards in Action
This guide was written for individuals with children who have been placed in a juvenile justice facility.

Additional Resources

Family-School Partnerships poster
Promoting the National Standards for Family-School Partnership

Action Steps for the Local PTA Leader
Ready, Set, Lead! National Standards action steps excerpted from the Implementation Guide

Estándares Nacionales para la Asociación de la Familia y la Escuela por PTA: acciones para el líder local de PTA
En susmarcas, listos, ¡guíen

National Standards Assessment Guide: Full Version
Includes introduction and information on all six standards for family-school partnerships

Estándares Nacionales Para las Asociaciones Familia-Escuela
Lo que los padres, escuelas y comunidades pueden hacer unidos para apoyar el éxito del estudiante

National Standards Assessment Guide: Introduction - Measuring Success
A guide to facilitate local schools' implementation of programs, practices, and policies that are grounded in the National Standards

Standard 1: Welcoming All Families into the School Community
Families are active participants in the life of the school, and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class.

Standard 2: Communicating Effectively
Families and school staff engage in regular, two-way, meaningful communication about student learning.

Standard 3: Supporting Student Success
Families and school staff continuously collaborate to support students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school, and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively.

Standard 4: Speaking Up for Every Child
Families are empowered to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success.

Standard 5: Sharing Power
Families and school staff are equal partners in decisions that affect children and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs.

Standard 6: Collaborating with Community
Families and school staff collaborate with community members to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation.

National Standards, Goals, and Indicators for Family-School Partnerships
Overview of the National Standard

The Power of Partnerships Family Survey (PDF)
An assessment tool for PTAs to measure the success of partnership programs

The Power of Partnerships Family Survey (Word document)
An assessment tool for PTAs to measure the success of partnership programs.

The Power of Partnerships Family Survey (Spanish)
Spanish-language version (Word Document)