Family engagement should transform the lives of every child in America. That’s why we are investing in our mission with the Center for Family Engagement. Through a focus on grassroots leadership development, the Center for Family Engagement aims to embed transformative family engagement practices, programs and policies across the educational system so that every parent is treated as a valuable partner in their child’s education.

Over the next three years, the Center for Family Engagement will …

• Raise awareness about transformative family engagement among PTA members and leaders by acting as a clearinghouse of innovative approaches, cutting-edge research, and best practices that PTAs can put into action

• Empower PTAs across the country to be leaders in transformative family engagement efforts through grant and recognition opportunities, as well as connections to other leading family engagement organizations

• Influence transformative family engagement decisions and resources by contributing to a national research agenda on how parent voice shapes family engagement programs, practices, and policies
  

When PTAs are inclusive they embrace and value diverse perspectives.

Developing an inclusive approach helps all families understand that their perspective matters. PTAs need to intentionally build trusting relationships with families in order to ensure they feel comfortable and welcome in the community. 

Strategies:

• Work on relationship building by using name tents so that you can call people by their names.

• Create a more welcoming environment to newcomers by avoiding the use  acronyms or making inside jokes.

• Start to question assumptions by thinking about the calendar for the year and exploring where you can  rethink a PTA tradition or to create a new one.

When PTAs have an integrated approach to family engagement they connect and align their efforts with the broader educational system.

When PTAs partner with teachers and link PTA programming to the learning that is happening in the classroom, it is even more effective.

Strategies:

• Evaluate how you can make parent teacher conferences more productive for everyone involved.

• Consider events that go beyond fundraising. For example, consider swapping a bake sale to raise money  for science supplies, with a student-led STEM forum for families.