What is the National PTA School of Excellence program?
The National PTA School of Excellence program is an improvement and recognition program that supports and celebrates partnerships between PTAs, families and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being for all students. By enrolling in this program, your PTA and school administrators are making a year-long commitment to identify and implement an action plan for school improvement based on National PTA's National Standards for Family-School Partnerships and informed by National PTA’s Center for Family Engagement. At a National PTA School of Excellence, families feel welcomed and empowered to support student success, and PTA is a key partner in continuous school improvement.
How do I sign up to participate in the School of Excellence program?
Enrollment opens each spring at PTA.org/Excellence and runs through October 15. Review this sample Enrollment Form (en español) to see what information is required. Along with general PTA and school information, enrollees should include contacts for up to two additional individuals to receive program communications.
What are key dates and requirements for completing the School of Excellence program?
Participants should mark their calendars with these key dates for meeting program requirements.
- May 1 - Oct. 15: Program enrollment and PTA learning (Step #1).
- August - Nov. 15: Initial collection of community feedback using required questions (Step #2).
- Oct. 1 - Dec. 15: Complete and submit Community Feedback Form to verify community feedback and share initial goals (Step #2). In fall 2024, the deadline was extended to Dec. 15.
- November - April: Create and implement Excellence Action Plan using gathered community feedback (Step #3).
- March - June: Follow up Community Feedback Collection to measure progress from the fall (Step #3).
- May 1 - June 15: Complete and Submit Community Impact Form to verify community feedback and share initial goals (Step #4).
- June-August: Verify good standing status with state PTA prior to School of Excellence designee and Hearst Award announcement (Step #5).
Do I have to be a PTA school to participate in the program?
Yes, to participate in the program you must be a PTA. In order to achieve the designation, your PTA must be in good standing, according to your state PTA. PTAs not in good standing at the time of enrollment, who become compliant by the time they finish the program can participate. If you are not a PTA, this is a great reason and opportunity for you to charter a PTA at your school. Contact your state PTA or call (800) 307-4782 to learn more about the benefits of being a PTA!
Do I have to be a local PTA unit to participate in the program?
Yes, the School of Excellence program is designed for local PTA units, supporting individual schools. This ensures that the community feedback your Excellence Team gathers and the action plan created speaks directly to a school’s unique set of needs. District, council, region or community-based PTAs supporting multiple schools are encouraged to support individual schools and Excellence Teams in enrolling and participating in the program.
What support can I depend on from National PTA?
After enrolling in the program, National PTA will provide you access to an online toolkit with step-by-step instructions on how to run your program. You will be asked to bookmark this toolkit and visit it often for new content. As you implement strategies to enhance family engagement at your school, you can expect National PTA to provide training, resources, program reminders and timely responses to your questions.