Spring, 2003, No. 14 National Network of Partnership Schools
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National PTA Certifies Schools for Excellence
By Shirley Igo, National PTA President
As a voice for children, a resource for parents, and a strong advocate for public education, National PTA has, throughout its history, championed the importance of parent involvement in helping all children succeed.National PTA has developed an important program to assist every school in this nation to evaluate and increase parent involvement. The Parent Involvement Schools of Excellence Certification Program offers guidance and recognition to schools committed to offering students a key element to success: meaningful parent involvement.
Schools Conduct Self-Assessments
Becoming a School of Excellence is attainable for all schools. First, a school forms a team of teachers, principals, parents, community members, and others to conduct a self-assessment of current parent involvement practices. The self-assessment is based on National PTA’s Standards of Parent/Family Involvement Programs—communicating, parenting, student learning, volunteering, school decision-making and advocacy, and collaborating with community. These standards were developed using Dr. Joyce Epstein’s research-based framework—also used by the National Network of Partnership Schools—as well as other relevant research on parent involvement.
Schools Apply for Distinction
Second, the team submits an application to National PTA along with the self-assessment and supporting documentation. Schools have the opportunity to earn one of two distinctions. A Certification of Excellence is presented to schools that have outstanding parent involvement programs in place. The Recognition of Commitment is presented to schools that are on their way to becoming a School of Excellence. National PTA provides information and resources to help schools achieve excellence in parent involvement at www.pta.org. The National Network of Partnership Schools also is a resource to help all schools develop excellent programs of school, family, and community partnerships for student success.
National PTA developed its certification program because we believe that excellent schools don’t just happen—they are created. The program provides every school in the nation with the tools, benchmarks, and best practice ideas for increasing parent involvement in education. And with the National Network of Partnership Schools, we share a common goal of increasing parent involvement so that every child has the opportunity to be successful.
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