Spring, 1998 No. 4  National Network of Partnership Schools

National PTA Guides Development of Partnerships with Six-Type Framework

Lois Jean White, National PTA President

The National PTA is delighted to be working with the National Network of Partnership Schools toward our common goal of making productive parent involvement programs a priority in America's public schools. Using Dr. Joyce Epstein's research and framework, the National PTA worked with many experts in parenting, education, and school administration to develop the six National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs.

The PTA guide, which was published as a result of this effort, includes examples for developing an effective school, family, and community involvement program, key indicators of success, and ways to measure whether goals have been reached. To date, more than 180,000 copies of the guide have been distributed nationwide with the help of our PTA project partners.

The six standards correspond to the framework of six types of involvement used by members of the National Network of Partnership Schools. The PTA standards and corresponding types of involvement are:

• Communicating (the Network's Type 2): Communication between home and school is regular, two-way, and meaningful
• Parenting (the Network's Type 1): Parenting skills are promoted and supported
• Student Learning (the Network's Type 4): Parents play an integral role in assisting student learning
• Volunteering (the Network's Type 3): Parents are welcome in the school, and their support and assistance are sought
• School Decision Making and Advocacy (the Network's Type 5): Parents are full partners in the decisions that affect children and families
• Collaborating with Community (the Network's Type 6): Community resources are used to strengthen schools, families, and student learning

The National PTA's work emphasizes the importance of welcoming parents and families as full partners in education. We look forward to the day when parent involvement programs are so fully integrated into all public schools that they no longer make news. The members of the National Network of Partnership Schools, along with the National PTA and many other groups, are taking us toward this goal. 

Text for the National Standards for Parent and Family Involvement Programs can be found on the National PTA web site at http://www.pta.org/programs/invstand.htm.

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