PTA/SLT
WHY SHOULD WE BE INVOLVED?
Children do better in school when their parents are actively involved. Parent involvement is more than just receiving information about what is happening in the school. Parents have many opportunities to take on leadership roles and to have influence in school communities. Below are just a few of the ways that family members can get involved in school:
Parent-Teacher Associations/Parent Association (PTA/PA)
Joining the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is the main way to get involved at school. The PTA is a body comprised of parents/guardians of students. Each PTA develops its own bylaws, elects officers, and holds regular monthly meetings. Every public school in New York must have one. The PTA helps parents learn about the school, share ideas, and enrich the school. The specific roles of the PTA depend on the school and its members, but among its responsibilities are selecting members for the Community and Citywide Education Councils and organizing fundraisers, workshops and family events. The President/Co-Presidents of every PTA in a School District is a member of the District Presidents’ Council. The presidents of each Presidents’ Council, or their designees, serve on the Chancellor’s Parent Advisory Council (CPAC).
School Leadership Team (SLT)
Parents, Teachers, and administrators work together on the School Leadership Team (SLT) to make important decisions about the school. The SLT’s core responsibility is developing the school’s Comprehensive Education Plan (CEP) that is aligned with the school’s budget.