Family Involvement in PTA - Best Practices
Highlights from the NCPTA PII Cabarrus County Program
Learn how Carbarrus County has used the Parent Involvement Initiative to sponsor home visits, curriculum building, and family involvement events. Read More.
A Call to Engage, Commit to and Sustain Family and Community Involvement
Dr. June St. Clair Atkinson, North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction is in support of family and community involvement in schools. Read More.
FREE Programs: AllProDad and iMom
Now is a critical time to get parents engaged in your PTA. Getting them onboard early will mean more support for PTA efforts throughout the school year. We have two programs that can help you meet many of your current objectives... including increasing parental involvement and sponsoring programs that meet the purposes of PTA. They have proved very valuable to local units looking to increase parent participation in PTA - and they are FREE!
Our programs are monthly breakfasts you host at school. All Pro Dad's Days encourage dads to engage with their children and the school in a more meaningful way. The focus of iMOM Mornings are split between providing a place for moms and kids to bond and allowing mothers to connect to other mothers in a meaningful way. iMOM gives back to those who give most to the school.
To find out more or to start a chapter go to
All Pro Dad or iMOM. When prompted, enter the promo code PTAFREE to access the online curriculum at no charge. You will then be able to download the leader's guide, certificates, kid coupons, discussion cards and take-home resources.
As a PTA leader myself, I have witnessed how valuable these programs are firsthand. They get parents to come to school on a monthly basis, can increase membership, lead to more volunteers, and most importantly, help local PTA's strengthen the families at their school!
I would love to talk to you about how to get these programs started at your school - please feel free to
email me or call me at (813) 785-3142, with any questions you might have!
Melissa Erickson
School Program Consultant
WileyKin: A Program for Rising Kindergarteners and Their Families
Wiley International Elementary in Raleigh
WileyKIN is an informal play group for rising Wiley Kindergartners and their “kin”. It’s a great way for kids (and their parents) to ease their way into Kindergarten by meeting future classmates and their families in an informal atmosphere at a local park, Wiley, or other location over the summer.
For more information, email Lori Matteson.
Purple PAC (Physical Activity Club) for 6th Graders
Northern Guilford Middle School in Greensboro
Purple PAC meets once a week and try to promote exercise and show kids how they can have fun with a variety of activities while still getting fit. The signups were tremendous--we have about 50 on roster and a waitlist and are involving teachers, parents (moms & dads), students and community to lead or chaperone sessions. From this, we hope to receive our Spice grant and provide a FANfest night (family activity night) that would have interactive booths and information from a variety of local rec associations and other physical activity or nutrition programs.
For more information, email Jill Hamilton.
Parent Info Sesssion on Topics Facing Middle School-aged Children
Northern Guilford Middle School in Greensboro
The local feeder elementary schools have discontinued formal drug awareness programs and our SRO officer is preparing a parent info sesssion on a variety of topics/issues facing our middle school-aged children. Topics include underage drinking, drugs, suicide, bullying, risky behaviors, etc.
For more information, email Jill Hamilton.
Season of Achievement
Anson County
The Season of Achievement is an initiative to improve student achievement in Anson County and was first conceptualized by Kim Graham, the NCPTA Parent Involvement Initiative regional coordinator for Anson County. The Season of Achievement is receiving eager endorsements throughout the community. The plan is to encourage students to focus on the upcoming End of Grade and End of Class tests.
EOG Workshop
Anson County
Kim Graham, Parent Involvement Initiative regional coordinator for Anson County, organized an EOG Workshop as part of the Season of Achievement initiative. Here are pictures from the EOG Parent Workshop held April 29, 2009 at Wadesboro Elementary School. Forty eight parents and children attended. It was a wonderful and energized evening.
Parent Clubs
Hoke County
Kim Shaffer, the Parent Involvement Initiative regional coordinator for Hoke County developed and organized the Parents Club and the Parent Resource Center at West Hoke Elementary School as a way for parents to get together to discuss topics of interest and concerns with each other and with school staff as well in an informal setting. The first Parent Club meeting had a small attendance but as word spread, attendance at the monthly meetings has increased tremendously.