As the 2024 election season approaches its end, education emerges as one of the most crucial issues on the ballot. While national debates may seem distant, local involvement in our children’s schools presents parents and caregivers with a powerful opportunity to make a difference. From participation in school boards to engagement in parent associations and volunteer work, there exist numerous avenues through which families can influence the learning environments that foster student success. Here is how families can engage to create a positive impact:
Join and Lead in Parent Associations or Community Groups
Parent associations, groups, or coalitions provide families and educators with a collective voice in school activities, policies, and resources. These groups, whether formal PTAs or local networks, go beyond fundraising to shape school culture and advocate for the needs of families from teachers and administrators.
How to Get Involved: Connect with a parent or community group at your school, attend meetings, and familiarize yourself with the group’s objectives and ongoing initiatives. Taking on a leadership role in a committee or event organization is an excellent way to introduce new ideas and opportunities for supporting students.
What It Entails: Parent associations enable caregivers to collaborate with teachers and administrators in creating supportive school environments for all students. These groups often advocate for changes that benefit the entire school community, such as enhancing classroom resources, supporting extracurricular activities, and addressing urgent needs. Even small actions, like coordinating a family night or collecting supplies, can have a significant impact on students.
Volunteer in Classrooms and at School Events
Volunteering presents a meaningful way to engage with your child’s school and directly contribute to their learning journey. By participating in classrooms or school events, caregivers can gain insights into successful practices and identify areas where additional support may be beneficial.
How to Get Involved: Reach out to your child’s teacher or school administrator to inquire about current volunteer opportunities. Consider engaging in activities that align with your skills and interests, whether it involves classroom assistance, project coordination, or event support. Proficiencies like tutoring, project planning, or language translation can make a particularly positive impact.
What It Entails: Classroom volunteers might assist with reading activities, support hands-on projects, or provide additional help during busy periods. At events, volunteers aid in planning, logistics, and community-building efforts. Active involvement in these capacities enhances the support system for teachers and students, fostering a vibrant, collaborative school environment.
Building Effective Systems for Volunteer Engagement
Efficient volunteer systems create opportunities for caregivers to engage meaningfully and directly support teachers and students. Many schools would benefit from a more structured approach to connecting families with volunteer roles that enhance the school community. For insights on establishing a connected, engaged school environment, explore 10 Strategies for Schools to Improve Parent Engagement—a guide to driving family involvement and cultivating a welcoming, supportive culture for all.
How to Get Involved: If your child’s school lacks an organized method for managing volunteers, consider proposing strategies to streamline involvement. Schools could consider implementing digital newsletters, mobile apps, or online signup forms to notify families about upcoming events and volunteer needs. Offering assistance in setting up these tools, if the school is open to it, can significantly contribute to building an inclusive volunteer culture.
What It Entails: Caregivers play a vital role in establishing a foundation for engagement by introducing tools and systems that facilitate participation for all families. A well-structured volunteer system not only fosters a welcoming environment but also helps schools consistently address needs for classroom support, event assistance, and family engagement within the broader school community.
Support the School Board
Backing or joining your local school board stands as one of the most impactful ways to influence learning environments. School board meetings serve as the setting for decisions on curriculum, budgets, policies, and even book selections. By attending these meetings, families can gain insight into the priorities of their school district and have a voice in these decisions.
How to Get Involved: Familiarize yourself with your local school board and its members. Understanding their roles and terms can prove beneficial. Regular attendance at meetings—whether in person or virtually—and acquiring knowledge about the current issues at hand offer you the opportunity to express concerns, pose questions, and suggest ideas that reflect your priorities for student learning environments. You could even consider supporting new board candidates or running for a position yourself. Organizations like Bellwether provide comprehensive governance services, including training, board candidate matching, and tools for effective board management.
What It Entails: Consistent engagement in board meetings sends a strong message that families are invested in the direction of their schools. Building relationships with board members over time enhances the ability to advocate for meaningful policy and practice changes. For instance, some parents who have joined school boards successfully advocated for updated curriculums, improved classroom resources, and more inclusive policies. These efforts, informed by direct feedback from families, can lead to a more supportive, equitable learning environment for all students.
Encourage and Establish Community Partnerships
Schools greatly benefit from partnerships with local organizations and businesses, which bring unique resources and experiences to students. Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in fostering these connections. Collaborations with local community resources enrich the learning environment and expand the school’s reach within the community. Community involvement also garners support for critical funding initiatives, such as technology upgrades or facility improvements, which contribute to overall school success.
How to Get Involved: Seek opportunities to connect your school or district with local nonprofits, cultural institutions, or businesses. For instance, consider offering to deliver a presentation or host a career day from the perspective of your business or sector. You could also advocate for your district to participate in community events or connect them with additional resources. Subscribing to district newsletters—or advocating for one if it does not exist—keeps you informed and strengthens the ties between schools and the broader community.
What It Entails: Community partnerships extend learning beyond the classroom, enabling students to witness real-world applications of their studies. Parents who help establish these networks provide valuable support that benefits not only their own children but also the entire school community.
Advocate for Student Voice
Encouraging students to voice their needs and learning experiences is a powerful way for families to support their development. When students feel empowered to articulate their requirements in school, it bolsters their engagement and confidence and can positively influence their classroom and school communities. For strategies on creating a supportive environment where students feel heard, refer to our blog on Empowering Student Voice to Drive Change, where student authors share tactics for helping students express their needs, advocate for themselves, and actively shape their educational experiences.
How to Get Involved: Avail yourself of available resources, such as teacher newsletters, student-led conferences, and school open houses. If your school does not conduct student-led conferences, consider proposing the initiation of such events. Establishing connections with teachers and administrators aids in identifying areas where students can exert more influence in their education. Additionally, advocate for student advisory systems in the school or district, where students regularly engage with leadership to share their insights and ideas.
What It Entails: Simply inquiring about your child’s learning, interests, or areas where they may require additional support is a great starting point. When students feel listened to and empowered to take an active role, their enthusiasm for learning flourishes, enriching both their personal experience and the broader school community.
Engaging Families for Meaningful School Connections
Research demonstrates that active family involvement enhances academic achievement, attendance, and overall student well-being. According to the National Education Association, students with engaged parents are more likely to achieve higher grades, attend school regularly, and graduate. While families possess much to offer, many schools lack the resources or structures to establish spaces where they feel valued. Reflecting on her daughter’s introduction to K-12 education and her participation in a school event, a member of our team raised pertinent questions about deepening parent and community engagement:
- How can schools create a welcoming culture where families feel valued as contributors, not just volunteers?
- How can we highlight families’ unique strengths, such as cultural knowledge or professional expertise?
- What resources, like language support or transportation assistance, might enhance families’ engagement?
- How can schools ensure these initiatives feel genuinely relevant to families’ lives and priorities?
By designing family engagement systems with these considerations in mind, school leaders can implement regular forums, steering committees, or listening sessions. These initiatives foster a more inclusive, family-centric environment where caregivers can share insights and pose important questions, sparking dialogue and generating solutions.
Championing Student Success Together
While national and local elections influence educational policies, parental and caregiver involvement exerts a continuous and lasting impact. Advocacy, collaboration, and volunteerism empower families to shape the school environments their children encounter daily. Every action—from attending a board meeting to organizing a school event—contributes to establishing a supportive foundation where students can thrive.
This election season, let’s remember that our voices matter every day, in every way, both at the polls and within our schools.