PA/PTAs can enrich their schools by running a wide variety of programs, activities and events for students, parents and the school community. For example, PA/PTAs can:
Community building is an important function of PA/PTAs, which should strive to make parents feel welcome and comfortable in their children’s schools.
Charitable and community service activities can serve multiple purposes; in addition to providing support to charities, they educate children about social issues and volunteerism, and can help bring the school community together.
Some PA/PTAs help families support healthy living by running curricula-based wellness programs, organizing health and fitness events, and by making a difference in the cafeteria.
Many PA/PTAs bring arts enrichment to the students, either through grants or funds they have raised, connections to local artists, or just parent volunteer efforts.
Curriculum based activities and events can spur children’s interest in particular areas of the school’s curriculum, help familiarize parents with different aspects of it, and provide an opportunity for parent-teacher collaboration.
School gardens can help improve school lunches, advance environmental literacy, bring children outside, provide green space at urban schools and introduce young people to fresh, locally grown produce that they sow, harvest, and eat, often right “off the vine.”
Parent education can include handbooks to help families better understand what is happening at the school or workshops and lectures on topics of interest to its parent community.
PA/PTAs can provide parents and students with programs and access to information for life outside of school.