Objectives

Our mission statement: "to work within the education system, to encourage parent/whanau involvement and participation to assist all children develop their talents, self-esteem and character and to ensure they have the ability to lead a full and productive life".

NZPTA'S Role

• Support parental involvement in schools
• Inform parents of news and issues in education
• Represent parent issues to government and other educational groups
• Collaborate with other educational groups

Our children today face a world where the shape of the future is not clear, a world where values, lifestyles, concepts and attitudes are rapidly changing. Therefore it is essential that parents and teachers work together to help our children grow into adults who can cope with the ever-changing world.

Research shows that children do better when families are involved in and understand the schools their children are attending, and when teachers value the views and contributions of parents and whanau. The PTA movement provides a means for parents and teachers to build a successful partnership, based on the best interests of the child (as shown above). By getting involved in the work of our local school PTA, parents, teachers and children benefit from the knowledge and insight shared. Through the PTA movement, parents have an opportunity also to become involved in the wider decision-making process of the education system.

Chinese Proverb

Tell me - I forget
Show me - I remember
Involve me - I understand

Parent/Family Involvement

Involving parents and families in children's education has been a priority of NZPTA since it was founded over 50 years ago. NZPTA maintains what numerous research studies and years of experience as advocates for children have shown to be true: Parent and family involvement increases student success.

NZPTA endorses the National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs that have been developed by National PTA in the USA. These are based on the six types of parent involvement identified by Joyce L. Epstein, Ph.D., of the Center on School, Family and Community Partnerships at John Hopkins University.

National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs

• Standard I: Communicating - Communication between home and school is regular, two-way and meaningful.
• Standard II: Parenting - Parenting skills are promoted and supported.
• Standard III: Student Learning - Parents Play an integral role in assisting student learning.
• Standard IV: Volunteering - Parents are welcome in the school, and their support and assistance are sought.
• Standard V: School Decision Making and Advocacy - Parents are full partners in the decisions that affect children and families.
• Standard VI: Collaborating with the Community - Community resources are used to strengthen schools, families, and student learning.

Our sunshine (above) shows how good communication is at the core of an effective home-school partnership. Volunteering is highlighted in red because this is the type of involement PTAs usually focus on. Through volunteering, PTAs link to and support the other areas of involvement. Boards of Trustees tend to focus on the decsion-making aspects, while the Ministry of Education has a number of initatives, such as 'Team Up' that support greater involvement in student learning. This framework shows how all the various education groups can provide important and complimentary support for effectively engaging families in the education of their children. Let our light shine!

For further information on creating quality parent involvement programs, we recommend that you read Building Successful Partnerships: A Guide for Developing Parent and Family Involvement Programs (National PTA, 2000). Copies can be purchased for $20 plus postage from Vanessa Witt.