PTAs across the country will host a variety of events and activities Feb. 16-23 to bring families into schools as part of National PTA’s Take Your Family to School Week.
“For over 120 years, PTA has been encouraging families to get more involved in their child’s education as family engagement is proven to positively impact student achievement and school performance,” said Leslie Boggs, president of National PTA. “Take Your Family to School Week is designed to provide families with an opportunity to visit their child’s school, explore what and how their child is learning, and strengthen their partnerships with teachers and administrators.”
As part of Take Your Family to School Week, 15 local PTAs were awarded a $1,000 grant to host family engagement events in National PTA program areas including health and safety, literacy, digital learning and STEM. The grants were made possible by support from PTA Proud National Sponsor Office Depot.
Throughout the week, National PTA will share resources to help parents support their child’s success and PTA leaders make their family engagement work more inclusive, individualized, integrated and impactful. Among the resources, National PTA will share episodes of its Notes from the Backpack podcast, which features conversations with real parents, experts and educators who offer advice, ideas and strategies parents can use to help their child succeed in and out of school.
The timing of Take Your Family to School Week honors the day PTA was founded, Feb. 17, 1897. This year, it also marks the start of celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the merging of the association’s two founding parent groups—the National Congress of Parents and Teachers and the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers.
“In 1970, the National Congress of Parents and Teachers and the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers signed a Declaration of Unification and officially became one association,” said Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA Executive Director. “The Declaration of Unification is an important part of PTA’s history, legacy and continued efforts to make a difference for the education, health, safety and well-being of every child.”
Listen to a video message from President Boggs on the 50th anniversary of the unification of the two congresses on National PTA’s Facebook page.
About National PTA
National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org.