PTA offers all parents and caregivers the opportunity to be engaged in their child’s potential. Being a member of PTA means that you are part of a powerful association and action plan that is focused on programs and initiatives that strengthen every child’s education. PTA membership and dues support your child by funding essential education and curriculum needs; advocating on behalf of children and educators at the local, state and national levels; impacting decisions affecting children’s health, safety and quality of education.
PTA offers STEM-based learning resources for families through the STEM +Families program, which include the STEM at Home activities, Math Nights with Mathnasium and Science Festivals.
PTA provides schools access to experts, resources, trainings and dozens of nationally recognized educational enrichment programs including the Family Reading Experience, in partnership with the Reading is Fundamental.
PTA funds the nation’s largest running student arts program Reflections, which provides students access to arts, music, literature, dance, drama, and visual arts.
PTA provides all families and schools access to nationally recognized programs and initiatives including: Connect for Respect to improve the school climate and reducing bullying; Healthy Lifestyles to advocate for healthy changes in nutrition and physical activity; and PTA Connected to help children act safely, responsibly and thoughtfully online.
The Colorado Academic Standards (CAS)
The Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) are the expectations of what students need to know and be able to do at the end of each grade. They also stand as the values and content organizers of what Colorado sees as the future skills and essential knowledge for our next generation to be more successful. State standards are the basis of the annual state assessment. This two-page document provides brief descriptions of the history, substance, and instructional shifts of the Colorado Academic Standards and their focus on all students, all standards.
The Common Core is a set of high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA). These learning goals outline what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each grade.
The standards are:
Research and evidence based
Clear, understandable, and consistent
Aligned with college and career expectations
Based on rigorous content and application of knowledge through higher-order thinking skills
Built upon the strengths and lessons of current state standards
Informed by other top performing countries in order to prepare all students for success in our global economy and society
The state has developed standards for Extended Evidence Outcomes for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Colorado also adopted Colorado English Language Proficiency (CELP) standards to support English language learners. Read the Colorado Standards! Click on a subject below and then find the grade level you’d like to see!
When developed in 1997, the standards were called the National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs. With a shift in focus from what schools should do to involve parents to what parents, schools, and communities can do together to support student success, the updated standards were renamed the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships.
In 2021, National PTA’s Center for Family Engagement—alongside a cadre of family and community leaders—began the process of updating the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships to reflect changes in education, science, and lessons learned during the pandemic. The new standards reflect:
A broadened vision of student success that recognizes the important ways that families and schools collaborate around student achievement and wellbeing
More intentional emphasis on equity and inclusion, including guidance to help schools and PTAs partner with our increasingly diverse families
Clearer guidance by role that more explicitly articulates how schools and PTAs foster strong family-school partnerships
The school treats families as valued partners in their child’s education and facilitates a sense of belonging in the school community.
Goal 1- Build a Community of Belonging: When families engage with the school and PTA, do they feel respected, understood and connected to the school community?
Goal 2- Create an Inclusive Environment: Do the school’s and PTA’s efforts encourage engagement with and among the diversity of families in the community?
Standard 2
Communicating Effectively
The school supports staff to engage in proactive, timely, and two-way communication so that all families can easily understand and contribute to their child’s educational experience.
Goal 1- Exchange Information Between School and Families: Are families able to receive and share information in culturally and linguistically sustaining ways?
Goal 2- Facilitate Parent-Teacher Communication: Does the school and PTA promote communication between families and teachers?
Standard 3
Supporting Student Success
The school builds the capacity of families and educators to continuously collaborate to support students’ academic, social and emotional learning.
Goal 1- Team- Up For Student Success: Are families, students and educators on the same page about how students are progressing?
Goal 2- Support Learning by Engaging Families: Are families valued partners in their children’s learning at home and at school?
Standard 4
Speaking Up for Every Child
The school affirms family and student expertise and advocacy so that all students are treated fairly and have access to relationships and opportunities that will support their success.
Goal 1- Navigate the School System: Are families knowledgeable and able to raise questions or concerns about their child’s educational experience?
Goal 2- Address inequitable outcomes and access. Does the school and PTA remove barriers for families to be advocates for and with students’—particularly those who are most marginalized?
Standard 5
Sharing Power
The school partners with families in decisions that affect children and families and together—and as a team, inform, influence and create policies, practices and programs.
Goal 1- Strengthen the Family’s Voice in Shared Decision Making: Are families partners in making decisions that affect their children at school and in the community?
Goal 2- Build Families’ Connections: Do families have a strong, broad-based organization that offers regular opportunities to develop relationships and raise concerns with school leaders, public officials, and business and community leaders?
Standard 6
Collaborating With Community
The school collaborates with community organizations and members to connect students, families and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community services and civic participation.
Goal 1- Build a Strong Foundation for Community Partnerships: Does the school and PTA have a plan for when and how to engage community partners?
Goal 2- Connect the School with Community Partners: Do family and school leaders work closely with community organizations, businesses, and institutions of higher education?
National Standards for Family-School Partnerships Implementation Guide
The benefits of family-school-community partnerships are many: higher teacher morale, more parent involvement, and greater student success are only a few. That is why PTA developed the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships Implementation Guide, a tool for empowering people to work together with an end goal of building family-school partnerships and student success. This guide can be used by anyone with a stake in improving schools and student achievement: PTA leaders, parents, school administrators, school board members, community organizations, and more.
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Health, Wellness & Safety
The Health, Wellness, and Safety Committee promotes and provides access to resources and training to foster the health, wellness, and safety of students and families in our PTA communities.
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Convention
The Convention Committee coordinates the planning and activities for the annual Colorado PTA Convention.
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Diversity & Inclusivity
The mission of the Diversity & Inclusivity Committee is to foster the growth and participation of under-represented populations in Colorado PTA and to develop an event that creates an environment and avenue for under-represented populations to form networks to support advocacy for under-represented/unrepresented.
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Bylaws
The Bylaws Committee reviews and makes recommendations for the state bylaws and coordinates the review and approval of local units’ bylaws, including updating the bylaws templates as necessary.
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Legislative/Advocacy
The Legislative Committee coordinates the networking, advising, advocating, and collaborating on state and national legislative issues impacting students, along with planning and coordination of the annual Legislative Conference.
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Reflections
The Reflections Committee coordinates and plans the Reflections program along with providing training and resources for the local units’ chairs.
family-school-community partnerships
The benefits of family-school-community partnerships are many: higher teacher morale, more parent involvement, and greater student success are only a few. That is why PTA developed the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships Implementation Guide, a tool for empowering people to work together with an end goal of building family-school partnerships and student success. The full guide provides additional details, background, research, and success stories. For each of the six National Standards for Family-School Partnerships, this online guide provides:
An explanation of each standard and its importance
Insights to help convince educators of the standard’s value
A success story from a school community
Action steps for your school community
Resources to enhance your understanding
Parent Guide to Student Success
The Parents’ Guides to Student Success were developed by teachers, parents and education experts in response to the Common Core State Standards that more than 45 states have adopted.
Created for grades K-8 and high school English, language arts/literacy and mathematics, the guides provide clear, consistent expectations for what students should be learning at each grade in order to be prepared for college and career.
Early Childhood and School Readiness Legislative Commission
Pursuant to state law, the ECSRLC must meet at least four times per year to study issues concerning early childhood and school readiness. Topics to be studied include: health care, mental health, parental involvement, family support, child care, and early learning. The commission is required to solicit input from the public, especially from those who have expertise in early childhood and school readiness issues. The commission is also required to meet with the Early Childhood Leadership Commission, which is a group focused on improving outcomes for young children ages birth to eight, to discuss policy concerning early childhood and school readiness.
The purpose of the Family Engagement Promising Practices Training is to help schools and districts implement comprehensive, sustainable partnership structures for student success.
PEP brings parents and professionals together by sharing ideas, discussing concerns, celebrating successes and obtaining information related to parenting, educating and partnering to support student learning. PEP Conferences are offered at no cost to attendees.
