As the 2024 election season nears its end, it’s clear that education is one of the most essential issues on the ballot. National debates may seem distant, but local involvement in our children’s schools provides parents and caregivers with a powerful way to make a difference. From school boards to parent associations and volunteer opportunities, there are numerous ways to influence the learning environments that help students thrive. Here’s how families can get involved to make a positive impact:
Join and Lead in Parent Associations or Community Groups
Parent associations, groups, or coalitions give families and educators a shared 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 what families need from teachers and administrators.
- How to Get Involved: Connect with a parent or community group at your school, attend meetings, and learn about the group’s goals and current initiatives. Volunteering to lead a committee or organize an event is a great way to share fresh ideas and bring new opportunities to support students.
- What It Entails: Parent associations enable caregivers to work with teachers and administrators to build supportive school environments for all students. These groups often advocate for changes that benefit the entire school, like improving classroom resources, supporting extracurricular activities, and addressing urgent needs. Even small actions—like organizing a family night or collecting supplies—can make a big difference for students.
“In my experience, even small contributions can make a big impact. While planning my daughter’s school’s fall festival, I saw firsthand how families coming together created something truly special. Parents brought their ideas, time, and resources, coordinating activities and decorations and pitching in supplies. The festival became more than just a fun event; it strengthened our sense of community and provided a meaningful way for families to connect with each other and school staff outside traditional meetings.”
— Jordan Luster, Getting Smart Program Manager
Volunteer in Classrooms and at School Events
Volunteering is a powerful way to get involved in your child’s school and directly support their learning experience. By participating in classrooms or school events, caregivers can gain insights into what’s working well and where additional support might be beneficial.
- How to Get Involved: Reach out to your child’s teacher or school administrator to learn about current volunteer opportunities. Consider signing up for activities that align with your skills and interests, whether it’s helping in the classroom, assisting with a specific project, or supporting school events. Skills like tutoring, project planning, or language translation can make a particularly positive impact.
- What It Entails: Classroom volunteers might assist with reading, support hands-on projects, or lend an extra hand during busy times. At events, volunteers help with planning, logistics, and community-building efforts. Being actively involved in these ways enhances the overall support system for teachers and students alike, creating a vibrant, collaborative school environment.
Building Effective Systems for Volunteer Engagement
Effective volunteer systems create opportunities for caregivers to engage meaningfully and directly support teachers and students. Many schools could benefit from a more organized approach to connecting families with volunteer roles that strengthen the school community. For impactful ideas on building a connected, engaged school environment, explore 10 Strategies for Schools to Improve Parent Engagement—a guide to driving family involvement and creating a welcoming, supportive culture for all.
- How to Get Involved: If your child’s school lacks a streamlined way to organize volunteers, consider suggesting strategies to simplify involvement. For instance, schools might adopt digital newsletters, mobile apps, or online signup forms to notify families about upcoming events and volunteer needs. Offering to help set up these tools, if the school is open to it, can make a significant difference in building an inclusive volunteer culture.
- What It Entails: Caregivers can play an essential role in establishing a foundation for engagement by introducing tools and systems that make it easier for all families to participate. A well-organized volunteer system not only creates a more welcoming environment but also helps schools consistently meet needs for classroom support, event assistance, and family engagement in the broader school community.
Support the School Board
Supporting or joining your local school board is one of the most impactful ways to shape learning environments. School board meetings are where decisions on curriculum, budgets, policies, and even book selections happen. By attending these meetings, families can gain insight into their school district’s priorities 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 be beneficial. Regularly attending meetings—whether in person or virtually—and learning about the issues at hand gives you the opportunity to voice concerns, ask questions, and suggest ideas that reflect your priorities for students’ learning environments. You might even consider supporting new board candidates or running for a position yourself. Organizations like Bellwether offer comprehensive governance services, including training, matching candidates with boards, and developing tools for effective board management.
- What It Entails: Consistent engagement in board meetings sends a strong message that families care about the direction of their schools. Over time, building relationships with board members strengthens the ability to advocate for meaningful policy and practice changes. For example, some parents who have joined school boards have successfully advocated for updated curriculums, improved classroom resources, and more inclusive policies. These efforts, inspired 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 can play a vital role in building these connections. Partnering with local community resources strengthens the learning environment and broadens the school’s reach into the community. Community involvement also encourages support for critical funding initiatives, such as technology upgrades or facility improvements, which contribute to overall school success.
- How to Get Involved: Look for ways to link your school or district with local nonprofits, cultural institutions, or businesses. For example, consider offering to give a presentation or host a career day from the perspective of your business or sector. You might also advocate for your district to have a presence at community events or connect them with additional resources. Signing up for district newsletters—or advocating for one if it doesn’t exist—keeps you in the loop and strengthens ties between schools and the broader community.
- What It Entails: Community partnerships expand learning beyond the classroom, allowing students to see real-world applications of their studies. Parents who help build these networks offer valuable support that benefits not only their own children but also the entire school community.
Advocate for Student Voice
Encouraging students to speak up about their needs and learning experiences is a powerful way for families to support their growth. When students feel empowered to express what they need in school, it strengthens their engagement and confidence and can positively impact their classroom and school communities. For ideas on creating a supportive environment where students feel heard, check out our blog on Empowering Student Voice to Drive Change, where student authors share strategies for helping students articulate their needs, advocate for themselves, and actively shape their educational experiences.
- How to Get Involved: Take advantage of available resources, like teacher newsletters, student-led conferences, and school open houses. If your school doesn’t hold student-led conferences, consider inquiring about starting them. Building connections with teachers and administrators helps you identify where students can have more influence in their education. Additionally, advocate for student advisory systems in the school or district, where students regularly meet with leadership to share their insights and ideas.
- What It Entails: Simply asking your child what they’re learning, what they enjoy, or where they might need more support is a great way to start. When students feel heard and empowered to take an active role, their passion for learning grows, enriching both their own experience and the broader school community.
Unlocking Potential: Critical Questions for Building Meaningful Connections with Families
Studies show that active family involvement boosts academic achievement, attendance, and overall student well-being. According to the National Education Association, students with engaged parents are more likely to earn higher grades, attend school regularly, and graduate. Yet, while families have much to offer, many schools lack the resources or systems to create spaces where they feel heard. Reflecting on her daughter’s start in K-12 and her involvement in a school event, one of our team members raised important questions about how schools can deepen parent and community engagement:
- How can schools create a welcoming culture where families feel valued as contributors, not just volunteers?
- How can we spotlight families’ unique strengths, like cultural knowledge or professional expertise?
- What resources, such as language support or transportation assistance, might help families engage more fully?
- How can schools make these initiatives feel truly 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-centered environment where caregivers can share insights and raise important questions, igniting dialogue and driving solutions.
Championing Student Success Together
While national and local elections shape educational policies, parental and caregiver involvement has a continuous and lasting impact. Advocacy, collaboration, and volunteerism enable families to shape the school environments their children experience every day. Every act—from attending a board meeting to organizing a school event—builds 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.
The post Your Power Beyond the Polls: Ways Families Can Shape School Communities appeared first on Getting Smart.
Families can shape school communities by joining parent associations, volunteering, and engaging with school boards and partnerships.
The post Your Power Beyond the Polls: Ways Families Can Shape School Communities appeared first on Getting Smart. Leadership, Smart Parents, advisory, community, dialogue, events, family engagement, Funding, leadership, school culture, student voice Getting Smart
