Parent-teacher associations (PTAs) play a crucial role in fostering a strong school community, supporting educational initiatives, and ensuring the well-being of students.
However, a common challenge faced by many PTAs is low attendance at their meetings. This blog addresses the pain points of PTA board members struggling with attendance and how they can better inform parents of the importance of showing up.
Why Attendance Matters for Parent Teacher Association Meetings
While we don’t have to tell you why your meetings are essential, these points can be used when you speak with parents and explain why their support is so important. Attending PTA meetings can provide parents with a deeper understanding of their child’s school environment, opportunities to connect with other parents, and a platform to voice their concerns and suggestions.
Community building: PTA meetings provide a platform for parents, teachers, and administrators to connect, share ideas, and collaborate on school initiatives. High attendance strengthens the sense of community and fosters a supportive student environment.
Parental involvement: This is not just a buzzword. It’s a powerful force that can shape a child’s educational journey. When parents become engaged in their children’s learning — such as attending PTA meetings — it leads to kids who have higher grades and test scores, regular attendance at school, improved social skills and behavior, and better adaptation to class.
PTA meetings are platforms where important decisions regarding school policies, events, and funding are made. Attendance ensures that a diverse range of voices is heard, leading to more balanced and representative decisions. The role of parents in these meetings is not just important, it’s indispensable.
Staying informed: These meetings provide valuable information about school activities, policies, and upcoming events, which may help parents more effectively support their child’s education.
Building relationships: Attending meetings allows parents to build relationships with teachers, administrators, and other parents. These connections can benefit both parents and their young students.
A way to voice concerns: Parents will soon find that these meetings are an opportunity to ask questions, bring up any issues they may have, and suggest improvements. Even better, their input can lead to positive changes in the school.
Strategies for Better PTA Attendance: Build Awareness
Here are some different ways that you can inform parents about when your group meets:
Flyers: Creating flyers that can be sent home with students at the beginning of the year is a great way to raise awareness of when your next meeting will be held. This can also bring in parents of younger children, as they often look through every note and piece of paper the school sends.
Social media: Get in touch with the social media team of your school or specific organization, such as cheerleading, band, or football. Ask them if they can share your announcements with their audience. Facebook is a great tool for reaching parents, as they often use it to get information about school news. Additionally, you could select a handful of parents and ask them to share the content to ensure it reaches as many parents as possible.
Newsletters: If you’ve created newsletters in the past, continue to do so. Regular communication keeps parents informed and engaged. Your newsletter should start with the most important information and any call to action to attend your meetings.
Ensure your newsletter is well-designed, with subheads, consistent fonts, and meaningful images complementing your content.
Be vocal: Take the time to communicate directly with other parents at school events and when you see them in public. Demonstrating your commitment can ignite a similar passion in other parents, encouraging them to attend meetings themselves.
It’s important to provide insights into what parents can expect at PTA meetings. If they know what they’re getting into and if their needs are met, they’ll be more likely to attend.
Strategies for Better PTA attendance: Retain Attendance
It’s one thing to draw your initial audience. Your true goal should be bringing those same people back for future meetings. By creating a great first impression, you’ll ensure a return on engagement.
Provide an inclusive environment: One reason parents don’t return to PTA meetings is that they feel excluded. Make sure that you give ample opportunity for everyone to be heard. Remember to foster an open environment where everyone can voice their opinions without judgment.
It would help if you also took a few moments to recognize and praise any parents doing outstanding work for your group.
Childcare: Parents often don’t come to meetings because they do not have anyone to watch their children or don’t want their kids to be a distraction. You can help by organizing a group of student volunteers to provide babysitting services during the meeting. High school students often need volunteer hours; parents will appreciate the convenience.
Note: Babysitting puts your group at a greater risk of liability. Even though offering this service during your meetings is potentially covered under AIM’s insurance policies, it is a high-risk event. We recommend that you take extra precautions when hosting. Speak with one of our customer representatives to verify if your insurance covers you or if you need to add a specific policy.
Translation services: If there is a large non-English-speaking community, it’s important to arrange for translation services so everyone can fully participate. Additionally, all communication materials, such as flyers, newsletters, and social media posts, should be available in other languages, and make it clear that language support services will be provided during meetings.
Snacks: Refreshments can create a more welcoming atmosphere. Consider partnering with local businesses to provide food or offer a discounted price if you advertise their sponsorship.
Best Practices for Further Engagement
It may take going the extra mile to bring parents back again and again. Here are some simple ways to build a rapport and strengthen their commitment.
Send personalized invitations: A personal touch can make a big difference. Consider calling or emailing parents to invite them to meetings, particularly those that most impact their children.
Follow up: After meetings, thank attendees for their participation. Ask for their opinion on the meeting and if they want to add anything else to future sessions.
Be flexible: Vary meeting times to accommodate different schedules. Some parents may find it easier to attend morning meetings, while others prefer evenings. Depending on the level of tech savvy in your group, you can also consider an online meeting at some point.
Share successes: Whether on your newsletter, social media, or meetings, take the time to highlight the good things that your group has accomplished, as well as how it has directly impacted the school or students. Seeing the direct result of these meetings and the work that your group does should serve to inspire and bring back new attendees.
Concluding Thoughts
Support is crucial for the success of a Parent-Teacher Association. By implementing these strategies, PTA board members can overcome attendance challenges, and parents can better understand the importance of their involvement. Regardless of the methods chosen to retain attendance, it’s important to do so with sincerity to foster a community of love and unity for the children.
Increasing PTA meeting attendance requires a multifaceted approach that addresses awareness and retention. PTA board members can significantly boost participation by utilizing various communication channels, setting clear expectations, and creating an inclusive environment. Parents, on the other hand, should recognize their critical role in their child’s education and the broader school community. Active participation in PTA meetings is not just about being present; it’s about contributing to a better educational experience for all students.
When more parents show up, speak up, and stay engaged, your group can create a more supportive, engaging, and thriving school community. Encouraging open dialogue, providing opportunities for involvement, and fostering a sense of belonging can further strengthen the bond between parents, teachers, and students, leading to a more collaborative and enriching educational environment for all.