Download the Education Chairman Job Description

California State PTA believes it is important for parents and community members to be knowledgeable about education issues affecting student learning/achievement. The PTA education chairman promotes understanding of the purposes and needs of public schools and encourages participation by parents and community members in working towards, improvements in public education.

Responsibilities

• Identify and gather information important to education and the community.
• Become acquainted with the school staff, school district staff, and decision-makers/policymakers, such as members of the site council and/or school board.
• Assist and/or accompany the PTA president when meeting with decision-makers/policymakers regarding education.
• Inform and educate the PTA membership through programs, conferences and workshops, projects and newsletters and also inform parents how they can gain access to additional resources.
• Regularly attend school board meetings, gathering information to be shared with the membership.
• Encourage participation on school advisory groups, school site councils, or fact-finding/study committees; provide meaningful and valuable contributions.
• Work with other schools in the school district and council/district PTA on education issues that will affect student achievement.
• Communicate with the council/district PTA counterpart.
• Share information prepared and distributed by the council/district, California State PTA and National PTA.
• Attend council and district PTA trainings and California State PTA and National PTA conventions.
• Keep a procedure book.

Public Education Priorities

• Advocate for stable, long-range funding for public schools.
• Increase family engagement and broad-based community support.
• Improve and measure academic achievement and student performance according to the state’s adopted standards.
• Ensure that testing is based on curricula adopted to meet state standards, and on what students are expected to learn.
• Identify and meet the diverse needs of all students.
• Ensure a learning environment free of censorship.
• Support efforts to keep schools safe.
• Help educate parents to recognize that “choice” regarding public school sites for their children should be based on the academic and developmental needs of each student.

Involvement Opportunities

PTAs should share in the decision-making process and the implementation of the legally required parent involvement policy – Education Code 11500-11506 and the State Board of Education 1994 Parent Involvement Policy. Shared decisions should include but not be limited to:

• School Accountability Report Card (SARC), an instrument to inform the local community about the conditions and progress of the school. Hold public forums to share results with the community.
• School Budget
• Curriculum
• Assessment
• School Site Council/Governance
• District Advisory and Community Advisory Committees