Family and Community Engagement

Overview

The Utah State Board of Education envisions schools will make a mindset shift and move from involving families to engaging families to ultimately empowering families. Family Engagement is a key factor in the success of students and schools. Family engagement is one of five predictors in school improvement (Organizing Schools for Improvement: Lessons from Chicago. Chicago: University of Chicago Press), and cannot be seen as an add on, but instead should be seen as a part of teaching and learning (Dr. Karen Mapp, 3 Prerequisites of Effective Family and Community Engagement). Although not a program, a commitment to family engagement should be a priority of Tier 1 instruction.

Utah Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

Start a PTA! Begin Here!

Would your school like to form a PTA? When your school has a PTA, you become part of the largest group of volunteer parents in the state working to make life better for our children. We give you access to ideas, information and collaboration at the state and district level that makes your job more fun and much easier. You gain tax-exempt status without worrying about all of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) paperwork yourself. There are no start-up fees and each individual PTA determines the amount of their own membership dues. If you would like more information on starting a PTA at your local school send an e-mail to kids@utahpta.org.

Why PTA?

Given the longevity and universal name recognition of the Parent Teacher Association, it is easy to understand how "PTA" is commonly used to describe all parent groups, whether or not they are actually affiliated with PTA. Parents, teachers, and even administrators frequently are confused or even unaware of the differences between PTA and other parent organizations. So what truly differentiates PTA from all other parent groups?

PTA is the nation's original parent group in schools. We are the nation's premier resource for parent involvement.
PTA is a national, grassroots, not-for-profit association; neither the association nor its leaders make any profit or receive any financial benefit from PTA activities.
PTA has millions of members in more than 23,000 local units. These units are supported by a national and state system that provides them with information, resources, and training.
PTA is run by volunteers and led by volunteers, and we are accountable to our members, parents, and schools.
Members receive the information and training they need to advocate effectively at the local, state, and national levels for funding, programs, and services for their schools.
PTA is an inclusive association that is open to all those who care about children and schools.
Each of the 23,000 local units (over 650 local units in Utah) selects the programs and activities that it will undertake to address the needs of its local school and children. While National PTA creates many successful programs for local units to use, there are no PTA-mandated programs.
State PTAs and National PTA provide support to help local PTAs succeed.
Members receive special discounts and promotional offers from PTA National Member Benefits Providers.
PTA offers programs to increase family engagement and support the educational success, health, and well-being of all children.
All children in a school are benefited from the funds raised and programs offered by the PTA. Every Child, One Voice.
National PTA and Utah PTA offer valuable programs such as Reflections, Red Ribbon Week, Battle of the Bands, Take Your Family to School Week and more.

Contact Us

Susie Estrada
Family and Community Engagement Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7891 | E-mail

Ashley Elkins
Executive Secretary
Phone: (801) 538-7937 | E-mail