Parent-Teacher Groups Expand Their Activities

Q: I enjoyed your column on volunteering in your child's school. Could you provide some information about the growing responsibilities assumed by parent-teacher groups?

A: Many parent-teacher organizations have expanded their activities in response to changes in school programs and funding, says Tim Sullivan, publisher of the magazine PTO Today, Wrentham, Mass. Many teachers have shifted more time into preparation for standardized tests, and parent groups are stepping up to run the less-formal learning activities that are being eliminated, such as field trips or reading nights. Many schools have eliminated gym or health teachers, and parent groups are organizing art, exercise or nutrition programs to fill the gap, Mr. Sullivan says. And many parent groups are building or repairing facilities; rather than constructing schools with playgrounds, more school districts are relying on parent groups to finance and build them, Mr. Sullivan says.

Also, parent-teacher groups are extending their reach to involve more parents, including those who work. Some are alternating meeting times between morning and evening, says Chuck Saylors, president of the national Parent Teacher Association, Chicago. Some groups have begun holding weekend meetings in homes, apartments or parks, to make it easier for working parents to participate. Some videotape PTA meetings or record podcasts and post them on the Web. The national PTA is encouraging local groups to get all parents to volunteer for just three hours a year; once inside the school, most see the value and offer even more of their time, Mr. Saylors says. More groups are streamlining formal meetings, saving time for educational activities, he says.