June 18, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 15 Joining a parent-teacher organization has advantages Parental involvement plays a key role in a child’s academic and social develop- ment. Parents and guardians who take an active interest in their children’s education and extracurricular activities may notice their children are more willing to put their best efforts forward. Research from scholars at the South- west Educational Development Laboratory found that students with involved parents, no matter their income or background, are at an advantage over their counterparts whose parents are not actively involved in their educations. They tend to earn higher grades and test scores, enroll in higher- level programs, attend school regularly, have better social skills and adapt better to school, and are more likely to graduate and go on to post-secondary education. There are many ways for parents to get involved at their kids’ schools. In addition to distributing routine progress reports and hosting open-school nights, many schools have some form of parent-teacher group. It may be an informal group of parental volunteers or a more structured parent-teacher association. PTAs exist all over the world and represent the voices of millions of parents and teachers. Parents and guardians looking to contribute to the school often find joining the PTA is a great way to get involved, and member- ship has a number of benefits. Be the first to know. Involvement with a parent organization at school enables you to get accurate, firsthand informa- tion about upcoming events and plans for the school. Very often, news is shared first with PTA members and parents who attend regular meetings. Serve as role models. Active involve- ment with your child’s school demon- strates to your child and others that you place an emphasis on the importance of education. Impart change. The PTA can be a way to voice opinions, enact new programs, and provide feedback about particular programs or lesson plans. Meet new people. A new school year is not just a time for students to make new friends. Parents often find their closest friends are parents with similar interests and ideals. Joining the PTA can put you in touch with others who enjoy volunteering and getting involved with the school. Get to know the educators. In addition to meeting other parents and creating a school-based network, getting involved with the PTA is great opportunity to develop a rapport with teachers, aides, and even the principal. Being a familiar face inside of school walls can be advantageous to you and your child. Earn discounts and other perks. Schools that are part of a national PTA network may receive discounts and benefits from providers and sponsors. Members may be eligible for discounts on magazine sub- scriptions, books, insurance, and much more. Help raise funds. One of the primary goals of a PTA is to raise funds for special programs for the school. Parents who get involved can use their professional exper- tise to make fundraising even more suc- cessful. Research has shown that parental involvement has a significant impact on kids in the classroom. Joining the PTA or becoming involved in other ways provides parents with the opportunity to make friends, serve as role models to their kids, and facilitate change.