How to Volunteer at Your Child's School

Want to learn how to volunteer at your child's school?

Why Get Involved?
The U.S. Department of Education says that when families get involved in schools, their children:

• get better grades and test scores
• graduate from high school at higher rates
• are more likely to go on to higher education
• are better behaved and have more positive attitudes

Whatever level of involvement you can manage, you can make a difference in your child's education.

How to Get Involved
Here are a few ways you can help:

• Join the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) or school council or organize a preschool PTA or PTO, if your school doesn't have one.
• Read school policies, newsletters and correspondence.
• Share your expertise in the classroom, or help the teacher.
• Chaperone a field trip.
• Work in the school library.
• Go to town meetings and vote in school board elections.
• Help out at a booth at the school fair, picnic or other school fund-raiser, or help provide refreshments or donate items.
• Attend school lectures, school council meetings, open houses and parent-teacher conferences.
• Organize job and college fairs at your high school.
• Arrange for short-term internships at your place of work.
• Spare a couple hours each week setting up scholarship databases or organizing the college information found in the guidance counselor's office  or college room.
• Record novels, literature, and textbooks on tape for students with reading or learning difficulties.

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