ISSUE DATES

  • A Unique Resource Brings Together a District

    A special event earns special recognition.

  • Small Steps, Big Results

    Perseverance pays off for a Chicago parent group in ways large and small.

  • Judges' Choice: Stepping Up in Trying Times

    An Indiana parent group helps its community cope with the unthinkable while continuing to engage kids and parents at the school.

  • Volunteers: Use Them or Lose Them

    The way you follow up with interested parents can make or break your volunteer recruitment efforts.

  • National Winner: Building a Sense of Community

    A focus on relationships helps this group thrive.

  • 17 Back-to-School Ideas for Social Media

    A fun, well-thought-out approach to social media can boost engagement—and your group’s relationship with parents.

  • Marketing Must-Dos for PTOs and PTAs

    Your parent group is committed to involving parents, planning great events, and running thoughtful fundraising programs. But what if families don’t know anything about your parent group (or even worse, if they have a bad impression)? All that effort will be lost. That’s where marketing comes in. We know “marketing” can sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of work. We’ve collected eight top ways to promote your group effectively within your school community, along with actionable steps for each one. If you build your group’s reputation with families, you’ll find it easier to get them involved—get our top PTO marketing must-dos and start spreading the word about your group’s good work! Get Free Marketing Tips Inside the Marketing Must-Dos Guide Expert advice for promoting your group effectively to your school community, from the PTO Today marketing team 8 top ways to market your parent group—do them all, or do a few! Links to additional resources to help you take action Marketing 101: What’s Your Q Score? When parents think about your PTO, what kind of feeling do they get? Are you widely known and beloved? Are you widely known but with a tarnished reputation? Or do the people who know you like you just fine, but there are only a few of them? Your answer says a lot about your ability to build your volunteer base, and in marketing circles this is called a “Q score.” It’s a way to measure both how familiar and how appealing specific brands are, and it can be applied to companies, products, people, even parent groups. For parent groups, it’s a way to measure your potential success in recruiting new volunteers. Perhaps your group is widely known around school because you’re constantly asking parents for fundraising support or because there’s melodrama over a disputed election or because you have a reputation as a closed group of insiders. Your group is familiar, but your appeal is low. Let’s face it, there aren’t a lot of parents looking to add stress to their lives. When asked, they’ll probably try to avoid getting involved with your group. Or you might be a small group doing solid work that no one knows about. If you get the chance to remind parents of your efforts, they’re grateful that you’re around, but otherwise you generally operate under the radar. Your appeal is high, but your familiarity is low. Remember that reluctant volunteers are more likely to get involved with something that’s already a proven success. If your group has hit the jackpot with a good reputation that’s widely known, congratulations! Things are great now. Your volunteer-building efforts have never been better, and you have new programs running with enthusiastic volunteers in all key positions. Just remember that your Q score needs TLC. Work to maintain the reputation you’ve so carefully built. A strong PTO Q score starts with doing really good work. Parent group leaders don’t have the luxury of well-paid spinmasters; they need to walk the walk. From there, your Q score will depend on your marketing skills. Do parents enjoy interacting with your group? Are your messages home upbeat and appreciative? Are you willing to brag? If you want to grow involvement at your school, then your Q score matters. Learning how to market your group effectively will help you increase your Q score and build your volunteer base as a result. Get Free Marketing Tips Still have questions? Call us at 800-644-3561; we’re here to help. Share this page:

  • Put Parent Involvement First: 10 Tips

    We know every parent group, even the most successful ones, has its own challenges. We also know (from years of experience working with groups just like yours) that if you have a group of active parents willing to help, it makes even the biggest of hurdles easier. That’s why we put together our very best, you-must-do-these list of 10 tips on how to put parent involvement first. Each one includes links on where to get more info, plus we help you dig deeper once you have a handle on all the basics. If you make involvement your top priority, every challenge your group faces this year will get a whole lot easier. Get our 10 best tips and start putting parent involvement first! Get Free Involvement Tips Inside the Guide on Putting Parent Involvement First: 10 ways to maximize your parent involvement efforts Links to key resources that will help you put those steps into practice Already mastered the basics? Keep up momentum by taking parent involvement to the next level Why is Parent Involvement Such a Big Deal? Two major studies by Anne Henderson in the 1990s and 2000s showed that parent involvement has a hugely positive effect on student achievement and other indicators of success. These studies were so influential that researchers today are still referencing them. More recently, a study published in 2012 by researchers at North Carolina State University, Brigham Young University, and the University of California, Irvine, reinforced Henderson’s earlier findings—and also found that family involvement has an even bigger effect on positive academic performance than the quality of the school building. Positive Benefits of Parent Involvement It’s not just the students who benefit, either; parents, teachers, and schools come out ahead. Children with parents who are involved in their education are more likely to: Earn better grades. Score higher on tests. Attend school regularly. Have better social skills. Show improved behavior. Be more positive in their attitude toward school. Complete homework assignments. Graduate and continue their education. Parents who are involved in their children’s education are more likely to: Be more confident at school. Be more confident in themselves as parents and in their abilities to help their children learn. Be held in higher esteem by teachers. Continue their own education. Schools with highly involved parents are more likely to have: Better morale among teachers. Higher ratings of teachers by parents. More support from families. A better reputation in the community. Get Free Involvement Tips Still have questions? Call us at 800-644-3561; we’re here to help. Share this page:

  • 6 Ideas for a Healthier School Year

    Ways to encourage some healthier habits.

  • Sweet Success

    Cupcake contest brings together a school and its community.

  • Holiday Shop How-To

    Good organization lets holiday shop volunteers focus on the kids.

  • 10 Steps to Getting Business Donations for Your PTO

    Take a professional approach to improve your odds of success.

  • Rethink Your School Volunteer Recruitment

    When your appeals for help aren’t getting results, it’s time to try something—or someone—new.

  • 7 Back-to-School Must-Dos

    Spending time on these tasks before school starts will benefit your group all year.

  • How To Give an Awesome Back-to-School Speech

    Communicate with parents about your parent group and the importance of involvement! Use our video, sample script, and tips to deliver a speech that will make a lasting impression.

  • Get Your Financial House in Order

    Implementing financial controls is a key organizational step. These practices will help your group track income and expenses and keep your assets safe. 

  • What’s the Big Deal About Robert’s Rules?

    Five key practices that are must-knows to run your meetings effectively.

  • It’s Academic! 10 Event Ideas Tied to the Curriculum

    There’s nothing more powerful than a fun event that involves lots of learning. Steal some of these ideas or use them as a springboard to create your own.

  • Start Strong With Teachers

    Tips for communicating and some surefire ways to build good relationships with your school's teachers.

  • Get Ready for Back-to-School Night

    Make the most of your open house table to connect with parents.
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