Family Engagement Grants Guidelines

Rolling deadline; applications will be considered as they are submitted

Please allow at least 2 weeks for approval.

PROMOTE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

The Seattle Council PTSA offers grants of up to $400 to help PTAs/PTSAs promote family engagement. Up to $3,000 is available for family engagement grants.

AWARD GUIDELINES

Requests must briefly describe how the funds will be used to promote family engagement. PTAs/PTSAs may apply more than once but may only receive one grant of up to $400 in a school year.

Units must be associated with the Seattle Council PTSA.

Applications must be signed by your PTA/PTSA president.

Requests will be reviewed and awarded by SCPTSA based on the following:

How the funds will support family engagement in your community?

How well the grant supports your PTA’s goals and will help build your PTA’ s capacity to support family engagement in the future.

Special consideration will be given to:

New and emerging PTAs. Started less than 5 years ago, or has less then 50 members, or work in communities not traditionally involved with PTA/PTSA, or have otherwise undergone significant changes in their school community. ELL and FRL: PTAs working with significant numbers of families whose students are bilingual and/or participating in the Free and Reduced Lunch program.

WHAT MIGHT QUALIFY?

The goal of the program is to help Seattle PTAs/PTSAs partner and lead in family engagement. Activities or expenses that are necessary to successfully involve all families, or support efforts to grow and become a stronger unit, will qualify. Some examples include:

Participation in “PTA Take Your Family to School Week” or different one-time event

Purchase of re-usable family-event resources (i.e. math games, books, materials)

Support for communications (newsletter translation, printing, software fees, etc)

Support for efforts that help new and less well-developed PTAs get off to a strong start Support to meet PTA’ s national standards for family-school partnerships

Standard 1: Welcoming all families into the school community – Families are active participants in the life of the school and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class.

Standard 2: Communicating effectively – Families and school staff engages in regular, meaningful communication about student learning.

Standard 3: Supporting student success – Families and staff continuously collaborate to support students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school, and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively.

Standard 4: Speaking up for every child – Families are empowered to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support success.

Standard 5: Sharing Power – Families and school staff are equal partners in decisions that affect children and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs.

Standard 6: Collaborating with Community – Families and school staff collaborate with community members to connect students, families, and staff to expand learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation. For more information, visit

www.pta.org

SCPTSA Family and Community Engagement Grants Application