To increase parent engagement and gain insight into parent perspectives on district agendas, some districts implement a Parent Advisory Committee (PAC). PACs bring together parents and district administrators on a regularly-scheduled basis to discuss various issues such as operations, budget, and new curriculum.
This brief first explores districts’ motivations for creating a PAC. Next, it overviews strategies to recruit parent participants and describes how profiled districts set agendas and facilitate their PAC meetings. Finally, the brief overviews general strategies for increasing parent engagement in the community beyond creating a PAC.
Parent advisory committees allow districts to solicit feedback and engage families
All profiled districts in this report have established committees or regularly-scheduled meetings where parents meet with the superintendent to provide feedback and engage in two-way dialogue on district initiatives, concerns, and other matters. All six districts cite the opportunity to gain advisory feedback from the parent community as well as the hope to increase parent engagement as primary purposes and motivations for their PACs.
"“The parent advisory council was created to advise the superintendent and district leaders on ways the district and our schools can provide a welcoming environment to all families. Other purposes were to develop strong school-family partnerships and promote the active participation and engagement of families and community members in the achievement and well-being of all students we serve. In creating the PAC, we wish to promote respectful partnerships between educators, administrators, and families, all focusing on supporting student learning and positive child development at home in schools and the community.”
"Administrator, District D
At a foundational level, a PAC provides a forum for this two-way dialogue and feedback-sharing. Beyond these essential functions, districts cite additional motivations for creating and maintaining a PAC. For example, contacts at District B cite the effectiveness of their PAC in increasing transparency around district administration and improving public perception of their district.
Seek representatives from all district schools to gather most effective advisory feedback
When forming a PAC or filling openings for an existing PAC, districts should seek representation from all schools in the district. This ensures superintendents and other PAC administrators can accurately assess parent opinion across the district and discuss how district events and initiatives affect each individual school community.
Creating an effective district communications plan:Â EAB’s toolkit offers multiple tools that provide detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to better engage with the community and communicate your district’s value.
Offer hybrid flexibility to allow for maximum parent participation
Five profiled districts either currently offer PAC meetings both online and in person or are considering incorporating a virtual option for the 2022-23 school year. Districts believe this flexibility in modality allows more parents to join meetings regardless of schedule or location at the time of the meeting. Administrators at District C and District F observed high levels of attendance at PAC meetings from parents during the pandemic when all meetings took place online or in a hybrid format.
To continue this positive trend, these districts may offer a virtual option this school year. District B notes a virtual option provides increased flexibility for working parents with non-traditional schedules to attend, thereby diversifying the representation from the parent community. District D and District E may offer a virtual component for their PAC meetings this coming school year.
Examples of topics discussed at PAC meetings
- Student discipline disparities
- Student academic performance disparities
- District budget
- New curriculum
- Teacher working conditions
- Student reading goals
- District transportation operations
- Initiating a parent teacher organization
Invite district leadership to present at PAC meetings
All profiled districts reserve time in their PAC meetings for various district supervisors to present information about their respective functions. This allows parents to hear about issues from the person with oversight of the issue area and ensures districts present accurate information to parents.
For topics on the district budget, district leaders may invite their chief financial officer. For meetings on teacher recruitment, a Human Resources staff member may present. Administrators at District B and District C explain the importance of selecting topics and presenters that appeal to parent interest, while also fulfilling the district’s goal of receiving helpful feedback. To achieve this, districts can have multiple presenters within one PAC meeting.
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