NCLB ACT took affect January 2002 (it was proposed in 2001 if I am not mistaken), according to our former super, because that is when aides and sub aides had to start taking the paraeducators test.

I would think that if this school is denying a parent a right to volunteer or be involved the school is violating the NCLB Act.

farmer mom..nclb is the No Child Left Behind act that was put into play by the fedaral government i believe in 2000/2001.There is alot about all children/schools be given the same opportunites no matter what economical conditions their school is in. It goes into title one funding and that each school has to have a written plan that involves parents as partners in their education(parent involvement compact/policy)There is a section 1118 on parent involvement It states that a school is to give parents the opportunities to be involved among other things. To clear that up a little bit opportunities can be like a field trip, guest speaker, things like that. It does not mean that by law you have to be in the classroom just in the school setting. It just means your childs school has to give you the chance to help out at some point . It goes into how a parent can be involved in their school parent involvement policies, stuff like that.
hope this helps

[ 09-12-2004, 06:26 PM: Message edited by: pals ]

Michelle and newkids, you are women after my own heart! I'm stubborn and don't like it when I try to participate in a parent's group and am only shown the door.

Michelle wrote:"NCLB requires parental involvement."
What is NCLB?

Thanks

Farmer Mom.. Since you have no one on the board to fight for you. This is how I did it if you decide it is worth your while.
I typed in PTO bylaws on the web. I went to about 35 different sites.
At the time, our newly renewed PTO was fighting having elections in the spring because we had just taken office in OCT but the principal said we could stay through the year was their answer. My answer "that is not what our old present bylaws state and at the time we were trying to get our non profit status another tool to use "the government requires you to go by your bylaws".
I typed up a column form with about 20 of the PTO's names, when voting for officers took place, and when they took office.
I also did a column form on How many people were on the board and what they represented.
And then did one on who must approve the budget and how money matters were voted on.
I then presented this to my princiipal and the president and then to the other officers. Every executive meeting I would mention the need to amend the bylaws until finally they said alright.
Anyway as some have said go up the chain. Our Super really didn't want a PTO at our campus again but, the previously defunct PTO had left a large sum of money and prin knew we could easily raise $16,000 in one cookie fundraiser and that's with less than 50% of our kids participating. NO other campus in our school district has a parent organization.
I would encourage you to get your group together and do what you must. Yes demand to see the bylaws find out if they are a 501 non profit. Get roberts rules of order and digin.
Yes, this was a tiresome year for me. Sleepless nights,a lot of typing,losing weight(which was a plus),and tears as I was writing my resignation letter. But I knew that I had accomplished something for those parents who said they wanted to be involved in the decision making. Now it is up to them to make it the awesome group it can be.
Volunteer in the school and get to know more parents. Be prepared to take an officers positon if you can get to that point. Many who complain don't come to meetings and for sure do not volunteer to run for office. That's how we got elected.
My email is here if you want to know more about our parent center. Good luck with your situation.

Serendipity hits the nail on the head, I too would have trouble supporting this group (and it takes a lot to chase me away) I too was in a very similiar situation at the end of last year. My son went to a school that had a PFA (I being a strong PTA supporter going in, DID try to keep an open mind and did try to help out)
But all they wanted was my money. I was very uncomfortable with that but that is how the Principal wanted it and with all my experience, I was still fairly powerless to change it at the school level. Site based control and all. However, if we had stayed, there are things that you can do if you are not happy with the way they are involving parents. (but not being at this school anymore and having 30 other PTA schools to assist, I'm not taking up their fight... yet)
NCLB requires parental involvement. If this group and your principal is discouraging parental involvement, it is a detriment to the school. If the principal isn't encouraging the processes, then there is the area superintendent above them (follow the channels of leadership though and don't just go straight to the top)
Explain to them your feelings and what is being done and see if they can assist in opening up the democracy in your school. I'm sure that being a middle school, that the principal counts on the fact that parents who will just be moving on in a few short years just won't take up the fight. It can be time consuming to enact change.

It would be very beneficial to have numbers to your strength though. Get your concerned parents together when you address this. Take your numbers to the Principal again, FIRST but if you're denied at his/her level, move up the chain. It is a fight worth fighting. This is your child and your school and you have that right.

Farmer mom...Are there many parents at the school who are not happy with the way this PTO is being run? If so, there is strength in numbers and you should unite to use your power to make change happen. If most parents could care less then it will be a losing battle.

If you do have support maybe the best thing you could all do is not support them. If they can't raise funds they serve no purpose.