I find it hard to swallow that someone who wants to help in the school has to be a member of any sort of parent group - PTA or otherwise. If it's not due to someone's concern over liability, then it's gotta be because "it's always been that way". If I understand PTA policy, you don't need to be a parent at the school to join PTA, you just need to be interested in the mission and pay your dues. If that's correct, someone from the community at large could have more right to be a Class Parent than you, one who actually has a child in the class. Ask more questions. If it's simply tradition, maybe it's time to change the tradtion.
Actually from what I know yes they can. Part of no child left behind covers involvement. as a school they are required to have opportunities for parents ..that can be as simple as a field trip chaperone. It is my understanding that classrooms opportunites are not a legal requirement,,,it is opportunites. Now if your school says that you need to be a PTA member that must be their policy, what is required of being a member? Is it just paying dues?
I think every school has some sort of requirements, I was just approached yesterday by my son's teacher that she wants all of her classroom volunteers ran through our group. Our meembership is everyone(no dues) so that's not an issue. Some of the things that are required here is signing in, a volunteer application....the application is new this year and will deny anyone who does not fill one out if they volunteer regularly at our school. This came from district office and will be implemented in six schools. I am curious to see what the feedback is but know that it is all about safety.
Try talking with you childs teacher, tell them you dont care if you cant be "privy" to calling parents about early dismisals.Maybe that would help. Im just thinking that if they request members of the pta , is it because they are covered under pta insurance, policies? Is it a liabilty thing? Does your school have volunteer orientation or anything like that? Ask around and see what answers you get....im wondering liability?goodluck
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
Now, I have always wanted to be a Class Parent. However, I cannot. Class Parents MUST be a member of the PTA. The only reason for this is that the Class Parent makes the early closing/school delay calls and gets the home # list. IMHO, this is something the PTA board members should do, if they should be doing it at all (I don't like the fact that my telephone number is floating out there on some list).
Can a school/PTA actually deny parents this opportunity??
