Diversity & Inclusivity Committee

Diversity & Inclusivity Committee

Purpose of a Diversity & Inclusivity Committee: To increase minority representation on PTA Committees and Boards

 

GOALS

1. To support leadership in their activities which develop minority leadership at all levels of PTA
2. To identify future PTA leaders from diverse backgrounds
3. To share best practices of successful strategies which increase minority representation at all levels of PTA

 

OUTCOMES

1. Increase parental engagement
2. Close the achievement gap
3. Reduce the minority drop-out rate

 

RATIONALE

1. Parental Engagement: Lack of parental engagement is one of the biggest problems facing public schools. Decades of research show when parents are involved students have: higher grades, test scores and graduation rates, better school attendance, lower rates of suspension,  decreased use of drugs and alcohol, fewer instances of violent behavior Family participation in education was twice as predictive of student’s academic success as family socioeconomic status.
2. Achievement Gap: The large disparity between the performance of groups of students, special groups by gender, race, ethnicity, ability or socioeconomic status. The achievement gap is identified through standardized test scores, grade point averages, dropout rates, college enrollment, and completion rates.
3. Dropout rates for minorities are alarming: The overall status dropout rate decreased from 9.7 percent in 2006 to 5.1 percent in 2019. This represents the percentage of 16 through 24 year olds who are not enrolled in school and have not earned a high school credential (diploma or equivalent i.e., GED). During this time, the Hispanic status dropout rate decreased from 16.7 to 7.7 percent, the Black status dropout rate decreased from 10.3 to 5.6 percent, and the White status dropout rate decreased from 5.3 to 4.1 percent. Nevertheless, in 2019, the Hispanic (7.7 percent) and Black (5.6 percent) status dropout rates remained higher than the White (4.1 percent) status dropout rate.* *

** https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_coj.asp

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Get Started

1. Set goals
2. Develop a plan of action to achieve your goals
3. Set a timetable for the year
4. Keep good notes and documentation to pass down to the next Diversity and Inclusivity Specialist
5. Develop a proposed budget for your president (this should be done in the spring for the following year or early in the school year before the budget is approved)
   1. The Diversity and Inclusivity Specialist is a selected by the Board Specialist Selection Committee and should have a budget to operate
   2. When planning your budget, take the following into account:
      1. Copying and paper
      2. Posters
      3. Assemblies you plan to do
      4. Any events (i.e., cultural events) you plan to do
      5. Supplies
      6. Training

 

Committee Leadership Activities

REGION TRAININGS

1. Post-convention training - usually held in the summer
2. Back-to-School training with local, council or region leaders

 

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES

1. Advocacy Conference - usually held in the fall
2. PTA Day at the Capitol - February

 

UTAH PTA LEADERSHIP CONVENTION 

1. Usually held in May

 

NATIONAL PTA ACTIVITIES

1. National PTA Convention
2. Emerging Minority Leaders Conference

 

OTHER RESOURCES

• National PTA Cultural Competency link: pta.org
• Local PTA bylaws
• Take Action Network: sign up at utahpta.org

 

Guidelines for Success

1. Set goals
2. Develop a plan of action to achieve your goals
3. Set a timetable for the year
4. Keep good notes and documentation to pass down to the next Diversity and Inclusivity Specialist
5. Develop a proposed budget for your president (this should be done in the spring for the following year)

A. The Diversity and Inclusivity Specialist is a selected by the Board Specialist Selection Committee and should have a budget to operate

B. When planning your budget, take the following into account:

1) Copying and paper

2) Posters

3) Assemblies you plan to do

4) Any events (i.e., cultural) you plan to do

5) Supplies

6) Training