At the start of the school year, the PTA at a bustling New York City elementary school encountered major hurdles in keeping everyone informed and connected. Families were often out of the loop on important school events and struggled to communicate with one another. This case study showcases how adopting Classlist transformed community engagement, simplified communication, and boosted the PTA's efficiency.
The PTA decided to adopt Classlist to address these challenges, spearheaded by a dedicated PTA member, Mary. Despite initial hurdles around getting permission at School District level the platform was successfully launched mid-year.
With Classlist as a unified communication platform, all school-related messages were centralised, allowing parents to receive announcements directly and ensuring no one missed out on important updates.
Parents also appreciated how Classlist improved their interactions. They could easily connect with one another, fostering a stronger sense of community. For instance, parents shared reminders about homework and upcoming events, which was especially helpful during the school leavers programme.
With Classlist, announcing events and selling tickets became a whole lot easier. This was a game-changer for fundraisers like the Winter Wonderland and various raffles.
The platform's signup feature made organising volunteers a snap. For example, the kindergarten committee could efficiently rally support for their end-of-year carnival.
By integrating Stripe for payments, collecting funds for events and membership dues was simplified, eliminating the need to handle checks and cash manually.
Hosting auctions and raffles online has widened our fundraising reach, allowing more parents to join in even if they can't make it to events in person.
"The PTA is thrilled about the potential to sell digital ad space to local businesses on Classlist, which could significantly enhance our fundraising efforts. We could potentially double our earnings since many families, for various reasons, can't attend events in person." – PTA Co-President
The discussion led to some interesting similarities and differences in how USA and UK Parent Associations/PTAs work, shedding light on the unique dynamics at play in each country.
In both the USA and the UK, PTAs prioritise building a sense of community among parents and guardians. This shared focus helps ensure that families are well-informed and actively engaged with school activities. It's evident that regardless of geography, fostering a close-knit school community is a universal goal.
Event organisation and fundraising are another common thread. PTAs in both countries are dedicated to organising events and fundraisers to support school programmes and activities. Whether it's a winter carnival in New York or a summer fair in Oxford, these events are pivotal in generating funds and bringing the community together.
However, there are notable differences in how PTAs operate on either side of the Atlantic. In the USA, PTAs often play a critical role in providing financial support directly to teachers. This assistance helps educators purchase supplies and materials for their classrooms, a practice that is less prevalent in the UK due to differing school funding structures.
Sharing best practices is another area where US PTAs stand out. They invest significant time in collaborating and sharing strategies across school districts, which helps improve outcomes for all schools involved. Conversely, UK PTAs tend to operate more independently, focusing primarily on the needs of their individual schools without as much cross-district collaboration.
The organisational hierarchy also differs significantly. US PTAs often have a more structured and hierarchical system, featuring district-wide councils and regular meetings with school superintendents. This enables a more coordinated approach to addressing school-wide concerns. On the other hand, UK PTAs usually have a simpler organisational structure, concentrating on the specific needs of their respective schools without a broader hierarchical framework.
These insights highlight the diverse approaches and structures PTAs adopt to achieve their shared objectives of community building and school support.
With the experience gained, the Bay Ridge PTA are starting this new school year with Classlist from day one. This will ensure higher parent engagement and better integration of new families, including those facing language barriers. Additionally, the PTA aims to leverage the platform’s features more extensively for fundraising and community events.
Classlist has been a game-changer for the PTA at this New York City elementary school. It has bridged communication gaps, strengthened the sense of community, and made administrative tasks much easier.
Thanks to Classlist, the PTA is more productive and effective than ever. With plans to fully integrate the platform from the start of the upcoming school year, the school community is set to achieve even greater heights.