Read this article in English.
When Maha ElMeniawy immigrated from Egypt with her youngest daughter, everything about the United States was unknown to her, from the language to the education system.
ElMeniawy found support in the team at Deer Canyon Parent Staff Organization (PTSA). She attended meetings and volunteered at school events, such as teacher evaluation week, creating connections with other parents.
“They were very eager to help me because they knew everything was new to me,” says ElMeniawy, “the PTA people are always there when you need them.”
Parent organizations that are committed to their children’s education offer an opportunity for parents and families to get involved in their children’s school, but this is not the only way. There are several groups that parents can join to contribute to school plans, raise funds, and gain access to additional resources.
Here we leave you some suggestions of popular groups where you can participate in your children’s school.
PTA and Parent Teacher Student Association
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Lance Onken was unsure about how the classroom and school operated and decided to attend Ocean Beach Elementary PTSA meetings to learn how things work. During these meetings he had the opportunity to listen in person to the teachers and the school director.
“Now I feel comfortable approaching and talking to the principal, or my child’s teacher, even being on campus,” Onken says.
ElMeniawy tells us that, when their children move on to middle school and high school, it is common for parents to become less and less involved in these activities, but it should not be that way.
“There is a myth of believing that, as a child grows up, the presence of parents on campus is not as necessary, personally I think it is the opposite,” says ElMeniawy.
The PTA can form a PTA Council within the same district, with this larger organization acting as a space where parents from different schools can come together and share their concerns and report back to the school district.
Amanda Keaton, president of the Franklin Elementary School PTA and auditor of the PTA council of the San Diego Unified school district, comments that by becoming involved in the PTA she was able to understand the district rules and thus better defend the interests of her children.
“It is always good to have more eyes monitoring, seeing that people are using the best educational techniques and respecting students in the expected way,” says Keaton, “parents have a very important role as supervisors.”
School Site Council
A School Site Council is made up of parents, teachers and school staff, providing input on school goals and the use of money. Similar to a City Council, parents must be elected to participate in meetings that must be open to the public. During the meetings, families can make public comments.
Keaton serves on the School Site Council at Franklin Elementary School, where she advocated for an increase in the school’s budget, resulting in an in-person counselor five days a week.
Site governance team
Like School Site Councils, Site Governance Teams are a collaborative effort between elected parents, teachers, and school administrators. This Team provides parents with input into the school’s decision-making processes. For example, if a director wants to replace physical education with art, the plan must be presented to the Government Team, a space where parents can provide their input to school administrators before finalizing the change. These meetings are also public.
Community Advisory Committee on Special Education
This Committee acts as a forum between district officials and families with children with disabilities. Keaton, a parent of a San Diego Unified elementary school student, says the Committees hold resource fairs, educational presentations and question-and-answer sessions with district representatives.
English Language Advisory Committees
Following the guidelines of the California Department of Education, California schools must have English Language Advisory Committees if they have more than 21 students who are learning English as a second language in their facilities. The purpose of this group is for parents of students learning English as a second language to provide input on how to improve their children’s language needs.
Although ElMeniawy did not join this group, as a bilingual mother she suggests other parents be part of this committee, even if it means leaving their comfort zone.
“It’s not something to be ashamed of, it’s sending a message to your children that they can do something that makes them uncomfortable,” says ElMeniawy.
date: 2026-02-09 13:00:00