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Welcome to the home of National Parental Involvement Day & Public School Volunteer Week!
31st Annual National Parental Involvement Daytm
A National Invitation to Celebrate Family-School Partnerships
When Do We Celebrate Family Engagement Month?
We celebrate during National Parental Involvement Day, the original and most widely recognized family engagement event in public schools. National Parental Involvement Day, celebrated every third Thursday in November during American Education Week, is the longest-standing and most widely recognized family engagement observance in U.S. public schools. Established in 1994 by Project Appleseed, it has become a powerful grassroots tradition, highlighting the importance of parental involvement in student success. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and embraced by educators, families, and communities nationwide, the day serves as a reminder that every day should be Parental Involvement Day.
A Legacy of Impact
For more than 30 years, Project Appleseed has equipped schools with tools and strategies to build meaningful partnerships with families. National Parental Involvement Day was created to give schools a platform to say, “Thank you—and we need you,” while providing families with opportunities to feel welcomed, engaged, and valued.
Inspired by the success of Earth Day, founder Kevin Walker—an original Earth Day organizer—recognized the need for a national call to action centered on families and education. Today, National Parental Involvement Day serves that purpose by mobilizing thousands of schools and engaging millions of parents, grandparents, and caregivers every November.
Why Family Engagement Matters Now More Than Ever
Post-pandemic education has made one thing clear: families are essential partners in the learning process. Now is the time to strengthen those bonds by making family engagement visible, consistent, and part of a school’s culture. Schools participating in National Parental Involvement Day signal that partnership is a shared priority.
Join us for Curbside Coffee & Treats
Parents Are In The Drivers Seat!
Signature Event: Curbside Coffee & Treats
This year, schools are encouraged to host Curbside Coffee & Treats, a simple and inclusive activation held in the car rider line. Participation in this event is completely optional. The idea is straightforward—distribute pre-packaged treats, offer a warm welcome, and express appreciation to families during morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up. This approach removes barriers for working parents and creates a positive, low-pressure environment for meaningful engagement.
How Curbside Coffee & Treats Supports Inclusivity and Engagement
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Builds Community – Offering small tokens of appreciation fosters goodwill and opens doors for future collaboration.
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Meets Families Where They Are – No need for formal gatherings or after-hours events. A car line becomes a place of recognition and connection.
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Promotes Belonging – Every family is acknowledged and valued, reinforcing the message that partnership is integral to school success.
Planning Your Event
Project Appleseed encourages schools to customize the event to reflect their unique culture and community. Resources available include our Parent Activity Handbook, templates for proclamations, and engagement tools that make planning simple and meaningful. Consider adding student greeters, thank-you notes, or a photo station to help families feel seen and celebrated.
Encourage Ongoing Engagement
While the event is a celebration, it’s also an invitation. Schools can use the opportunity to distribute the Parent Engagement Pledge, share volunteer opportunities, and promote upcoming family nights or district initiatives.
The event serves as a kickoff to 150 Days of Family Engagement leading into Public School Volunteer Week in April, giving schools a built-in campaign to maintain momentum and deepen relationships with families.
A Day of National Recognition
National Parental Involvement Day continues to grow in visibility and impact. Participating schools join thousands of others across all 50 states in sharing how they are engaging families. Each year, educators, state officials, community leaders, and families mark the day with proclamations, events, and storytelling.
Take the First Step
Here’s how your school or district can participate:
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Access the Parent-School Checklist
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Sign the Parental Involvement Pledge
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Share your celebration on social media using #NationalParentalInvolvementDay and #FamilyEngagementDay
Check for District Guidelines Schools can safely host “Curbside Coffee & Treats” by following district wellness policies and basic food safety standards. Treats must be pre-packaged or professionally prepared, with clear labeling for allergens. Hosting outdoors or in partnership with PTA/PTO's or local businesses is encouraged. Always check with school administrators for approval and local guidelines. This event offers a warm, safe way to share toolkits and strengthen family-school partnerships.
Have National Parental Involvement Day Your Way!
National Parental Involvement Day is your opportunity to showcase the importance of family-school partnerships in a way that reflects your school’s unique culture and community. While Curbside Coffee & Treats is a popular and impactful event idea, it is just one of many ways schools can celebrate.
Participation in this event is completely optional. Whether you choose to host a full-scale drive-thru celebration or mark the occasion with classroom activities, family newsletters, or volunteer appreciation, the goal is the same—to honor families and strengthen the bond between home and school.
Here Are Some Great Ways to Get Involved:
✅ Parental Involvement Toolbox – Explore customizable resources to support your planning and outreach.
✅ 150 Days of Family Engagement – Keep the momentum going between November’s NPID and April’s Public School Volunteer Week.
✅ Thank and Recruit Families – Show your appreciation and invite new parent participants.
✅ Parent | School Checklist – Use our practical tool to guide and improve school-home collaboration.
✅ Ideas for Proclamations & Resolutions – Make your commitment to family engagement official with a district or community proclamation.
Teamwork Makes the Difference
Effective family engagement isn’t a one-day event—it’s a shared effort among educators, families, mentors, and even local employers. National Parental Involvement Day is the perfect starting point to unite those voices and align your school community around student success.
Take Action Today
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Sign the Parental Involvement Pledge
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Download the Parental Involvement Pledge (PDF)
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Use the Parental Involvement Report Card (PDF)
Showcase your celebration and help us spread the message by using the hashtags #FamilyEngagementDay and #NationalParentalInvolvementDay on social media. We’d love to see and share your stories!
Let’s Celebrate Together
By participating in National Parental Involvement Day, your school is making a clear statement: families matter. Together, we can create a national culture where every parent feels welcomed, every student is supported, and every school becomes a hub of family engagement.
Thank you for celebrating one of the oldest family engagement events in America!
National Parental Involvement Day cannot take place without the support of parents, educators, school boards, sponsors, partners, speakers, staff, and the attendees themselves. Project Appleseed wants to show our gratitude to all those who helped make National Parental Involvement Day a success. Here's a look at hundreds of past events across the country!
"#nationalparentalinvolvementday" "National Parental Involvement Day"
Past Highlights
NSBA Partners with National PTA on Virtual Town Hall On National Parent Involvement Day, Nov. 17
November 15, 2022 - Decades of research shows that family engagement matters for student success, with students whose families are engaged more likely to attend school, avoid discipline problems, achieve at higher levels, and graduate. Research also suggests that family engagement is equally as important as school leadership or a rigorous curriculum in predicting school improvement.
At 7 p.m. on Nov. 17, NSBA will partner with National PTA and other national education organizations to celebrate National Parent Involvement Day in a virtual town hall with National PTA President Anna King, NSBA Executive Director and CEO Dr. John Heim, and other education leaders. Town hall participants will discuss the importance of parental involvement in schools and how PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships can enhance efforts to help children and communities thrive.
Virtual Town Hall: The updated National Standards for Family-School Partnerships help families and schools build strong partnerships. Watch as the @NationalPTA, @AASApage, @AFTunion, @NEAToday, @NAESP and @SchoolBoards join together on Project Appleseed’s 28th Annual #NationalParentalInvolvementDay 2022 for a virtual townhall about the revised Standards and hear from leaders in the field. U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona was a special guest.
Kevin Walker, Founder & President of Project Appleseed
Tune in to discover how using the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships can enhance your efforts to help children and communities thrive. Hear about the latest updates to the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships, discover our newest resources, and learn directly from leading researchers and practitioners in the field. Access it here on YouTube.
Dallas ISD celebrates National Parent Involvement Day
BY THE HUB ON NOVEMBER 14, 2022
Dallas ISD is celebrating Nov. 17, National Parent Involvement Day all week long with events hosted by the Family and Community Engagement department. It’s important that our parents feel valued and below are ways students can highlight the powerful contributions that parents and guardians provide at school and at home to support student success.
Monday, Nov. 14: Facebook Live Appreciation – Parents are invited to join us on Facebook Live at 9 a.m. for a special message from Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Stephanie Elizalde and the Trustees as they share their gratitude for parents.
Tuesday, Nov. 15: Crazy Sock day – Students and staff are allowed to wear crazy socks.
Wednesday. Nov. 16: I’m Thankful For My Parents Because…. More.......
Many individuals in public education impact students’ lives. It takes every person — bus drivers and classroom teachers to cafeteria workers, administrative staff, and countless others — to make a difference. Parents and legal guardians are critical factors in students’ success and well-being.
Parent involvement has always mattered. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how much their involvement ensured students are learning and that schools can provide families with the supports they need.
The pandemic has raised awareness of many inequities in society. The district and schools have worked hard to ensure that students receive meals, devices, and connectivity to learn on and off-campus. Staff members have also provided families training on using district-issued devices and how to navigate online tools and resources.
The only way to prevent COVID-19 from deepening inequality is to equip families to support learning at home. More....
Hundreds of PSJA ISD parents take oath during 15th Annual Volunteer Swearing-In Ceremony
PHARR, TX - Over 300 parents in Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) took an oath to be more involved in their children’s education during the 15th Annual Parent Volunteer Swearing-In Ceremony held at the Pharr Events Center.
As part of the annual event, Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Bobby Contreras conducted the oath and swearing in for all PSJA parent volunteers who serve at the schools and at the Parent Community/Education Centers through the PSJA ISD Parental Engagement Department.
According to PSJA Parental Engagement Director Norma Garza, the event helps validate and acknowledge the tremendous work and dedication of PSJA parents.
“This pledge helps parents commit to the education of their children and be involved in their community,” said Garza. “This is a huge ceremony for them because they get to see the importance of their actions.”
In addition to volunteering more than 25 hours a week on average, PSJA ISD parents can also continue their education through numerous free classes offered by the PSJA Parental Engagement Program.
Rosa Sartuche, one of the hundreds of parents who attended the special ceremony, felt grateful for the opportunity to take the oath in front of her peers.
“It is important for our kids to know that we are involved in their schools and their education,” said the parent who volunteers at PSJA T. Jefferson T-STEM Early College High School and is taking ESL and GED classes through the program....More
Danbury, Bethel moms win state award for child, family advocacy
By Julia Perkins, New Times, November 22, 2019
DANBURY, CT - Two local mothers who have advocated for children and families were honored Thursday for their efforts.
Sally Ajello, of Bethel, and Elizabeth Quinonez, of Danbury, were among 11 people in the state who received the Parental Involvement Recognition Award on Thursday.
Quinonez has worked with Danbury’s Spanish-speaking immigrant population through United Way of Western Connecticut’s early childhood partnership.
She has conducted workshops that focus on the value of parents as a child's first teacher and leads efforts to reduce poverty within the Spanish-speaking community, said Katherine Tucker, of Families Network of Western Connecticut, who nominated Quinonez.
The parents accepted the awards from the State Education Resource Center at a ceremony at the state Capitol held on National Parental Involvement Day.
Connecticut school leaders, program coordinators and others were invited to nominate parents and guardians who have supported local education, advocated for equity for parents and children, and made a difference in their children’s school or community....More
LETTER — Parents, stay involved in your kid’s education
By Dr. LaWanda Finney, Ed.D.,
Coordinator of Title I Parent Engagement Initiative
Port Arthur Independent School District.
Dear Editor,
Nov. 21 was recognized as National Parental Involvement Day. As stated at projectappleseed.org, “This day provides a yearly opportunity for schools and families to honor and highlight the powerful contributions parents and caregivers provide at school and home to support student success. However, parental involvement shouldn’t be confined to just one day — it should be emphasized all year long. Getting involved in your child’s education has been shown to dramatically increase the chances of academic success.”
The research is overwhelming that shows the correlation between parent involvement/engagement and student success. I think Dr. Mark Porterie, Superintendent of Port Arthur ISD, states it best.
After he read an article that shared this research as if it were new, he shared globally with the PAISD staff, “As I was reading the article (he shared the article), I thought to myself, REALLY!!! It is amazing that there are people out there that are just realizing the correlation between parental involvement and student success in schools.” Dr. Porterie is so on point! ....More
State Capitol ceremony honors Connecticut parent leaders, including those from Cromwell, Middletown
MIDDLETOWN CT NOV. 15, 2018 — Nine Connecticut citizens, including two locals, earned Parental Involvement Recognition Awards at the state Capitol this week to honor their contributions to their schools and communities.
The Middletown-based State Education Resource Center on Roscommon Drive sponsors the Connecticut awards in collaboration with the Connecticut Commission on Women, Children and Seniors, according to a press release. The event is held on National Parental Involvement Day, launched by St. Louis-based Project Appleseed.
The 2018 winners include Stewart Semeraro of Cromwell, who is involved with the Montessori Magnet School in Hartford; and Camille Smith of Middletown, an advocate for her child’s school, according to the release.
School leaders, program coordinators and others from across Connecticut were invited to nominate parents and guardians who have shown active involvement and ability to make a difference in their children’s school or community; support of their local school and contributions to high-quality education for all children; and dedication and advocacy to ensure equity for all parents and their children, the release said.
Smith was nominated by Donna Marino, community partnership coordinator at the Middletown School System. “I have known Camille for the past nine years in many roles, including the time she has given to graduate from every parent leadership course offered in Middletown, which includes: People Empowering People, Parent Leadership Training Institute, Parents Supporting Educational Excellence and Voices for Families,” she said in a prepared statement. More....
California
San Diego Celebrates National Parental Involvement Day
The San Diego Unified Council of PTAs and San Diego Unified School District are partnering once again to celebrate National Parent/Family Involvement Day at all district schools on Thursday, Nov. 17. The Board of Education will recognize this partnership with a Resolution at the Nov. 8 Board of Education.
National Parent Involvement Day allows us to highlight how important parents, families guardians and community are to the education of our children and to say “Thank you” for their contributions. Principals/school sites and PTAs are encouraged to work together on hosting an event for parents.
Texas
National Parental Involvement Day in Dallas shows parents’ impact in education
This Thursday, marks the 20th annual National Parental Involvement Day, established by Project Appleseed to recognize the extraordinary impact that public school parents have made in shaping America.
Dallas ISD “highlights the powerful contributions of parents, guardians and other caregivers of our students throughout the year in a variety of ways, including our parent recognition in May, which is usually attended by hundreds of parents,” said Mari-Carmen Eroles, Manager of the Office of Family and Community Engagement. “We know that parents get involved in their children’s education in a variety of ways, and we encourage them to participate in ways that are meaningful and appropriate to their families.”
Getting involved in your child’s education has been shown to dramatically increase the chances of academic success. This annual day of recognition serves as not only a celebration of currently involved parents, but also a reminder to seek out ways to make a difference. Check with your student’s teacher or the office in their school to see how you can help.
Students also need to know that learning doesn’t only happen in a classroom. Helping them seek out opportunities to experience new places, people and ideas, whether that’s going to a museum or spending time talking to a community leader. Finding a passion and a mentor can open a child’s world.
Noted Eroles, “Not all parents have the flexibility to volunteer at school, but they have time to motivate their children and have conversations about their learning that support academic success.”
Be sure to visit the Dallas ISD Parents Facebook page on Nov. 19, to see the messages of encouragement.
Georgia
A Thank You Letter to Georgia Families
Thank You Letter to Georgia’s Families By Richard Woods State School Superintendent November 2016. The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) works to serve students, families, and local school districts to provide high-quality programs that improve teaching and learning across the state. All GaDOE-sponsored programs share a common goal of offering Georgia’s students an education that affords them the opportunity to move on to college, the military, or directly into a meaningful career.
Research on family engagement suggests that when schools, families, and communities support each other, students of all backgrounds and ability levels achieve at the highest levels. The message to all of us in the research is clear: educational programs are more effective when parents are actively engaged in them. Engaged parents and family members give students the support they need to be successful.
The importance of parental support is highlighted during the month of November as Georgia celebrates Family Engagement Month. Schools across the state plan special events to honor the crucial role that parents play in students’ education. In addition, November 17 is National Parent Involvement Day, a time for all parents to reflect on ways they can get more involved in the education of their children. Also on November 17, I invite you to follow the Parent Engagement Program on Facebook (GaDOEParentEngagement) to view and “like” the video campaign schools and districts submitted for the Family Engagement Month video contest.
To support you with best practices in November and year-round, the Georgia Department of Education has an array of materials for Title I schools and parents. You can download brochures, school transitional materials, and other resources on the Information for Parents webpage at http://gadoe.org/parent-information. On behalf of our schools and school systems, I want to personally thank all the parents and families who have taken on the significant role of engaging in their children’s education. The importance of your support is immeasurable; schools simply cannot succeed without you.