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Welcome to the home of National Parental Involvement Day & Public School Volunteer Week!
Join us for Curbside Coffee & Cookies!
When Do We Celebrate Family Engagement Month?
We celebrate Family Engagement Month on National Parental Involvement Day, the original and most widely recognized family engagement event in public schools! This special day is observed every third Thursday in November as part of American Education Week. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, it raises awareness about the crucial role family involvement plays in student success. Though celebrated just one day each year, every day should be Parental Involvement Day!
For 30 years, this grassroots movement has helped build stronger family-school partnerships, much like Earth Day sparked the environmental awareness movement in 1970. Kevin Walker, a former Earth Day organizer and the founder of Project Appleseed, was inspired by Earth Day when he created National Parental Involvement Day.
We want #NationalParentalInvolvementDay to also be recognized as #FamilyEngagementDay. We aim to speak directly to parents without using complex education jargon. While the media and public often embrace the term "parental involvement," we want to emphasize the long-standing shift to family engagement, recognizing the vital role that all caregivers play in a child’s education.
Making Family Engagement an Everyday Priority
Schools are encouraged to celebrate in their own way. To ensure that every day is Parental Involvement Day, our event handbook provides 100 creative ideas to help you plan a celebration that aligns with your school’s culture and community.
Looking for a Simple Yet Impactful Way to Engage Parents?
Start in the car rider line—a natural gathering space where busy families can be welcomed and appreciated effortlessly. This signature event of National Parental Involvement Day helps schools create meaningful connections with parents.
How This Event Welcomes All Families
Our event is built on The Six Slices of Family Engagement, a framework designed to strengthen partnerships between schools, families, and communities for student success. Specifically, "Slice 1: Welcome All Families" focuses on treating every family as a valued partner and fostering a sense of belonging.
How Curbside Coffee & Cookies Promotes Inclusivity:
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Building a Community of Belonging – Serving coffee and cookies in the car rider line acknowledges parents’ contributions while creating an environment of respect, appreciation, and connection.
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Creating an Inclusive Environment – By hosting the event where parents already gather, we remove barriers and make participation accessible—even for the busiest families.
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Simplicity with Impact – A small but meaningful gesture inspires gratitude, sets a positive tone, and strengthens relationships, encouraging continued family engagement.
A Small Gesture, A Big Impact
National Parental Involvement Day, celebrated on the third Thursday in November, is the perfect opportunity to say “thank you and we need you” and reinforce strong school-home connections. A simple cup of coffee, a cookie, and a warm greeting can transform a daily routine into a meaningful moment of appreciation.
Schools Across the Country Have Seen the Impact:
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“We had a blast handing out goodies in the car rider line!”
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“DONUT know what we would do without you!”
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Santa even stopped by to say ‘Thank You, Parents!’”
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“Join us this Thursday as we celebrate YOU, our amazing families, with a special treat in the car line!”
How to Host Curbside Coffee & Cookies
1. Plan Your Appreciation Event
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Pick a Time & Place – Choose a time when parents are already present, such as morning drop-off, afternoon pick-up, or during a school event.
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Gather a Team – Engage teachers, administrators, PTA/PTO members, and student volunteers to greet and serve parents.
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Secure Coffee & Treats – Partner with local businesses, your PTA/PTO, or community sponsors to provide coffee, donuts, or cookies.
2. Make It Special
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Hand Out Thank You Notes – A heartfelt message from students or staff makes parents feel genuinely appreciated.
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Create a Fun Photo Opportunity – Set up a backdrop or banner and encourage parents to take and share photos on social media.
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Add a Special Touch – Consider inviting the superintendent, student performers, the high school band, varsity cheerleaders, or even a surprise mascot visit.
3. Encourage Year-Round Parent Engagement
Promote Upcoming Events – Keep families engaged by sharing details about family nights, volunteer opportunities, and ways to get involved—especially during the 150 days between National Parental Involvement Day and Public School Volunteer Week, or anytime throughout the year.
Distribute the Parent Engagement Pledge or Title I Compact – Reinforce the importance of ongoing family involvement in student success.
Make It a Tradition – Schools that host annual appreciation events, such as National Parental Involvement Day and Public School Volunteer Week, consistently experience stronger family engagement year-round.
Let’s Build Welcoming School Communities—One Cup of Coffee at a Time!
By participating in Project Appleseed’s National Parental Involvement Day – Curbside Coffee & Cookies, your school joins thousands of others in celebrating the essential role of parents in education.
Celebrate National Parental Involvement Day Your Way!
National Parental Involvement Day is your opportunity to highlight the power of family engagement in your schools. We encourage you to make the day your own—whether through special events, outreach efforts, or creative initiatives that bring families and educators together. Let us know how you’re celebrating!
Here are some great ways to get involved:
✅ 150 Days of Family Engagement – Extend the impact beyond just one day!
✅ Thank and Recruit Families – Show appreciation and invite more parents to engage.
✅ Parent | School Checklist – A guide to strengthen family-school partnerships.
✅ Ideas for Proclamations & Resolutions – Make your commitment official.
✅ Project Appleseed’s Parental Involvement Toolbox – Resources to support your efforts.
Teamwork Makes the Difference!
A successful celebration involves parents, educators, employers, and mentors working together to bridge the connection between home and school. Strong partnerships lead to student success!
Take Action Today:
📌 Sign the Parental Involvement Pledge
📌 Download the Parental Involvement Pledge (PDF)
📌 Use the Parental Involvement Report Card (PDF)
Showcase the value of family engagement in your school and share your efforts with us! #NationalParentalInvolvementDay #FamilyEngagementDay
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.