Portland Parent Union Strategies Template and/ Policies and Procedures

Portland Parent Union Started in April 2009.

Founder Sheila Warren

Mission Statement
Our Mission is to organize parents for better outcomes by enriching them through support, information and education. We are dedicated to parents: to involve their families, to anticipate their challenges and help them to take advantage of opportunities to guarantee a successful student.We are dedicated to the Parent’s development of leadership skills, knowledge and responsibility.
We intentionally involve community groups and organizations to help us provide the training and/or support to develop leaders.
see http://www.wix.com/simplysheilas/portland-parent-union

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THE TIME IS NOW FOR PARENT POWER!!!!

PORTLAND PARENT UNION
MEMBERSHIP/LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Develop the numbers, knowledge, skills, and power of parent members

partnering with schools and communities to improve public education

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Planned Work

Inputs (resources needed to support chapters

Standardized structures in each chapter (clarity about membership and
leadership structures, pathways to leadership roles, etc.
Money and Matrial resources
Paid/Volunteer staff roles;
Training for membership participation and leadership roles
Chapter-to-chapter assistance, peer learning and training

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Planned Work

Strategies (activities, services, key functions)

Membership Development plan to build representative
membership in each chapter
Develop Membership database
Develop communication plan for membership
Structured Parent leadership training
Plans for engaging parent volunteer

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Intended Results

Outputs (what short-term strategies produce)

Membership development plan in place
Membership is clearly defined in each chapter and across PPU
Regular trainings held and technical assistance provided for member-
ship growth
Membership newsletters and communications to exchange best
practices throughout the PPU network.
Gatherings, convenings, conferences held
Common memberships database format across chapters and state and
national PPU
Regular/annual leadership training events
Each chapter has roles/work planned for volunteers

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Intended Results

Outcomes (what longer-ter strategies produce)

Chapters with minimum of 25 core members and plans to increase numbers
More parent leaders-representative of families in the school district-
engaged in PPU efforts to improve public education district-wide
Chapter-funding is increased through membership participation and growth;
intentional membership development
Membership and leadership hold each other accountable (express mutual

accountability)
PPU creates "space" and provides "the place" for dialogue and deliberation on
education issues in school district

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Intended Results

Impact (aggregate or ultimate effect of an effective organization)

Increased number of engaged parents-for members-at local level
increased chapter capacity and leadership development
Increased community commitment to higher student achivement is
evident
Chapters seen as democratic organizations incorporating inclusive
decision-making and developing parent leaders
Strong chapters with powerful parent constituencies that enable
healthy school communities
PPU mode redefines parent involvement to true engagement for
parents and community-at-large

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PORTLAND PARENT UNION

Overall Organization development and activities

Each chapter will have their own identity and yet is a part of Portland Parent

Union of Oregon which will some day become a national network.

This national network is for each chapter a source of power, support and

expertise.  As our current mission statement notes: PPU is to organize parents

for better

outcomes by enriching them through support, information and education.

We are dedicated to the parents. Parents are teachers, role models, mentors

and providers and have geat power to make their children's lives better.

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Planned Work

Inputs (resources needed for our organization)

Infrastructure
Standardized material
Communication between chapters and other Parent Unions
Money and material resources
Adequate staffing (all volunteer right now)
Expertise specialities (organizers, media person, issues as needed)
Connections/relationships and affinity with other organizations that
will support PPU.
Access to latest research in the field (research team)

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Planned work

Strategies (activities, services, key functions)

Membership/Leadership development plans
Public awareness/education plans
Action: Organizing/Advocacy plans
Fundraising plans: assistant and data management
Org. assessment and evaluation
Centralized Services: Insurances ( directors, liabilities, personnel docs.

, health insurance)

Implementation of national strategies on expansion of chapters;

membership growth; school reform
agenda and local fundraising.

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Intended Results

Outputs (what short-term strategies produce)

Plan in place for membership/leadership development; public

awareness/education; action/
organizing/advocacy and fundraising;
Development of the materials and products that support and direct

chapter operations
Development of chapter expansion plan
Identification of local, state and national supporters
Increase in representative membership in PPU/ chapters
Convenings held for sharing new ideas and for training opportunities
Documentation and promotion of chapter activities and impact

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Intended Results

Outcomes (what longer term strategies produce)

Chapters adequately supported
More effective in our workforce
More consistent in operations
Percentage increae  in number of chapters and percentage incease

in individual members
National, local and state supporters identified
Build donor base
Knowledgeable about our communities and districts and engaged

in critical friend role
PPU effectively introduces various leadership pathways for parents

beyond volunteering
PPU broadens parent involvement thru chapter work
PPU addresses district-wide, state-wide and nationwide issues

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Public Awareness/Public Education

Educate parents, school communities and the public in general about

the importance and impact of parental involvement in building healthy

schools, and providing quality
public education vital to our communities and our democracy.

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Planned  Work

Input (resources needed to support chapters)

Solid information on impact of parent engagement
Training on media marketing, public relations
Clarity around PPU messages, values, and strategy
Tools that help chapters "make the case"-e.g:
-Clear messages regarding value of public education for multiple

constituencies
-Messages that articulate value o PPU

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Planned Work

Strategies (activities, services, key functions)

Public awareness/education committee or liaison to assist chapters

from national PPU
and each chapter to coordinate:
-Collection of stories and successes
-Collection of data on chapter operations, school district issues,

and chapter activities
-Planning of community forums;
-Newsletters, etc:

PPUN clearinghouse communications and responses to inquiries
Local coverage promoting PPU action agenda
Media Campaign
Speakers' Bureau
Knowledge of governance-school, district/school board

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Intended Results

Outputs (what short-term strategies produce

Members articulate PPU messages and chapter impact
Data base of stories, successes, PPU impact is built up;
Local reports/stories show increased parent engagement and impact
Greater awareness of PPU
Convincing 'material' is available for funding requests

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Intended Results

Outcomes (what longer-term strategies produce)

Greater community awareness of issues related to parental engagement

in public education
Greater community support for PPU work due to greater understanding

of the importance
and impact of parental involvement
Chapters articulate victories
Greater awareness of PPU
Chapters support effective district programs that address PPU values

of equity access
Funders notice PPU and provide support

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Intended Results

Impact (aggregate or ultimate effect of an effective chapter)

Change negative perception of public education
Chapters reinforce importance of positive relationships between all

stake holders in the community
for supporting and improving public education
Greater parent and community responsibility for public schools due to

better understanding of issues
Greater value for public schools and PPU
Maintain or increase percentage of families choosing public schools

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Action: Advocacy and Organizing

To mobilize parents and their supporters to support public education and

improvement of public schools for all students by working to achieve equitable distribution
of resources and to gain access for excellent public education for all children

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