Parental Involvement Assessment (ALL INSTITUTIONS)

The Parental Involvement Assessment (PIA) is a standard used by the Global Education Accrediting Commission (GEAC) to evaluate an institution's efforts in involving parents or guardians in the educational process. This overview will be divided into several sections to provide a detailed understanding of the PIA.

I. Purpose of the PIA
The primary purpose of the PIA is to evaluate an institution's efforts to involve parents or guardians in the educational process and their impact on student learning outcomes. The PIA assesses the quality, relevance, and appropriateness of an institution's parental involvement programs, ensuring that they meet the needs of students and their families.

II. Components of the PIA
The PIA has several components that assess different aspects of an institution's parental involvement programs, including:

A. Communication
The PIA assesses an institution's communication efforts to ensure that parents or guardians are well-informed and involved in their child's education. This includes evaluating the frequency and quality of communication between the institution and parents or guardians, the availability of information about student progress, and the use of technology to enhance communication.

B. Parental Involvement in Curriculum Development
The PIA evaluates the extent to which parents or guardians are involved in the development of an institution's educational curriculum. This includes assessing the degree to which parents or guardians are consulted during the development of new curriculum and the extent to which their input is incorporated into the curriculum.

C. Parental Involvement in School Governance
The PIA assesses the extent to which parents or guardians are involved in school governance, such as through parent-teacher associations, school boards, or other forms of parental representation. This includes evaluating the degree to which parents or guardians are involved in decision-making processes that affect their child's education.

D. Parental Involvement in School Activities
The PIA evaluates the extent to which parents or guardians are involved in school activities, such as volunteering in the classroom or participating in school events. This includes assessing the degree to which parents or guardians are encouraged to participate in school activities and the extent to which their involvement enhances the educational experience for students.

III. Process of the PIA
The PIA process involves several steps, including:

A. Self-Evaluation
Institutions seeking accreditation must first conduct a self-evaluation of their parental involvement programs, including their communication efforts, parental involvement in curriculum development and school governance, and involvement in school activities. This self-evaluation is used to identify any areas of weakness or opportunities for improvement.

B. External Review
After the self-evaluation, an external team of evaluators visits the institution to conduct an evaluation of the institution's parental involvement programs. This evaluation includes interviews with parents or guardians, a review of relevant documents, and an assessment of the institution's efforts to involve parents or guardians in the educational process.

C. Report and Recommendations
The external team of evaluators prepares a report detailing their findings and recommendations regarding the institution's parental involvement programs. This report is submitted to the GEAC committee for review and a final decision.

IV. Benefits of the PIA
The PIA provides several benefits for institutions seeking accreditation, including:

A. Improved Parental Involvement Programs
The PIA helps institutions improve the quality, relevance, and effectiveness of their parental involvement programs, ensuring that parents or guardians are well-informed and involved in their child's education.

B. Recognition of Excellence
Institutions that meet the PIA standards are recognized for their excellence in involving parents or guardians in the educational process, demonstrating their commitment to providing students with a well-rounded education.

C. Ongoing Improvement
The PIA requires institutions to engage in ongoing evaluation and improvement of their parental involvement programs, ensuring that they continue to provide parents or guardians with opportunities to be involved in.