What is a Parents' Association?

• Education Act 1998 gives a legislative basis for the existence, recognition and purpose of a Parents’ Association
• A PA is the structure through which the parents in a school can work together for the best possible education for their children
• The Parents’ Association works with the Principal, staff and BoM to build effective partnership between home and school

Membership of a Parents' Association

• All parents of children in the school are members of the Parents’ Association. These parents elect a committee.
• Parent is defined as:
  Extract from the Education Act 1998
  “parent” includes a foster parent, a guardian appointed under the Guardianship of Children Acts 1964 to 1997, or other person acting in loco parentis who has a child in his or her care subject to any statutory power or order of a court and, in the case of a child who has been adopted under the Adoption Acts 1952 to 1998, or, where the child has been adopted outside the State, means the adopter or adopters or the surviving adopter

Parents' Association Committee

• All parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of children in the school are members of the Parent’s Association.
• These parent(s)/legal guardian(s) may elect a committee to work on their behalf from one year to the next.
• Membership of Parent’s Association Committee is open to parent(s)/legal guardian(s) of pupils enrolled in the school.
• Parents’ Associations provide most valuable assistance and support to school management, staff and students.
• As the Parents Association operates solely for the school, its activities are the responsibility of the Board of Management