Elementary School-University Partnership: The Elementary Parent Leadership Academy

Abstract

School-family-community partnerships have been shown to increase student success and overall school climate.  In order to support local schools and their students and families, The University of Alabama created the Elementary Parent Leadership Academy (EPLA), a training program that prepares elementary school parent leaders to strengthen school communities through supporting parent involvement.  Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the 2014-2015 EPLA graduates found that the program increased parent school leadership attitudes and behaviors.