School Public Relations Strategies

Some of the strategies that follow address feelings: How welcome does a parent feel in the school? Some address knowledge: How informed are people in the community? What do they know about the school's accomplishments? Some address power: How much influence do parents feel they have over their child's education? The result of these efforts should be parents who feel, as one put it, "My voice matters here." A parent with that attitude is a satisfied partner, one who is loyal and supportive. Every citizen, whether public school parents, members of the business and religious communities, politicians, private school parents, and voters without school-age children has a need for public schools. The challenge is to determine what that need is, and then provide value. For example, every citizen needs to know that his or her tax money is being well spent; every business needs to know that its employment requirements are being addressed; every concerned citizen wants to be proud of his or her community, and that includes public schools.

The following strategies provide value to various stakeholders in public education:

• Media
• Outreach
• Little Things
• Facilities
• Promoting Excellence
• Networking
• Open Doors