Chapter 11: Schools
Policies and Their
Functions
Schools are institutions motivated by a shared vision.
Necessarily, schools must have policies for them to realize their
vision and mission. These policies are a reflection of the values
of the people who created them. Whatever policies are
formulated must redound to the improved teaching-learning of
learners which is the very reason of the existence of schools. In
this Chapter, we will focus on school policies that govern school
and community partnership.
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Policy on Collection of Contributions
Cognizant of the need of an organization for adequate funds to
sustain its operations, a duly recognized PTA may collect
voluntary financial contributions form members and outside
sources to enable it to fund and sustain it operation and the
implementation of its programs and project exclusively for the
benefits of the students and the school where its operates.
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The PTA’s programs and projects shall be in line with the
School Improvement Plan (SIP)
The contributions should be a reasonable amount as may be
determined by the PTA Board of Directors:
▪ No-payment of the contributions by the parent-member shall
not be a basis for non-admission or non-issuance of
clearance(s) to the child by the school concerned.
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▪ The contributions shall be collected by the PTA Treasurer on a
per parent-member basis regardless of the number of their
children in schools.
▪ No collection of PTA contribution shall be done during the
enrolment period; and
▪ No teacher or any school personnel shall be involved in such
collection activities.
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Safekeeping of Funds All collections of contributions or
proceed of fundraising activities shall be deposited in a reputable
banking institution as determined by the Board of Directors. The
PTA’s Treasurer or a duly authorized representative shall
undertake the collection and shall issue official
receipts/acknowledgement receipts. In no case shall any schools
official or personnel be entrusted with the safekeeping and
disbursement of collection made by the PTA.
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All disbursements of funds shall be in accordance with generally
accepted accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
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PTA’s are prohibited from:
Interfering in the academic and administrative
management and operations of the schools, and of the
DepED, in general;
▪ Engaging in any partisan political activity within
schools premises;
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▪ Operating a canteen/school supplies store, or being a
concessionaire thereof inside the school or nearby premises,
or offering these services to the schools as its client either
directly or indirectly;
▪ Selling insurance, pre-need plans or similar schemes or
programs to students and/or their parents; and
▪ Such other acts or circumstances analogous to the foregoing.
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▪ PTA Officers and members of the Board od Directors are
prohibited from collection salaries, honoraria, or others forms
of compensation from any of the funds collected or received
by PTA.
▪ PTA shall have no right to disburse, or charge any fees as
service fees or percentages against the amount collected
pertinent to the School Publication Fee, SSG Developmental
Fund and other membership fees anf contributions.
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In no case shall a PTA or any of its officers or members of the
Board of Directors call upon students and teachers for
purposes of investigation or disciplinary action.
The recognition of any PTA shall be cancelled by the Division
PTA Affairs Committee upon the recommendation of the School
Head concerned for any violation of the above-mentioned
prohibited activities and these Guidelines.
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Thereafter, the School Head may call for a special election to
replace the Board of Directors of the PTA whose recognition was
cancelled. Criminal, civil and/or administrative actions may be
taken against any member of officer of the Board of the PTA who
may appear responsible for failure to submit the necessary annual
financial statements or failure to account the funds of the PTA.
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Importance of Policies
Schools in partnership with their community have their own
picture of what they want to be (vision statement) and so must
offer services and must do what they are supposed to do (mission
statement) in order to realize what they envisioned themselves to
be. For these to happen, policies must be in place. Observance of
these policies ensures everyone in the school community to tow
the line.
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Importance of Policies
If conditions are ideal like when all members of the school
community are perfect-school heads, teachers, students, parents,
non-teaching personnel and other members of the outside
community- there may be no need for a policy. The truth is
conditions in the school community and in this world are far
from ideal and persons that make the school community are far
from perfect and so the need for policies.
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Importance of Policies
One may wonder as to why the Department of Education has
issued very stringent policies and guidelines for PPAs •in matters
of collecting contributions. Even engaging in any partisan
political activity within school premises is written as one
prohibited activity. There must a history to that. Perhaps
malversation of funds and other forms Of abuse happened in the
past.
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Importance of Policies
▪ Schools' policy on the grading system is important for
everyone concerned to know how grades are computed. Both
students and parents know how grades are derived
objectively. Percentage weights for each component are clear.
▪ Teachers are guided in their assessment practices. The
grading policy ensures objective assessment practice. Without
the grading policy, grading may become highly subjective.
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Importance of Policies
Similarly, if there are no policies on students' tardiness and
absenteeism, students may just come in late or absent. The
policies on students' tardiness and absenteeism certainly will curb
tardiness and absenteeism to ensure learning.
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Effective Policy Formulation and Implementation in a
School Community Partnership.
The policies on grading, student tardiness an absenteeism came
from above, DepEd Central office. At times there is need for
policies from above. But policies do not need to come from
above all the time.
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Effective Policy Formulation and Implementation in a
School Community Partnership.
There are times when a school formulates a policy to address a
local problem. In fact, this is how it should be in a school-
community partnership. Ideally, a policy must not be formulated
by the school head by himself/herself. The school head must lead
in the policy formulation process. The word "lead" implies that
an effective policy formulation process must be participatory
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Effective Policy Formulation and Implementation in a School
Community Partnership.
This means that it is best ' that the rest of the school and
community be involved. Two good heads are better than one.
Besides participation of school and community develops a sense of
ownership of such formulated policy which ensures a more
effective implementation. This is school empowerment in action.
Aside from involving the school and community in policy
formulation, a school head must ensure wide dissemination and
correct and clear understanding of the policy.
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▪ Policies are intended to ensure that schools performs a realize
what they have envisioned for themselves.
▪ There are policies that come from authorities above the school
since the school is a member of a bigger organization or
system.
▪ Schools are also empowered to formulate their power
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▪ Policies to address their concerns speedily provided they are
not contrary to policies that come from above.
▪ Schools policies are effective when they are formulated with
the participation of the members of the school an community
as this develops sense of ownership which ensures
implementation of the family.
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▪ Policies must also be widely disseminated for the information
to the entire system- schools and community- and must be
understood correctly and clearly.
▪ Policies set order in schools. The absence of clear-cut policies
may court.
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