Topic 11: School Policies and Their Functions

Introduction
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.
Learning Outcome:
At the end of this Chapter, you should be able to explain the importance of school
policies in school operation.
1. 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
from members and outside sources to enable to fund and sustain its operation and
the implementation of its programs and projects exclusively for the benefit of the
students and the school where it operates. 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;
Non-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;
The contributions shall be collected by the PTA Treasurer on a per parent-
member basis regardless of the number of their children in school;
No collection of PTA Contributions shall be done during the enrollment period;
and
No teacher or any school personnel shall be involved in such collection activities.

Safekeeping of Funds All collections of contributions or proceeds 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 school official or personnel be entrusted with the
safekeeping and disbursement of collections made by the PTA. All disbursements
of funds shall be in accordance with generally accepted accounting and auditing
rules and regulations.
PTAs are prohibited from:
Interfering in the academic and administrative management and operations of the
school, and of the DepED, in general;
Engaging in any partisan political activity within school premises;
Operating a canteen/ school supplies store, or being a concessionaire thereof
inside the school or nearby premises, or offering these services to the school as its
client either directly orIndirectly;
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. PTA Officers and
members of the Board of Directors are prohibited from collecting salaries,
honoraria, emoluments or other forms of compensation from any of the funds
collected or received by the PIA.
PTAS shall have no right to disburse or charge any fee as service fees or
percentages against the amount collected pertinent to the School Publication Fee,
Supreme Student Government (SSG) Developmental Fund and other club
membership fees and contributions.
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.
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 or officer of the Board &
the PTA who may appear responsible for failure to submit the necessary annual

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. 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 tar from 1deal and
persons that make the school community are far from perfect and so the need for
policies. One may wonder as to why the Department of Education has issued very
stringent policies and guidelines for PTAs 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.

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.
Similarly, if there are no policies on student’s 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.

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.
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. 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 more effective
implementation. This is school empowerment in action. Aside from involving the
school and community in policy formulation, school head must ensure wide
dissemination and correct and clear understanding of the policy.

TAKEAWAYS
 Policies are intended to ensure that schools perform and 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.
 But schools are also empowered to formulate their own policies to address
their concerns speedily provided they are not contrary to policies that
come from above.
 School policies are effective when they are formulated with the
participation of the members of the school an community as this develops
of ownership which ensures implementation of the family.
 Policies must also be widely disseminated for the information of the entire
system school and community- and must De understood correctly and
clearly.
 Policies set order in schools. The absence of Clear-cut policies may cause
chaos.