PARENT GROUPS, SCHOOLS & MUNICIPAL AGENCIES FAQs

How do we ensure that only certified enrichment teachers are working with our children at our school/facility?

We have excellent enrichment teachers working at our school/facility, and we don’t want to lose them.  Will their lack of certification affect their job security?

Will mandating certification for enrichment teachers interrupt programs at our school/facility?

What is the risk of having non-certified enrichment teachers working with the children at our school/facility?

Right in the middle of a 10 week after school program, our enrichment teacher stopped showing up to teach.  The children were devastated and we had no recourse left to us.  As an advocacy group, what could NETA have done to prevent this from happening?

When my school/facility is hiring an enrichment program provider, what should I be looking for?

What is the advantage of having a NETA certified enrichment program provider operate classes at my school/facility?

Recently, our school/facility had a bad experience with an enrichment program provider.  How would hiring a NETA certified enrichment program provider be any better or different?

We currently do not have an enrichment program.  How do we go about implementing one at our school/facility?

Our school district is experiencing a budget shortfall.  Can we still have an enrichment program at our school?

How do we diversify the kinds of programs offered to children at our school/facility?

The enrichment program we run at our school has not been as successful as one at a neighboring school.  How can NETA help us?

How does a NETA Associate’s Membership benefit our school/facility?

Is after school enrichment viable as a school fundraiser?

Our school has an existing enrichment program.  Can we convert the enrichment program into a school fundraiser?

We have a limited budget.  What is the cost of implementing NETA’s after school fundraising program?

How do we ensure that only certified enrichment teachers are working with our children at our school/facility?
Schools are doing with enrichment teachers what gyms and health clubs are doing with personal trainers – they are simply demanding proof of certification.  Proof of certification consists of a valid certificate or wallet card.  By having documentation of a teacher’s certification status which can be kept on file, you ensure no one “slips through the cracks”.  Many PTAs and school administrators are even implementing policies where every school within their district is demanding proof of certification from any enrichment teacher they hire or is placed at their school by a program provider. [back to top] 

We have excellent enrichment teachers working at our school/facility, and we don’t want to lose them.  Will their lack of certification affect their job security?
No.  You can allow a 90-day probationary period during which non-certified enrichment teachers can attain their certification.  But in the interest of securing the safety of students, we strongly recommend you issue the teacher with a formal warning and/or suspend their teaching privileges if the teacher fails to procure certification within the 90-day probationary period. [back to top] 

Will mandating certification for enrichment teachers interrupt programs at our school/facility?
No.  The imposition of a 90-day probationary period in which an enrichment teacher must obtain their certification is no different from requiring the teacher to supply the results of a TB test – it is done as a matter of safety.  Certification is affordable and can be readily procured through our testing centers which are conveniently located at H&R Block offices throughout the country. [back to top] 

What is the risk of having non-certified enrichment teachers working with the children at our school/facility?
The primary drawback to hiring a non-certified enrichment teacher is that you have no way of knowing what knowledge they lack regarding safety, legal liabilities, transferring custody of children and other important issues until after a mistake has been made.  When it comes to allowing an adult to work with your children, there are no second chances.  Only through certification are you assured a teacher has demonstrated a thorough understanding of the skills, tasks and knowledge necessary to work with children safely and effectively. [back to top] 

Right in the middle of a 10 week after school program, our enrichment teacher stopped showing up to teach.  The children were devastated, and we had no recourse left to us.  As an advocacy group, what could NETA have done to prevent this from happening?
Unfortunately, incidents like this happen all too often and further underscore the need for a certified population of enrichment teachers.  Lack of certification gives such a teacher the leeway to engage in unethical behavior and go from job to job with relative anonymity and no accountability.  NETA’s Enrichment Teacher Certification addresses this issue by creating the mechanism with which teachers are held responsible for their actions and made aware that there will be consequences for misconduct including revocation of certification, censure, suspension, corrective action, etc. [back to top] 

When my school/facility is hiring an enrichment program provider, what should I be looking for?
First and foremost, choose a certified enrichment program provider as they bring with them a set of advantages including being staffed by certified enrichment teachers.  Second, look for a program provider who offers the types of classes and courses your student body and school/facility desire at a price your parent base can afford.  Third, make reference calls to the schools/facilities the program provider has previously worked with in order to confirm their level of service.  Fourth, ask for documentation to retain on file including: current certificate of liability insurance (naming your school/facility as additionally insured), current certification status as a program provider, letter confirming that all teachers on staff have received and successfully cleared a criminal background check, and proof of certification for each teacher they place at your site.
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What is the advantage of having a NETA certified enrichment program provider operate classes at my school/facility?
Parents are right to demand quality assurance and accountability from the enrichment program providers who work with their children.  Only certification can deliver this assurance as certified providers operate based on a set of Standards premised on sound business practices, business ethics, utilization of certified teachers, curriculum and performance analysis, all of which are designed to facilitate best practice in enrichment.  When you engage the services of a NETA certified program provider, you have the added advantage of being able to turn to NETA to act as your advocate when help is needed, whereas with a non-certified program provider there is little or no recourse left to you. [back to top] 

 
Recently, our school/facility had a bad experience with an enrichment program provider.  How would hiring a NETA certified enrichment program provider be any better or different?
Non-certified enrichment program providers who engage in misconduct or fail to live up to their obligations retreat behind a veil of anonymity simply because they can.  While your experience is not the norm for enrichment, it does call attention to a serious problem – the lack of a system of oversight to which program providers can be held accountable and which safeguards the interests of the public.  Certification is a critical element to addressing this issue.  Certification makes a program provider answerable for their conduct, the fair and equitable treatment of children, the issuance of criminal background checks to enrichment teachers, the resources to sustain long term business operations, curriculum analysis, etc. and provides a mechanism where performance can be documented. [back to top] 

We currently do not have an enrichment program.  How do we go about implementing and running one at our school/facility?
Implementing an enrichment program at your site is a simple, straight forward process.  But before you actually go about starting a program, there are several questions you must take into consideration, including: 

• Will you hire an enrichment provider to operate the program or will you be administering the program yourself? 
• What types of classes reflect the interests of your student body?   
• If at a public school district, how do you go about obtaining the necessary facility permits and possible fee waivers?

Of course, running a program presents a unique set of challenges and know-how.  NETA’s various training and consulting services are here to answer any questions you may have in order to streamline the process. [back to top] 

Our school district is experiencing a budget shortfall.  Can we still have an enrichment program at our school?
Yes.  There are many ways to set up an enrichment program at your school without having to secure funding through the school or school district’s budget.  Many schools have enrichment programs that are funded entirely by the parents.  Your school may also qualify to have a nonprofit, grant funded enrichment Program Provider operate enrichment classes on your campus at little or no cost your school or student body. [back to top] 

How do we diversify the kinds of programs offered to children at our school/facility?
Having a diverse array of classes is essential to having a thriving enrichment program.  You may want to conduct a survey of your student body to gauge what their interests are and use their feedback to inform your choices on program providers.  No one program provider can fulfill every student’s interests, which is why many schools and facilities engage the services of multiple providers whose classes complement each other.   Popular choices and combinations include classes in the performing arts, science, language, chess, sports, homework club, fine arts, etc.  To maximize your students’ use of your programs, try to hold 2 to 3 activities per day at different locations on your campus. [back to top] 

The enrichment program we run at our school has not been as successful as one at a neighboring school.  How can NETA help us?
One of the ways in which NETA can serve you is by conducting an analysis of your enrichment program, identifying the causes to why your program is underperforming and offer recommendations on improving performance.  Enrichment programs can underperform or fail for a variety of reasons, including: flaws in advertising, inadequate or unpopular class selections, overpricing of classes, ineffective outreach to customers, poor record keeping/administration practices, unqualified teachers, etc.  These are commonly made mistakes, but fortunately, they can easily be remedied.  [back to top] 

How does a NETA Associate’s Membership benefit our school/facility?
NETA Membership is available to all parent groups, municipal agencies, school officials, or individuals with a vested interest in the culture of enrichment as well as to NETA-certified enrichment teachers, certified program providers, summer camps and employers of enrichment teachers.  An Associate’s Membership gives you the following:

• Access to the nationwide enrichment community through newsletters and online social networking.
• Access to the database of NETA-certified enrichment teachers and profile pages.
• Access to the database of program providers and their company profile pages.
• Job posting privileges making your search for teaching staff quick and easy.
• 10% discount on all NETA merchandise.
• 10% discount on admission to the NETA Annual Conference.
• 10% discount booths and advertising at the Annual Conference.
• 10% discount on advertising space in NETA’s newsletters.
• Having NETA as your resource and advocate.

The Associate’s Membership can be renewed annually and is valid for a period of one calendar year.  The sooner you sign up, the more you can full realize its benefits.  To apply for an Associate’s Membership, click here. 
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Is after school enrichment viable as a school fundraiser?
Yes.  There are many types of fundraising programs available to schools such as bake sales, book fairs, magazine subscriptions, candy sales drives, etc.  The problems is these programs raise funds intermittently, yield only a modest return at best and require children to engage in direct marketing sales.  In contrast, school enrichment is a year-round enterprise.  It raises funds for schools or PTAs far more effectively and can be relied upon as an ongoing source of revenue.  In addition, school enrichment comes with a built-in customer base eager to utilize its services, because they need to – parents look to school enrichment as an alternative to daycare and as way to supplement their children’s educations.  [back to top] 

Our school has an existing enrichment program.  Can we convert the enrichment program into a school fundraiser?
Yes.  There are different methods you can use to convert an existing enrichment program into a school fundraiser while maintaining a positive working relationship with your current program providers and enrichment teachers.  The method employed will depend on whether you are at a public or private school, but every school can make this happen.  The primary consideration is when to begin the process.  Our recommendation is if you would like to start the enrichment program in the fall, you must commence work no later than early August.  If you wish to start the program for the winter/spring term, you must commence work no later than the beginning of October.  To get more details on how convert an existing enrichment program into a school fundraiser, click here.
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We have a limited budget.  What is the cost of implementing NETA’s after school fundraising program?
NETA’s after school fundraising program can be implemented at a cost comparable to other fundraising programs such as book fairs, magazine subscriptions, candy sale drives, etc.  Unique in fundraising circles, our set up cost is one-time only with no annual fee or per item cost to your school. The best part is, once you learn NETA’s after school fundraising program, it can be passed on to successive PTAs and school administrators. [back to top]