Once a family commits to a Member School, the candidate is now considered an A Better Chance Scholar. To that end, A Better Chance families are expected to be active participants in the program. A family is only considered “active" when parents:

• Pay annual dues of $40 to their regional Parents-As-Partners (PAP) club
• Attend at least 4 events per year (if living within a 50 mile radius of a sitting PAP club)
• Commit to at least one (1) volunteer activity per year
• Update contact information at the start of each school year
• Keep A Better Chance informed about Scholars’ progress at his or her Member Schools and about any awards and summer opportunities the Scholar has received

Being placed in a Member School is only the beginning of a family's relationship with A Better Chance.  We encourage our Scholars to be "Scholars for Life."  Parents of currently enrolled Scholars are expected to be involved in the local Parents-As–Partners organization as a way of both staying involved with the organization and providing additional support for our Scholars while they are at school. Parents are also a great support to each other, often providing helpful advice or sharing experiences. After graduation, parents may continue to be involved with the local PAP, working in conjunction with the parents of the currently enrolled Scholars and continuing to lend their wealth of experience to the local organization.

There is no financial cost for membership in the organization, but we are hoping that parents throughout the region will donate their time to the worthy cause of creating a strong, supportive program from which all of our Scholars will benefit.  Often, Parents-as-Partners clubs fundraise in order to secure funding to cover the expenses of social events and enrichment programs that they are interested in sponsoring for the Scholars in the area.

All Scholars have the right to safe and inclusive school communities and the responsibility of contributing to the safety and inclusivity of that community. We expect that both parents and Scholars will treat and be treated with respect, both in action and in conversation. Scholars and families are expected to honor and obey the honor systems and adhere to the academic standards at their Member Schools. Should a Scholar or family need assistance to address any issue that may arise, they should immediately reach out to their Program Manager. Additionally, A Better Chance families and Scholars should be mindful that they represent A Better Chance to the school community and beyond and as such strive to portray A Better Chance in the best light possible. A Better Chance will, when necessary, support our Member Schools in upholding and enforcing codes of conduct.

All activities conducted by the local Parents-as-Partners group are planned in conjunction with the local A Better Chance office, so please contact your Program Manager for more information.