The National PTA should make an effort to encourage its chapters to go paperless. This is easy. I was a PTA officer. Those who don't have access to computers rarely participate in our programs anyway. We use up two reems of colored paper for the same of a handful of people. Colored paper is expensive as are printer cartridges and photocopiers. I know because I paid the bills!!! It's ridiculous and it's 2015 for Pete's sake!

again it's not realistic to expect everyone to have consistent computer access.

Why aren't all area jurisdictions paperless? I'd love to start a DCPS thread on this very issue because it's such a waste of time.

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of 3 elementary school children the amount of paperwork I receive both at the beginning of the school year and in the weekly folders is insane and often redundant. We came from another state that was completely paperless. Even report cards were online. FCPS must spend an exorbitant amount of money on paper and printing.

The FCPS wecare site lets you fill out several of the paper forms online. That is what I did with both my kids this year.

Am I the only one in FCPS that didn't need to fill out a lot? We received two pre-printed forms to check and sign. That's it.

Yes and they can't assume we all have printers because I can't print at home, fill out a form and bring it back to school. I could fill it out online and email it though. But I have heard they are not paperless because not everyone has online access as well.

It's a school by school decision. At the school where I teach, only 70% of students say they have internet access, and of those who claim access, the majority are on their cell phone only (not on a computer).

The school I used to teach at sent a lot of things electronically, but they were significantly higher socioeconomically.

I'm 9:18 with all the events notices. What I would like to see is some form of digest with all the PTA events, fundraisers on 1-2 sheets of paper. As it is we're receiving 6-8 colored sheets, one for each event.

I'll send a note to the PTA mentioning this.

Because not everyone has Internet access? Yes, still.

I have also noticed the same. We get two set of the same paperwork in the Wednesday folders. Complete waste of paper. I was going to suggest a suggestion for electronic handouts through the PTA website.

Why not make the suggestion to the school and/or ask why they aren't paperless? They may say not every parent has access to a computer/internet at home, so they send copies home to ensure everyone gets the information. Maybe you could suggest they move to an electronic format but allow parents who prefer paper to request copies be sent home? Just thinking out loud, they may brush off your suggestion or consider it.

Our school does a good job with the classroom notices, but all of the event and activity and school spirit announcements bring home a TON of paper.

So with you - I can't figure out why I have to fill out the same information on 3 or 4 different forms. It's crazy.

Anonymous wrote:As the parent of 3 elementary school children the amount of paperwork I receive both at the beginning of the school year and in the weekly folders is insane and often redundant. We came from another state that was completely paperless. Even report cards were online. FCPS must spend an exorbitant amount of money on paper and printing.

Our FCPS ES has completely electronic weekly folders.

As the parent of 3 elementary school children the amount of paperwork I receive both at the beginning of the school year and in the weekly folders is insane and often redundant. We came from another state that was completely paperless. Even report cards were online. FCPS must spend an exorbitant amount of money on paper and printing.