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Everyone's heard of the
PTA, but do you know what it does as the nation's largest child
advocacy organization? Here are some Frequently Asked Questions:
What is PTA?
Given the longevity and universal name recognition of our organization,
it’s easy to understand how “PTA” is commonly
used to describe all parent groups, whether or not they are actually
affiliated with PTA. Parents, teachers, and even administrators
are frequently confused or even unaware of the differences between
PTA and other parent organizations.
Simply put, PTA is the nation’s original parent group in
schools, influencing millions of parents, past and present, to get
involved in their children’s education. We are a national,
nonprofit organization; neither the organization nor its leaders
receive any financial benefit from PTA activities. We are composed
of 6 million volunteers in 23,000 local units. We are run by volunteers
and led by volunteers, and we are accountable to parents and schools.
We give parents what they want—a way to help their children
succeed.
Aren’t all parent groups the
same?
All parent groups have a local component—a way for passionate,
dedicated parents to get involved in K–12 schools. Many of
the other groups, however, focus solely on fundraising. In fact,
some parent organizations are actually owned and operated by privately
held for-profit businesses, making these organizations driven more
by profits than children.
While fundraising for items not covered by school budgets is an
important component for school groups, we know that parents are
interested and concerned in other school issues as well. In contrast
to other parent groups, PTA parents have a broader role to play
beyond fundraising in the education of their children.
Parents who are knowledgeable about the issues that impact schools
and student achievement can more effectively participate in local
and district school decisions, and can speak up that our legislators
need to allocate more funds for public schools.
We at PTA know that advocacy works. If our members choose to get
involved by working on issues that impact their children and schools,
they receive the information and training they need to work effectively
at the local, state, and national levels for school funding, school
construction, school safety, high-quality teachers, high nutrition
standards in school lunch programs, after-school programs, and more.
These efforts benefit all children, including those whose parents
are members of non-PTA parent groups.
PTA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. Other independent
parent groups must either complete a complicated process to file
for tax-exempt status on their own, or must file taxes on all revenues
received.
Do local PTAs make their own decisions?
Each of the 23,000 local units selects
the programs and activities that it will undertake to address the
needs of its local school and children. While PTA's national and
state offices create many successful programs for local units to
use, there are no PTA-mandated programs.
State and National PTA provide support
to help the local PTAs succeed. For example, when working on local
issues such as changing an intersection to make it safer, upgrading
school water taps to remove the threat of lead contamination, enhancing
reading standards, or other school or district concerns, PTA is
a welcome resource. In most cases, we have probably seen the same
challenges elsewhere in the country. We therefore can advise local
PTAs on the best practices observed, issues surrounding the problem
and the outcome, as well as provide them contact information for
additional details.
What does PTA offer for schools
and communities?
PTA programs are created to encourage and support parent involvement
in children's education. Our programs are created with leading expert
organizations on topics of importance to our members, at the members'
request. The programs are user-friendly and are free to local PTAs.
Within each of the programs offered, there are interesting activities,
helpful evaluation tools, and tips to involve all the key players
in a school community. No other parent group offers such credible
and comprehensive programs to successfully engage families and communities.
Our programs help connect parents to schools and help them recognize
their achievements.
Who can join a PTA?
PTA is an inclusive organization that is open to all adults who
care about children and schools.
We have learned that the main thing parents want from schools is
to help their child succeed academically, emotionally, and personally.
PTA bridges the connection between homes and schools. By getting
involved with PTA, the child who benefits most is one’s own.
We reach out to diverse communities to allow parents to more fully
integrate their children into the life of a school. We actively
invite all parents to be involved in their children’s education
through participation in PTA. We work hard to bring mothers, fathers,
teachers, school administrators, grandparents, mentors, foster parents,
other caregivers, and community leaders into the association.
What about fundraising?
PTA believes the core value of a parent is more important than
only serving as a fundraiser. Fundraising is a means to carry out
the goals and work of PTA. Fundraising events provide a valuable
service and involve more parents in the school.
PTA Fundraising Essentials is a guide we produce and distribute
to every local PTA leader and public school principal across the
country. It’s filled with ideas, suggestions, success stories,
resources, and more to help PTAs organize fundraising activities,
and at the same time, to support parent involvement initiatives.
What do my dues pay for?
Our members pay dues that include a small portion for the state
and national offices. In return, local PTAs and members receive
access to many valuable resources, information, and training programs.
As a local affiliate of a national organization, local PTAs may
be eligible for discounted insurance for special events that are
not covered by the school insurance. Non-PTA parent groups usually
must purchase more expensive insurance policies to cover special
events and liabilities or leave their members at risk.
Numerous benefits are available to dues-paying units and members.
For dues payments, local units have access to financial, legislative,
membership, leadership, marketing and public relations resources
(also available online), subscription to Our Children magazine which
includes a legislative section and reproducible newsletter in English
and Spanish; electronic newsletters containing leadership tips;
professionally designed public service announcements (PSAs) to aid
in membership recruitment; leadership training workshops and e-learning
opportunities; back-to-school kit containing recruitment ideas,
and other materials to get the year started; Teacher Appreciation
Week ideas; numerous mailings on parent involvement programs, fundraising,
and working collaboratively; and much more.
When PTA gets involved, children benefit. When a member gets involved
in PTA, his/her child benefits most. Great benefits of PTA membership
for individual members include online resources including Our Children
magazine that are full of parenting tips; electronic newsletters
to keep you informed on parenting and legislative issues; special
discounts and offers from FedEx/Kinko’s, Barnes & Noble,
and many more; leadership training, such as electronic courses,
annual convention, and leadership workshops; and much more.
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