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PTA Basics

The Purposes of PTA

  • To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community, and place of worship.
  • To raise the standards of home life.
  • To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
  • To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.
  • To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.  

About PTA

PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer association working exclusively on behalf of all children and youth. For more than 100 years, PTA has promoted the education, health, and safety of children, youth, and families. PTA is a “grassroots” organization which has been at the forefront of providing information and programs on such topics as early childhood education, drug and alcohol abuse problems, child abuse awareness, AIDS education, and school and community safety. It was PTA members working with community leaders, parents, legislators and educational organization that have helped to achieve things which we take for granted today: kindergarten, school lunches, enforcement of restriction of the selling of cigarettes to school aged children and supporting the Salk polio vaccine to name a few.

Why PTA?

  • PTAs address issues that are important to public school administrators and parents. We fight for the same things – full funding for education and child related programs, quality teachers, and the capability for schools to thrive.
  • PTAs improve communication between parents and their children’s schools. There’s no better way to know what’s happening in your school than by joining PTA. Your local PTA works closely with teachers and administrators, as well as school district staff. You’ll find out what you can do to help make a difference for your child.
  • PTA membership is open to anyone who is concerned with the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. We work hard to bring mothers, fathers, teachers, school administrators, grandparents, mentors, foster parents, other caregivers, and community leaders into the organization.
  • PTAs are self-funding. They organize fundraising events, the proceeds from which support school based programs, school building and grounds enhancements, and educational and social events that build a closer school community among students, parents and faculty.
  • PTAs provide members with the latest information on health, safety and the welfare of our children. We focus on what children need to be successful students, including good nutrition, health, and overall well-being. Whether the issue is safety, physical fitness, or healthy breakfasts, PTA works with administrators to ensure that children are prepared to succeed.
  • PTAs offer tips on helping your child with homework, advice for preparing for parent- teacher conferences, and how–tos for working with teachers all year long. From early childhood education to life after high school, PTA is there for you and your child every step of the way.

BASIC POLICIES OF THE PTA

  • The organization shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian and nonpartisan.
  • The organization or members in their official capacities shall not endorse a commercial entity or engage in activities not related to promoting the Objects of the organization.
  • The organization or members in their official capacities shall not --directly or indirectly-- participate or intervene (in any way, including the publishing or distributing of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office; or devote more than an insubstantial part of its activities to attempting to influence legislation by propaganda or otherwise.
  • The organization shall work with the schools to provide quality education for all children and youth and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process establishing school policy, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities and local education authorities.
  • The organization shall not enter into membership with other organizations except such international or national organizations as may be approved by the National PTA Board of Directors. The California State PTA or any of its divisions may cooperate with other organizations and agencies concerned with child welfare, but a PTA representative shall make no commitments that bind the group he represents.
  • No part of the net earnings of the association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, directors, trustees, officers or other private persons except that the association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II hereof.
  • Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (i) by an association exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code.
  • Upon the dissolution of this association, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the association, the remaining assets shall be distributed to one or more nonprofit funds, foundations, or organizations which have established their tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
PTA Council