PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the United States. Established in 1897, its forward movement provides the promotion of health, safety, nutrition, welfare, protection and education of children and youth. The Purposes of PTA and the PTA Mission provide the organizational goals and direction.
The Purposes of PTA are:
- 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; and
- 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.
The PTA Mission is threefold:
- to support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children;
- to assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children; and
- to encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of the nation.
Accomplishments from 2009-10
- Accelerated Reader Program
- Arts in Education Programs
- Red Ribbon Week
- Reflections Programs
- Junior Achievement
- Community Outreach Committee organized clothing drives and the Giving Tree in December for families in need
- Assisted in Field Day funding
- Provided Teacher Appreciation lunches
- Donated classroom readiness supplies and clinic supplies
- Spirit Day awards for the class with the most participation each month
- Lunch and Learns for Chalker families
- Planned/Organized PTA Events: Fall Festival, Bingo Night, and Family Fun Night
- Operated the Book Fair for Chalker ES
- Conducted Hearing and Vision testing
- School Store
- Provided funding for the Fifth Grade End-of-Year events
- Spirit Wear
- Resurfaced and painted track
- Added concrete pad with tetherball and 4-square in 1st and 3rd grade play yard
- Provided funding to each grade level for their specific needs
- Purchased 12 ELMO lights for the teachers
- Started Men’s Initiative committee
Goals for 2010-11
Continue all of the programs from 2009-10 - Increase parent/family involvement programs
- Increase Going Green programs
- Encourage more community partnerships
- Provide Special Needs and ESOL with funds for their specific needs
Our primary goal is to follow the PTA Mission and Purposes. Money raised should be enough only to cover costs of priority committee programs and the operation of the local unit. The local unit must operate in accordance with Local Unit Bylaws. The local unit bylaws are your first resource! They tell you when to elect a nominating committee, how many officers, and the length of their terms, officer duties, how many meetings your organization must have, when to hold election meetings and all items of strategic business operations.
There are great resources for local units at the PTA state level and the National PTA (www.pta.org). Make sure you use all resources available to run an organization of integrity and efficiency.