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What is a PTA?
A PTA is a local, self-governing unit. It promotes the Purposes, policies
and guiding principles of the state branch and the National PTA as it
plans programs and activities to meet the needs of children and youth in
the community. It is linked through its all-inclusive membership and by
its acceptance of the Purposes and policies of the National PTA and the
State PTA. It shares in the resources of the entire organization such as
national and state conventions, workshops, conferences, publicity and
special leadership development conferences.
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Who May Take the Initial Steps to Organize a PTA?
Anyone may take the step toward organizing a PTA. When parents and other
citizens take the initiative to organize a PTA, they should enlist support
of the school principal or superintendent and several teachers, if the PTA
will be affiliated with a school. Other individuals who are stakeholders
in the success of children and public school education may choose to
organize a special PTA unit to address their needs. (i.e. grandparents
raising grandchildren, Hispanic outreach, single parents, former
educators, pre-school, parents of college students, etc.)
Requirements for Organization
In order for a group to form a PTA, the following are required:
• Have 10 (ten) individuals willing to become members. Annual enrollment
to remain in good standing is a minimum of 10 members per year if there is
a school enrollment of less than 200. For school enrollment of 200 or
more, PTAs are required to enroll a minimum of 25 members annually.
• Be committed to the Purposes, basic policies and guiding principles of
the PTA
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How can I become a member?
Just call your local public school. If they have a PTA, they will be able
to tell you how to join. Remember, PTA membership is open to everyone. You
do not have to be a parent to join.
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Is it expensive to be a PTA member?
No! PTA membership is very reasonable. While each local PTA sets its own
membership fee, the average is about $5.00 per member to belong for an
entire year.
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Are there many PTA members?
PTA is the largest volunteer organization in the United States with one
purpose--to serve children, their families, and their school communities.
There are approximately six million PTA members in the nation, and over
105,000 PTA members in South Carolina.
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What if my local school doesn't have a PTA?
Contact the SCPTA Office 800-743-3PTA (3782) or 803-765-0806 or via e-mail
at office@scpta.org. We will have
the district president for your area to get in touch with information and
a New Unit Start-Up Kit. In areas without a district president, a member
of the SCPTA Board of Directors will make the contact.
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What does your PTA mean?
• It means investing in your children's future.
• It means having a voice in local, state, and national decisions on
issues and concerns facing today's children and youth.
• It means having access to valuable resources and materials on parenting,
education, health, and safety topics.
• It means being part of the national PTA, the largest volunteer
organization dedicated exclusively to advocating on behalf of all
children, and being part of your state and district PTA.
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Why does the local unit need to know my name?
IRS regulations require that 501.c.3 non-profit organizations keep an
accurate accounting of each member. Member’s information is kept
confidential and used solely by PTA to determine how to best provide
benefits to its members.
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Where does the money go?
PTA members often wonder how membership dues are used. Here are some of
the services funded by membership dues at different levels of PTA.
• Local PTA and PTSA Dues: programs and projects for students and parents;
training for volunteers; newsletters.
• District PTA Dues: leadership training; workshops and conferences;
outreach services; newsletters; community projects benefiting children and
youth.
• State PTA Dues: materials, resources, and publications; conferences and
conventions; field service; child advocacy.
• National PTA Dues: all of the above, on the national level.
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Can students be involved in PTA?
Student involvement in middle, junior high and high schools is a very
important part of PTA. PTSAs encourage student involvement. To be
successful with student involvement, it is necessary to involve students
as full members, with all the rights of the parent, teacher and other
adult members. It is very valuable to involve the students in all planning
and decision making for all of your PTAs projects. The students are a
great asset, for they are very in tune with what is really happening at
the school and what is needed.
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Will local leaders receive leadership training and support?
SCPTA offers leadership development assistance in many forms.
• SCPTA Convention- SCPTA holds an annual convention in April or May,
offering workshops for all PTA leaders, from presidents to committee
members, in all areas of PTA work.
• Summer Leadership Conference – Usually held in July, this conference
will help to kick start your PTA and get you off to a great start.
Offerings include workshops for all PTA leaders and other stakeholders who
are interested in the welfare of children and youth in your school and
community.
• District /Council Conferences and Meetings- The Districts/Councils of
the South Carolina PTA have meetings, conferences, seminars, and schools
of instruction to provide leadership development to local PTAs and PTSAs.
To find out about your district, contact the District President in the
welcome letter or the South Carolina PTA office at office@scpta.org or by
calling 803-765-0806 or 800-743-3782.
• Legislative Conference – Gives delegates an opportunity to approve the
South Carolina PTA Legislative Platform a vehicle that speaks on behalf of
all of the children of South Carolina. Assistance in understanding bills
and how the legislative process works can be learned by attending this
conference.
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What else does South Carolina PTA offer?
• Reflections Arts Program (Arts contest for students in grades K-12)
• Helen Stokes Memorial Scholarships (College scholarships for graduating
high school seniors)
• Endowment Fund Grants (Merit grants for local PTA units to implement
programs in their schools to promote the Purposes of PTA
• Parent Involvement Schools of Excellence Certification (National PTA
program that recognizes schools for excellence in Parent/Family
Involvement programs)
• SCPTA Awards Program (Recognition to Local Units for outstanding
programs, membership campaigns, legislative advocacy, parent and volunteer
programs as well as recognition for Outstanding Principal, Volunteer, and
Teacher of the Year)
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What does it mean to be a SCPTA Unit in "Good Standing"?
All PTA local units must meet the following requirements and to remain in
good standing with the South Carolina PTA and the national PTA. Units that
lose this designation are in-eligible to receive PTA benefits and awards
and risk the discontinuation of their 501.c.3 federal tax-exempt status.
• Be organized and chartered under the authority of the SCPTA.
• Have bylaws approved every three years by the unit membership and SCPTA
bylaws chair.
• Adhere to the purposes and policies of the National PTA and SCPTA.
• Remit state, national and district/council dues by required dates.
• Have federal EIN on file in the SCPTA office.
• Submit Officers Report to SCPTA by June 1st.
• Submit to the SCPTA office the Financial Review for the previous year
and the budget previous year by October 1st.
• Submit to the SCPTA office the budget approved by the general membership
for the current year by December 1st.
• Adhere to IRS regulations by providing a membership enrollment list to
SCPTA and by filing a form of 990 by November 15 annually.
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Does a PTA ever lose its identity?
Yes. There are three ways by which a PTA may cease to function as an
organization. The unit charter must be returned to the South Carolina PTA
should any of the following occur:
• Two or more organized local PTAs combine.
• A unit fails to pay the national and state portion of its dues by March
31. Reinstatement must be resolved through the South Carolina PTA office
and the treasurer.
• A PTA unit, by due process, votes to dissolve. Steps on dissolution are
fully outlined in the South Carolina PTA Bylaws and are listed below.
STEPS FOR DISSOLUTION
Dissolution of a unit annuls its bylaws. The motion "to dissolve as a unit
of the PTA" is the same as a motion to amend its bylaws by rescinding the
entire document. Therefore, a 30-day prior notice and a two-thirds vote of
all members present (a quorum being established) is required for such
action.
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How can I order from SCPTA Store without going to an
event?
Until our online store is completed,
please email Candace Leggett at
candace.leggett@sumterschools.net
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What
do I do if I have questions about membership?
Please
contact Tanya Robinson at
krobinson20@sc.rr.com.
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How do I obtain more membership cards?
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Email
office@scpta.org
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Explain why
your unit needs
more cards
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Tell how many
cards your unit needs
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Give your name
and position
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Give your school’s PTA name
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Give the address to which to send the extra cards
Dues for the previously issued membership cards must have been
received in the SCPTA office before additional membership cards can be
issued.
