The FCCPTA Welcomes You to its Website
Archives
Board Minutes
FCPS Budgets
Calendar
FCCPTA
Committees
Educational
References
FCCPTA
 2006-2008 Goals
Forms
Glossary
Links of Value
Newsletters
Council Positions
Reflections
Special Ed
Scholarship Program
Advisory Committees

A Basic Comparison of PTA's and PTO's

everychild.onevoice.


National PTA lends a collective voice to children where they need to be heard: at home and school; in urban, rural, and suburban communities; and in our nation's capital. National PTA is committed to the safety, well-being, and education of all children. Among our efforts, we strive to ensure:

  • everychild has a parent/family member who is actively engaged in his or her life and education.

  • everychild has a safe place to be before and after school.

  • everychild has the opportunity to learn in a classroom that isn't overcrowded.

  • everychild is provided an equitable and excellent public school education.

  • everychild has equal access to computer literacy at school.

  • everychild is rest-assured that his or her school is safe and drug-free.

Becoming a PTA member means you're adding your voice to those working to make a difference in children's lives.
Together, we can continue to be a powerful voice for children and a strong advocate for public education.


What is the difference between PTA and other parent teacher organizations (PTO)?

For more than a century, the PTA mission and purposes have directed members to speak on behalf of issues affecting children. The National Parent Teacher Association provides members with access to an established network of volunteers at the local, state, and national levels who help one another and share resources, ideas, and projects related to these efforts. Our work goes beyond the local school as many problems affecting children and youth cannot be solved by local action alone. Other parent teacher organizations (often called PTOs) are generally school-based without access to a larger network, often under the guidance of school personnel, and primarily focused on fundraising activities for the school. With our over 6 million members nationwide, the PTA can speak with one clear voice for every child. (You can find additional information on the activities and initiatives of National PTA within our President's brochure, "Your Children, Our Mission".)

 

To assist member units in their work, PTAs have:

  • access to handbooks from the state and National PTA.

  • representation on state and national coalitions working to benefit children and youth.

  • free membership materials from the state and National PTA.

  • regular mailings and materials from the state and National PTA.

  • free access to the National PTA members only website.

  • complimentary unit subscription to the National PTA magazine, Our Children.

  • leadership services provided at the state and national level via conventions, conferences, and workshops.

  • legislative committees at the state and federal levels working to secure adequate laws for the protection of children and youth.

Many states provide additional assistance to their units including providing insurance and tax exemption coverage. Other parent organizations, booster clubs, etc. do not have a larger organization supporting them and providing such benefits.

 

Top of Page

Last Updated 04/22/2005 20:22:42