PTA 101-Your Road to Success

PTA Road to Success

Do you have the keys that are necessary to make yourPTA the best it can be?

History of PTA

National PTA was founded in 1897 as the National Congress of Mothers;

Name was changed to National Congress of Parents and Teachers in 1925;

The National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers, organized in 1926, united with the National PTA in 1970.

History (cont.)

Illinois Congress of Mothers was formed in 1900 as the fourth state congress of the new National Congress of Mothers;

After several name changes, it became the Illinois Congress of Parents and Teachers in 1928.

PTA Mission

“To make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.”

PTA PURPOSES:

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

PTA Basic Policies

1. “The association shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan. The name of the association or names of any members in their official capacities shall not be used to endorse or promote a commercial concern or in connection with any partisan interest or for any purpose not appropriately related to promotion of the Purposes of the association.”

2. “The association shall not – directly or indirectly – participate or intervene (in any way, including the publishing or distribution 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.”

PTA Basic Policies

3. “The association 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.”

PTA Basic Policies

4. “The Illinois 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 as an individual that bind the group represented.”

PTA Basic Policies

5. “The association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (i) by an organization 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.”

PTA Basic Policies

6. “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 non-profit funds, foundations, or organizations which have established their tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.”

PTA Basic Policies

PTA Organizational Structure

Local unit Council District Region State National

Local PTA/PTSA units and councils are self-governing through bylaws which must comply with state and national requirements.Districts and Regions are covered by the bylaws of the state association.

PTA Officers (Executive Committee)

Refers to elected officers as defined in bylaws; transacts business in an emergency, which cannot

conflict with the will of the body; elects/selects standing committee chairs in

accordance with bylaws; and may include administrative representative in an

advisory capacity.

Neither the Illinois PTA nor the National PTA recommend co-officers.

Duties of Officers

Be familiar with: parliamentary procedure, bylaws and resources;

perform duties outlined in bylaws; attend as many meetings as possible; make and/or file reports promptly; answer correspondence promptly; share resources with entire membership; attend leadership development activities; and maintain procedure book.

Officers ~ President

Serves as presiding officer; serves ex-officio as a member of all committees except auditing

and nominating committees; signs all approved contracts and agreements of the PTA; shares resources with other board members; does not participate in debate from the chair; does not vote in a voice election; and does not misuse parliamentary procedure.

Officers ~ Vice President

Assists the president; fulfills responsibilities as defined in bylaws; Assumes the chair in the absence of the president, or if the president wishes to “relinquish the

chair.”

Some PTAs may have more than one vice president.

Officers ~ Secretary

Keeps accurate records of all business conducted by the PTA (minutes);

has bylaws, standing rules, previous minutes and membership roster available at meetings; and

conducts correspondence of the PTA.

Minutes should reflect what is done by the association, not what is said by the members.

Some PTAs may have more than one secretary.

Officers ~ Treasurer

Serves as custodian of PTA funds, financial records and official membership roster;

maintains financial records in a business-like manner; submits monthly financial reports and prepares an annual report; receives all PTA funds, and pays all PTA expenditures using an

appropriate documentation system; adheres to all 501(c)3 regulations; and prepares information required by the Internal Revenue Service,

the Illinois Attorney General, and the audit committee.

PTA financial records MUST be audited at least annually, and should be audited whenever a signatory changes.

Executive Board

Consists of: elected officers, standing committee chairs, special committee chairs if applicable, along with the administrative representative and staff representative;

meets and conducts business as defined within bylaws; recommends a proposed budget for adoption by the membership; recommends bylaw amendments for adoption by the

membership; and informs membership of positions held by national and state

organizations on issues of importance.

Only the membership may adopt amendments to an approved budget.

Committees

Standing Committees

Conduct business year-round Maintain procedure books Create plans of work Must have board approval

prior to taking action Submit annual reports

Special Committees

Form for a specific purpose: auditing, nominating, 25th anniversary

Make recommendations that must be adopted for implementation

Cease to exist when purpose has been achieved

Bylaws

Rules of governance; may not be suspended; outline duties and responsibilities of officers, chairmen, and members; requires prior notice for amendment; and requires two-thirds (2/3) majority for amendment;

Proper form for amendments are: strike, strike and insert, or insert.

Standing and Charter Rules

Provide specific details outside the scope of the bylaws; may not conflict with bylaws, or parliamentary authority; may be amended or suspended with a majority vote; charter rules, created by the chartering agency, define the

purpose of the PTA; and charter rules may not be amended by any constituent

association.

Parliamentary Procedure

Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, is the parliamentary authority designed to foster courtesy, fairness, and orderly conduct;

Things to consider: Order of the agenda Obtaining the floor Making a motion Conducting a vote

Agenda items include Unfinished Business, not Old Business.

Nominations & Elections

Bylaws establish the procedure for nomination and election; nominating committee is elected not appointed; nominating committee slates a qualified candidate for each position; slate must be published in advance; nominations from the floor are taken at the election meeting; and election takes place at a general meeting.

Upon motion from the floor, election may be by voice voterather than by ballot. A second motion is required to make the nominated slate the elected slate.

Resources

www.illinoispta.org (Illinois PTA) www.pta.org (National PTA) 800-877-9617 Illinois PTA Office E-Bulletin (Subscribe or www.pta.org) Our Children (OC) Magazine (National PTA) Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised Illinois PTA State Board of Directors