eHow launches Android app: Get the best of eHow on the go.

How To

How to Get Involved in the PTA

Contributor
By Becky Quigley
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)
Getting involved with the PTA is an easy and effective way to help your child's school.
Getting involved with the PTA is an easy and effective way to help your child's school.

The PTA, or Parent Teacher Association, at any school is an active group of concerned parents, teachers and staff. The purpose of the PTA is to support the school and enhance the educational opportunities of the students. An effective way to be involved with a child's school is to volunteer with the PTA. Here's how to get involved.

From Quick Guide: K-12 for Parents
Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Fee
  1. Step 1

    You should receive information on how to join the PTA within the first few days of school. Call the school if you do not. You will fill in a basic contact form and pay a small fee to join the PTA. This fee is annual and covers state and National PTA dues. The remainder of PTA dues goes to the school. Both parents and grandparents can join to help support the school. Students cannot join.

  2. Step 2

    Write PTA meeting dates on a calendar and plan to attend. Children are usually welcome at meetings. Some PTAs provide child care during meetings for parents' convenience (this can be your suggestion if your school’s PTA does not).

  3. Step 3

    Find out from your child’s teacher, the school’s front office or PTA officers where help is needed. Often PTAs have a volunteer chairperson who can point you toward volunteer opportunities that match your interests and time constraints.

  4. Step 4

    Consider volunteering for committee or officer positions. Most committee heads and executive officers change at the end of the school year to prepare for the next year. Find out more about the responsibilities of each position from the volunteer committee chairperson or at the National PTA Website (see resources).

  5. Step 5

    Help create new PTA volunteer positions if you see a need at your child's school (for example, for reading or math tutors). All PTAs have an executive board, but most also have committees that are unique to the particular school.

  6. Step 6

    Stay alert to upcoming PTA events and fundraisers. Read the newsletter and other PTA communications. The best way to keep up with your child's school is through volunteering.

Tips & Warnings
  • Talk to committee chairs to understand how much work is involved in each position before volunteering. Some positions require very little time; others require monthly or weekly commitments.
  • PTA membership entitles you to discounts and offers from some businesses. For more information, see the national PTA Website.
  • Be aware that most school systems require a background check for criminal activity before you work directly with students. Ask the school office for more information.

Post a Comment

Post a Comment
  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This

Related Ads

Parenting
Judy Ford,

Meet Judy Ford eHow's Parenting Expert.

Get Free Parenting Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US Portions of this page are modifications based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

eHow Parenting
eHow_eHow Parenting, Relationships and Family