As the school year comes to a close, many PTA leaders look forward to an opportunity to put their feet up and relax until school starts in the fall. However, there is one thing that PTA leaders should be planning now to make their PTA more successful in the coming year—planning on how to welcome … Continue reading Create a Welcome Packet to Bring New Families into Your PTA
Helping Your School Go 1:1 with Technology
Technology is becoming ever more necessary in our society, in our jobs, and increasingly in our schools. Many school districts are now planning on “implementing 1:1”—providing each student with a networked device, whether it is an iPad, Chromebook, laptop, or other technology. Just as PTAs were asked to help put computers in the classroom in … Continue reading Helping Your School Go 1:1 with Technology
Recognize Your PTA Volunteers to Keep Them Coming Back
One of the most important ways a PTA can get the most from its volunteers is to acknowledge their efforts. Perhaps your school had a volunteer recognition event back in April during National Volunteer Week. As your PTA year wraps up, be sure to thank your volunteers both publicly and privately for their work, and … Continue reading Recognize Your PTA Volunteers to Keep Them Coming Back
Free Tools: National PTA’s 2016 #ThankATeacher Toolkit
This post by Catherine Llamido originally appeared on National PTA’s One Voice blog. Catherine Llamido is the Digital Communications Specialist at National PTA. Everyday teachers touch the lives of millions of children for their hard work and impact beyond the boundaries of the classroom. We’re so excited to celebrate these real life superheroes during National … Continue reading Free Tools: National PTA’s 2016 #ThankATeacher Toolkit
News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Membership Recruitment, Retention, and Engagement
Illinois PTA understands there are challenges to PTAs in recruiting and retaining members. We believe we can best address these challenges by communicating with you, the local unit members, in finding out what works for your PTA and what doesn’t. Through online conference events and convention networking workshops, we have discovered some of the challenges … Continue reading News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Membership Recruitment, Retention, and Engagement
News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Leadership
At the 114th Annual Illinois PTA Convention, National PTA Executive Director Nathan R. Monell gave a presentation on Tomorrow’s Leaders: Attract, Develop, and Orient Leaders through Transition that focused on an issue that every PTA faces—recruiting and developing new leaders. He began his presentation with the PTA mission: To make every child’s potential a reality … Continue reading News from the Illinois PTA Convention—Leadership
Effective PTA Communications
We live in a media-rich environment with smartphones and the internet providing information in an almost constant stream. PTAs used to be able to send home a newsletter with a brightly-colored front page and know that families would see it, but the “Backpack Express” is much less effective these days. So how can your PTA’s … Continue reading Effective PTA Communications
Navigating Illinois PTA’s New Advocacy Tools
You may not think of yourself as an advocate, but if you’ve ever spoken to your child’s teacher about a problem your child was having, if your PTA has ever brought a concern to your school’s principal, if you’ve ever spoken up at a school board meeting, you are an advocate. Illinois PTA has new … Continue reading Navigating Illinois PTA’s New Advocacy Tools
Do’s and Don’ts of PTAs and Elections
Illinois’s primary election is coming up on March 15th and the presidential election is November 8th. While most local elections in Illinois are in odd years, your school district may have a bond referendum on the ballot. With elections dominating the news, it’s a good time to review what PTAs can and can’t do as … Continue reading Do’s and Don’ts of PTAs and Elections
Why PTA? Advocacy!
It is a question that is often heard—why be a PTA? Why not be an independent parent organization rather than paying PTA dues? For many PTAs, the answer is because of the many PTA programs like Reflections, the online training courses and other leadership resources, or even the member benefits. But the one thing that … Continue reading Why PTA? Advocacy!
Computer Science for All—Families and PTAs Have a Role, Too
In his weekly address on January 30, 2016, President Obama launched an initiative called Computer Science for All. As the President noted in his address, computer science (CS) is now a basic skill. It is something that nine out of ten parents want taught in their children’s schools, but only about a quarter of our … Continue reading Computer Science for All—Families and PTAs Have a Role, Too
Take Your Family to School Week—February 15-19, 2016
PTAs across the country celebrate Founders’ Day, February 17th, in recognition of the legacy and work of Alice McLellan Birney, Phoebe Apperson Hearst, and Selena Sloan Butler to improve the lives of children. As part of this celebration, National PTA has designated the week that includes Founders’ Day Take Your Family to School Week. Family … Continue reading Take Your Family to School Week—February 15-19, 2016
10 Questions Your PTA and School Should Ask Before Buying Technology
First, it was computers in the classroom; next, it was Smartboards; and now it is iPads and Chromebooks. Schools often turn to their PTA to help bring technology into the classroom, and families wanting the best for their children often step up to help do so. But a Smartboard used only as a digital chalkboard … Continue reading 10 Questions Your PTA and School Should Ask Before Buying Technology
What to Do When Your PTA Gets a Bad Check
Every PTA that takes in money ends up having a check that was written to the PTA returned by their bank for non-sufficient funds (NSF). When NSF checks are part of a fundraiser that includes merchandise, the costs can be significant as the PTA is liable for full payment on all of the fundraising products … Continue reading What to Do When Your PTA Gets a Bad Check
Preventing Theft, Fraud, and Embezzlement
From National PTA It is hard to acknowledge that theft, fraud and embezzlement are pervasive in today’s society. In many cases, the person who commits these acts is someone you know, like and trust. Convincing a nonprofit to prosecute is often difficult. A nonprofit’s duty to its members, the community, and its donors are significant … Continue reading Preventing Theft, Fraud, and Embezzlement
Busting 7 Common “I Can’t Volunteer” Myths
We’ve talked about valuing your volunteers as a PTA leader, but how do you get people to volunteer in the first place? There are all sorts of tips out there on volunteering like breaking jobs down into bite-sized pieces or attaching how much time commitment is required for each volunteer opportunity, but those ideas still … Continue reading Busting 7 Common “I Can’t Volunteer” Myths
Top Ten Ways to Make the Most of Your PTA Volunteers
Without volunteers, PTA would simply not exist. From the PTA president down to the person who brings in a dozen muffins for Teacher Appreciation Week, volunteers are the ones who make things happen in PTA. Making sure that your volunteers have a successful and enjoyable experience is critical to your PTA’s success. Any volunteer can … Continue reading Top Ten Ways to Make the Most of Your PTA Volunteers
Protect Your PTA’s Tax-Exempt Status—File with the IRS On Time!
The IRS requires every 501(c)3 non-profit organization to file some variety of the Form 990 annually. Failure to file for three consecutive years will result in your PTA’s non-profit status being revoked and having to pay taxes on your PTA’s income. In addition, many businesses will not make donations to organizations that are not tax-exempt. … Continue reading Protect Your PTA’s Tax-Exempt Status—File with the IRS On Time!
Protect Your PTA Officers by Incorporating
The Illinois PTA encourages all PTAs to incorporate because incorporation offers additional liability protections for all PTA members. In the event an incorporated PTA is sued, barring willful or wanton conduct, only the PTA, as an entity, with its limited assets, would be subject to lawsuit and/or damages, not the individual members. Liability of the … Continue reading Protect Your PTA Officers by Incorporating
Questions to Consider When Planning a PTA Fundraiser
As the new school year approaches, many PTAs are planning their budget for the coming year. One part of that budget is fundraising. The National PTA Back-to-School Kit has a list of questions for PTAs to use as guidelines when selecting and planning a fundraising project. Does it adhere to the PTA mission and purpose? … Continue reading Questions to Consider When Planning a PTA Fundraiser
One Voice Illinois 