Local elections are coming up on April 6, 2021, and it is these elections, often featuring school board races and school funding referenda, that PTAs and their members are most often involved with. Because PTAs are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, the IRS sets specific limits on what PTAs can and can’t do regarding elections. Failure to … Continue reading Elections—A Guide for PTAs
Take Your Family to School Week is February 14-21
Take Your Family to School Week occurs the week of February 17th to honor the day that PTA was founded in 1897 and is designed to provide families an opportunity to get more involved in their child’s education and to strengthen their relationships with their child’s teachers and administrators. Take Your Family to School Week 2021 may look … Continue reading Take Your Family to School Week is February 14-21
PTAs and Fundraising: Games of Chance
One of the more common fundraising questions from PTAs concerns various games of chance—raffles, “squares,” and other similar activities. The appeal of such fundraisers is apparent, as they are often very easy to run and have the potential to raise a significant amount of money. However, such activities are heavily regulated in Illinois and may … Continue reading PTAs and Fundraising: Games of Chance
More Resources for Running Your PTA Virtually
Running a PTA during the pandemic has certainly been a challenge, from moving meetings online to figuring out what fundraisers and events can be done safely. Now, both National PTA and Illinois PTA have put together more resources to help you run your PTA virtually. Illinois PTA has been running an online series of events, Building … Continue reading More Resources for Running Your PTA Virtually
Running Your PTA in a Pandemic—Part 3: Fundraising
Last spring, Illinois PTA ran a series of articles on how to run your PTA when schools are closed. This fall, schools have opened in a variety of configurations, from online only, to all in-person, to some mix of the two, and may shuffle between those as local conditions change during the year. In addition, … Continue reading Running Your PTA in a Pandemic—Part 3: Fundraising
Running Your PTA in a Pandemic—Part 2: Events
Last spring, Illinois PTA ran a series of articles on how to run your PTA when schools are closed. This fall, schools have opened in a variety of configurations, from online only, to all in-person, to some mix of the two, and may shuffle between those as local conditions change during the year. In addition, … Continue reading Running Your PTA in a Pandemic—Part 2: Events
Running Your PTA in a Pandemic—Part 1: Basics
Last spring, Illinois PTA ran a series of articles on how to run your PTA when schools are closed. This fall, schools have opened in a variety of configurations, from online only, to all in-person, to some mix of the two, and may shuffle between those as local conditions change during the year. In addition, … Continue reading Running Your PTA in a Pandemic—Part 1: Basics
How to Advocate for Healthier School Food
School lunches (and breakfasts) are lifesavers for some children, providing critical nourishment they might not have at home. But even for children who are food-secure, school lunches can help support their education, as well-fed and active children have fewer absences, higher self-esteem, better behavior, and increased academic performance. The Chef Ann Foundation, a non-profit that … Continue reading How to Advocate for Healthier School Food
How to Advocate for the Arts at Your School
Illinois funding of schools has long been woefully inadequate, and now the pandemic has made school finances even more challenging due to flat state funding and increased costs as schools struggle to provide online learning for all students or supplies for in-person classes. When school budgets get tight, the arts are often among the first … Continue reading How to Advocate for the Arts at Your School
Host a Voter Registration Drive
The upcoming election is just under two months away. Illinois PTA has shared what PTAs can and can’t do regarding elections, as has National PTA in partnership with Nonprofit VOTE. One thing that PTAs can do is host a voter registration drive, and if you are a middle or high school PTA or PTSA, this … Continue reading Host a Voter Registration Drive
Inside National PTA’s New Membership Toolkit
As our children head back to school amid uncertainty about what this year will bring, PTA’s ability to connect families, teachers, and administrators and to support critical school needs is more important than ever. The key to PTA’s ability is its membership, and to help your PTA this year, National PTA is launching a new … Continue reading Inside National PTA’s New Membership Toolkit
Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 5: Wrapping Up the Year
Illinois PTA is continuing its efforts to support our PTAs and PTA Councils by answering questions you may have about running your PTA in this unprecedented situation. Our previous parts of this ongoing series are here: Part 1: Meetings & Elections Part 2: Fundraising & Unused Funds Part 3: Audit & Budget Part 4: Additional … Continue reading Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 5: Wrapping Up the Year
Preparing Your PTA for Next Year
Illinois PTA has provided information to PTAs about end-of-year actions that they need to take and has shared the value of using the summer to plan the upcoming year. With the current pandemic and its associated uncertainties, planning for next year is both more important and more difficult for your PTA. Here are some things … Continue reading Preparing Your PTA for Next Year
Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 4: Additional Financial Issues
Illinois PTA is continuing its efforts to support our PTAs and PTA Councils by answering questions you may have about running your PTA in this unprecedented situation. Our previous parts of this ongoing series are here: Part 1: Meetings & Elections Part 2: Fundraising & Unused Funds Part 3: Audit & Budget If you have … Continue reading Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 4: Additional Financial Issues
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4-8
This year, Teacher Appreciation Week is certainly out of the ordinary. As schools closed and classes went online, social media filled up with posts from parents’ deeper appreciation for the work that teachers do. But without your kids in their classrooms, you may be unsure how to show that appreciation. National PTA has a Teacher … Continue reading Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4-8
Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 3: Audit & Budget
Illinois PTA is continuing its efforts to support our PTAs and PTA Councils by answering questions you may have about running your PTA in this unprecedented situation. Our previous parts of this ongoing series are here: Part 1: Meetings & Elections Part 2: Fundraising & Unused Funds If you have questions not addressed here, please … Continue reading Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 3: Audit & Budget
Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 2: Fundraising & Unused Funds
Illinois PTA is continuing its efforts to support our PTAs and PTA Councils by answering questions you may have about running your PTA in this unprecedented situation. Our previous part of this ongoing series is here: Part 1: Meetings and Elections If you have questions not addressed here, please contact your Region or District Director … Continue reading Running Your PTA When School is Closed—Part 2: Fundraising & Unused Funds
Running Your PTA When School is Closed
The COVID-19 pandemic has closed schools across Illinois, and as of this writing, it appears that schools may be closed for the remainder of the school year. That has left many PTAs and PTA Councils wondering how they can handle their business when school is closed and in-person meetings are not permitted or advisable. Like … Continue reading Running Your PTA When School is Closed
Take Your Family to School Week is February 16-23
National PTA’s Take Your Family to School Week is coming up on February 16-23. You can start planning now to host an event to bring families into your school using National PTA’s toolkit for Take Your Family to School Week. The toolkit includes the resources you need to host one of four different types of … Continue reading Take Your Family to School Week is February 16-23
8 Ways to Perk Up Your PTA Meetings
The first few PTA meetings of the year always have a big turnout, with new families wanting to know what’s happening and returning families wanting to see what the PTA has planned for the year. But now that the first few months of school are behind you, chances are attendance at your PTA meetings has … Continue reading 8 Ways to Perk Up Your PTA Meetings
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