Business donations can help a PTA offer programs and events and takes some of the financial burden off of your members by avoiding the need for fundraisers. But reaching out to businesses doesn’t come naturally to most people, and it can feel a little awkward when you first start. Here are eight tips to get … Continue reading 8 Keys to Getting Business Donations
PTA Membership Tips for November
Several months into the school year, your PTA is probably not attracting as many new members as it was during the start of the school year. Now is a great time to assess how your membership recruitment has gone so far and plan to build your PTA membership. Here are some tips to help. You … Continue reading PTA Membership Tips for November
Building Real Family Engagement with Your PTA Events
PTAs tend to do a lot of events. From carnivals and fun fairs to class parties to PTA programs like Reflections, PTAs know how to provide fun and engaging activities for families. And while this type of family engagement does a good job of getting families through the school doors, PTAs could do better at … Continue reading Building Real Family Engagement with Your PTA Events
Every Student Counts, Every Day Matters
Eighty percent of success is showing up. Nowhere is that more true than for our kids in school. Chronic absenteeism—missing at least 10% of the school days in a year for any reason, excused or unexcused—is a primary cause of low academic achievement and a powerful predictor of those students who may eventually drop out. … Continue reading Every Student Counts, Every Day Matters
5 Tips to Boost Your PTA Membership
Membership is critical to your PTA’s success. Members become your PTA’s volunteers and leaders, but most importantly members, even those who never volunteer, are sending the message that what your PTA is doing is important for their child, for their family, and for their school. Here are five tips to help your PTA engage with … Continue reading 5 Tips to Boost Your PTA Membership
PTA Celebrates Back-to-School Week September 17-21
Next week, PTAs across the country will celebrate National PTA Back-to-School Week. Each day of Back-to-School Week will highlight and provide tips and resources for the people who support our children’s learning and success. Monday, September 17: PTA Leaders Tuesday, September 18: Parents Wednesday, September 19: Students Thursday, September 20: Teachers Friday, September 21: Office … Continue reading PTA Celebrates Back-to-School Week September 17-21
Building an Effective PTA Board
As the school year begins, it’s important to get your PTA working effectively. A key part of that effectiveness is having a good PTA board made up of your officers and chairpersons. Here are some important things to keep in mind as you build your PTA board and start working together. Get the Right People … Continue reading Building an Effective PTA Board
3 Back-to-School Things Families Need to Know
Illinois students are heading back to school now or in the next few weeks. Here are three key things that parents need to know that your PTA should be educating them about. Family engagement is critical to student success.Research shows that real family engagement, not just newsletters home or brief parent-teacher conferences twice a year, … Continue reading 3 Back-to-School Things Families Need to Know
Is Your PTA Ready with a Budget for This Year?
The budget and finance committee develops a budget to meet the needs of the PTA’s programs and activities. After the PTA has adopted the budget, the budget and finance chairman (usually the treasurer) is responsible for assuring that PTA money is disbursed in accordance with the budget, presenting necessary amendments to the budget at executive … Continue reading Is Your PTA Ready with a Budget for This Year?
How Do You Tell Your PTA’s Story?
At this year’s National PTA Convention, Illinois PTA President Brian Minsker was speaking with PTA members from Tennessee about their efforts in raising the age for juvenile courts there. He shared the Illinois PTA report on Young Adults Involved in the Justice Systemwith them. One of them asked him to join their PTA, which he … Continue reading How Do You Tell Your PTA’s Story?
Learning to Say No
Saying no ought to be pretty easy. As parents, we tell our kids no all the time. But as PTA volunteers, chances are you have trouble saying no when someone asks you to do something. At a PTA training, the trainer asked the group what was the one characteristic that linked everyone at the training. … Continue reading Learning to Say No
News from National Convention—Membership
Membership is at the heart of PTA, so it’s not surprising that membership was the focus of several workshops and one big announcement at the 2018 National PTA Convention in New Orleans. The announcement? Every PTA leader who registers or logs in to the Local PTA Leader Kit(formerly the Back-to-School Kit) will receive a new … Continue reading News from National Convention—Membership
News from National Convention—Grant Opportunities
At the 2018 National PTA Convention in New Orleans, numerous new grant opportunities were announced that PTAs (and in some cases, PTA Councils and PTA districts or regions) can apply for. These grants provide an opportunity for your PTA to implement new programs and grow your PTA. STEM + Families Science Festival Grants Deadline: August … Continue reading News from National Convention—Grant Opportunities
Teacher Gifts That Go Beyond the Coffee Mug
Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week, and the end of school is coming up fast. Are you at a loss for a gift for your child’s teacher? You know that another #1 Teacher mug is not the answer, but what is? Both National PTA’s Our Childrenmagazine and Great Schools! have suggestions for great teacher gifts. … Continue reading Teacher Gifts That Go Beyond the Coffee Mug
National PTA School of Excellence Sign-Ups Open Now
Show your community that something important is happening at your school—a new kind of welcoming process that extends beyond the building and into the homes of families who now feel prepared to help support their child’s success. Become a National PTA School of Excellence! This recognition program supports and celebrates partnerships between PTAs and schools … Continue reading National PTA School of Excellence Sign-Ups Open Now
New Resources from National PTA
One of the advantages of being a PTA is having both a state and a national organization to help provide resources and tools to make your job as a PTA leader easier. National PTA has recently released two new resources to help you recruit new membersand to show your appreciation to teachers. New Membership Resources … Continue reading New Resources from National PTA
Top 10 Reasons to Attend the Illinois PTA Convention
The 116thAnnual Illinois PTA Conventionis coming up May 4-5 at the NIU-Naperville Conference Center. If your PTA doesn’t have someone attending convention yet, here are the top ten reasons why you should. The early bird discount ends April 6th, so register today! Meet keynote speaker Dr. Devorah Heitner.In addition to giving the keynote … Continue reading Top 10 Reasons to Attend the Illinois PTA Convention
How to Handle Bad Checks
It happens to almost every PTA every year. A check for membership, spirit wear, or a fundraiser gets returned. Depending on what the check was for, the PTA can be left responsible for full payment on merchandise already received. Here’s how to handle bad checks. Your PTA’s check handling policies should go in your PTA’s … Continue reading How to Handle Bad Checks
National PTA’s Family Guides
You might be aware of National PTA’s Parents’ Guides to Student Success that help parents understand what their child is learning, how to talk with their child’s teacher, and how to help support their child’s education. National PTA has partnered with the National Education Association to create additional family guides to help parents support their … Continue reading National PTA’s Family Guides
Rekindling the Flame
Feeling overwhelmed by your PTA responsibilities? Winter’s cold and snow got you feeling down? Use these tips to rekindle the flame of PTA Leadership! Dare to Try New Things Try something new to develop a stronger and more vital PTA. Have a brainstorming session with your board or your members to discover new ways of … Continue reading Rekindling the Flame
One Voice Illinois 