Differences at a Glance

PTA or PTO

Parent Teacher Association

(PTA)

• A local parent group formally affiliated with its state PTA organization and National PTA

• Approximately 21,000 K-8 PTA groups in the US

DEFINITION

Parent Teacher Organization

(PTO)

• An independent parent group with no dues required; can go by many acronyms - such as PTO, PTSO, PFA, PTC etc.

• Approximately 55,000 PTOs in the US

PTA

• Following the current by-laws, dues will remain the same for each unit

• Currently, each unit sends $5.00 per member to State and National PTA. $1.00 sent to PTA Council

PTO

• Following the current by-laws, dues will remain the same for each unit. Council will retain $1.00 per unit member

• All dues remain in the Upper St Clair School District

DUES

PTA

• National PTA has over 75 paid employees in Chicago and Washington DC. State PTA’s have at least one paid staff member.

• Most national and state PTA revenues come from dues from local PTA units

• PA PTA has 2 paid employees on staff, all others are volunteers

PTO

• There is no “National PTO” akin to National PTA. There is an organization called PTO Today and it is considered PTA’s closest comparison but no dues are required to engage PTO Today

• PTO Today is a media and services company with roughly 25 employees. PTO Today’s income comes from advertising on their website, it DOES NOT collect dues from local PTO units

UMBRELLA ORGANIZATIONS

AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF

PTA

• Not required

• Purchased by units at a slightly reduced rate through AIM

• Rate under PTA policy estimated $410 per year

PTO

• Not Required

• Purchased by units through AIM as required per all USC unit by-laws

• Rate per unit estimated $470 per year

INSURANCE

PTA

• Required

• Maintained through following IRS standards and submitting annual 990 form

PTO

• Required by all USC unit bylaws

• Maintained through following IRS standards and submitting annual 990 form

NONPROFIT STATUS

PTA

• Yes

• Upper St Clair PTA is part of National PTA’s lobbying efforts

• PTA’s Washington D.C. office is professionally staffed

PTO

• Any non-profit can chose their level of political participation

• USC local bylaws will neither require nor forbid political advocacy

POLITICAL

PARTICIPATION

PTA

• National PTA has Lobbyist on staff to lobby for issues chosen by National PTA

• PTA is an advocacy organization for PTA-approved positions.

• Local PTAs cannot advocate publicly against PTA approved positions

PTO

• No

• PTOs choose to devote their energies to the concerns of parents at their school, where they feel they can do the most good and make the greatest difference

NATIONAL VOICE

PTA

• Currently most Unit outreach must be done though the school.

• National PTA has strict rules pertaining to what local PTAs can donate money towards.

PTO

• PTOs are able to donate to any organization or cause of their choice

• PT Council will be adding an OUTREACH committee. It will oversee a joint project with the Kids Helping Kids club at the HS and each unit in USC

• The program will help a local non-profit called Blessings In a Backpack that supports 2 local Elementary schools in Wilkinsburg with food for their students on weekends

OUTREACH

1. Not getting ROI on our state or federal dues: Several of our USC units have been dissatisfied with the PAPTA’s lack of support to assist with our compliance with federal and state regulations. Units have felt that level of support from PAPTA is not commensurate with the level of funding they are receiving from our dues

2. Lack of accountability at the PA PTA: PA PTA has lost or given incorrect information to Unit Presidents in the past 3 years

3. Lack of direction from the PA PTA: Our units have asked PAPTA for specific programs/ideas and have received no direction or even a response from PAPTA

4. PTO returns control and finances to local leaders: With a PTO, USC Parents and Residents get to decide how to manage the organization’s direction and finances

THE BUSINESS CASE FOR

CHANGE

UNIT BREAKDOWN

Baker Streams Eisenhower Boyce Ft. Couch

Total members 318 297 359 377 342

Amount paid to State and National PTA

$1,584 $1,485 $1,795 $1,885 $1,710

USC Council dues $318 $297 $359 $377 $342

Number of Reflections entries 18 (5 non-PTA)

23

3

20 (5 non-PTA)

7 (4 non-PTA)

Amount of collected dues retained by school for use in

local initiatives $318 $297 $359 $377 $1,368

Below is a summarized set of figures related to our current PTA.

Where does our $ go?

State & National PTA

USC Schools

3% 97%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Participation in “Reflections”

Birthday Book Club

Book Fair

Book Swap

Cultural Arts Day

Eisenhower Extra’s

Family Bingo Night

Baker Bonus

Bowling Days

Snuggle Up and Read

Pirate’s Game Outing

Field Day

Grade Level Socials

Grade Level Breakfasts

Spelling Bee

Holiday Mart

Staff Appreciation

Reach Out

GATE

100th Day of School

Read for a Reason

School Wide Assemblies

Valentine’s Day Social

Field Trips

Talent Show

Harvest and Winter Parties

Spelling Bee

Socials

Caught you being good

Revolutionary Days

LabRatz

Deer Valley Fundraiser

PTA/PTO PROGRAMS IN USC

These programs will remain in place regardless of PTA/PTO affiliation.

• 63 submissions in the entire district out of approximately 1,693 PTA members in the district.

• Elementary units have enlisted school Art Teachers to promote Reflections. Still very little interest from student body.

• High School PTSO students can not compete in Reflections contest, even though they would benefit the most for using it on their college resume.

• Council is creating an exciting new program called “Arts in USC”. It will kick off in the Fall with a Logo contest opened to any student in the district.

• Each unit will have the opportunity to participate in any of the Pennsylvania and National art contests located on the Council webpage.

REFLECTIONS

Arts will remain a focus regardless of affiliation.

• Each PTO and PT Council would have bylaws subject to membership approval and IRS regulations.

• Parent Teacher Council will oversee all IRS form submissions and bylaws revisions of each unit, regardless of PTA/PTO/PTSO status.

• Nonprofit status will be obtained by all units

• Insurance would be required and identical coverage to current policies.

• All checks would be required to have two signatures.

• Parent Teacher Council would accept all units as equals and each unit would have a vote at Council level (PTSO Currently has no vote and can not sit on the board).

GOVERNANCE Localized controls will be in place to ensure continuity.

1. Unit Committees have been hard at work reading our current bylaws. Bylaws have been rewritten in PTO form with IRS wording included.

2. All Unit Executive Boards that are considering the change have met with PaPTA representatives.

3. At each unit, a vote of PTA general members will take place to either move to a PTO or stay PTA

NEXT STEPS

Thank you for your participation and

feedback!

QUESTIONS AND

DISCUSSION