Definition
A PTA (Parent Teacher Association) unit is a local, self-governing membership association whose main purpose is to promote the health, welfare, safety and education of children and youth in the home, school, community, and place of worship. PTAs traditionally work within a school community, although there are examples of non-school based PTAs working for children in other settings.

What does this mean?
PTA is an advocacy-based organization. Advocacy, meaning that a person or group that speaks on the behalf of someone who cannot speak for himself or herself. Jr. High and High Schools have ASB and the PTA becomes less involved, because the older children are better able to speak for themselves. Also, PTA is a separate organization from the school. Ideally the school and the PTA work together, though this doesn't necessarily happen in every case. PTA does not have any obligation to the school or district; so some rules are different.

PTA's mission is to "Build a Better World for Children”
Here are some examples of how individual PTAs from around the state are fulfilling that mission in their own communities, with specific information about Thoreau:

• Providing enrichment programs for children -- PTAs offer enrichment opportunities for children. These opportunities include providing after-school tutoring; foreign language classes; hosting a career day by bringing in a variety of professionals to talk to kids about their jobs and what it takes to do their jobs; encouraging children to write articles and poems and publishing them in a special magazine; and organizing an on-going after-school science enrichment program for all students at the school. Because each PTA chooses its own enrichment programs based on the needs of their community, there are as many different enrichment opportunities provided by PTAs, as there are individual PTAs in this state.

  Thoreau’s PTA provides an amazing number of enrichment programs! These include: Art docent program, Book Rodeo, Assemblies (3 per year), Bank Day, Fall Dance (PE enhancement), Reflections, Book Adventure Program, Rental of busses for student field trips, Art Classes (separate from the Art Docent program) and Study Club.

  Thoreau’s PTA also sponsors several community events during the year such as: Ice Cream Social and Information Night, Reflections reception, Valentine’s Day Breakfast, Bingo Night and the Spring Carnival.

• Providing parenting classes for their community -- Many PTAs provide parenting education in conjunction with their meetings, including such topics as parent involvement in education, understanding learning styles, building children's self-esteem, helping your child succeed in school, and youth violence prevention.

  Beginning in 2004, Thoreau’s PTA supports a Parenting Education/Tips and Tricks series free to Thoreau families. The Lake Washington School District pays for the educators, and the PTA facilitates and pays for childcare during the classes.

• Influencing legislation on behalf of children -- Some PTAs advocate for local issues that affect the children in their community. In the past, individual PTAs have advocated for mandating bicycle helmet usage in their community, advocated for increased pedestrian safety laws, and advocated for safer yard maintenance at school by eliminating the use of pesticides, to name a few.
• Making the school a better place to learn -- PTAs have purchased and donated computers, playground equipment, and volunteered countless hours in the classroom and in conjunction with programs and activities.

  Each year Thoreau’s PTA organizes a Room Parent for each classroom. PTA also has money available to support PE, Music, Library and our specialists. In addition PTA earmarks a certain amount of its yearly budget for each classroom to obtain the "extras" they need, such as daily planners for each of our 5th graders. Finally, PTA supports math, reading and now science curriculum with volunteers and money. Beginning in 2004, Thoreau’s PTA supported the science program by purchasing shelving units, carts and new kits.

  There are also a number of committees sponsored by Thoreau PTA with administrative functions, communication and safety in mind. Visit our “Committees” page for a complete listing.

Adapted from material from National PTA and Washington State PTA Resources