From PTOtoday.com
Nationwide, the vast majority (75%) of
parent-teacher groups are actually independents rather than formally affiliated
PTAs.
For years, the debate
has been exceedingly simple to frame. Do we want to be part of something larger
and spend our group dollars outside of our school? Or do we want to focus
exclusively on
improving and creating community at our school? Since the PTA was the only formal national school parent group, the decision was often PTA or not PTA.
improving and creating community at our school? Since the PTA was the only formal national school parent group, the decision was often PTA or not PTA.
Even in just those
terms, the PTA has been losing significant membership. From a record high of
12.1 million members in 1962, PTA membership dropped to just over 5 million in
the early 1980s. Today, PTA membership stands at about 5.8 million, despite
record-high school enrollments. More than 52 million students are enrolled in
America's K-12 schools.
Parent group leaders
from around the country seem to be voting resoundingly with their feet; they're
content to work independently at their own schools without the strictures (and
dues) associated with formal PTA membership.
Despite its national
profile and terrific name recognition, the National PTA actually has units in
fewer than 25 percent of America's K-8 schools. While there is no highly
accurate count of PTO groups (because independent PTOs do not have to report
into one central structure), conservative estimates put the count of
PTO/independent groups at well more than double that of PTA units.
Read more on the PTOtoday
website:
http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/292-pto-vs-pta-whats-the-difference
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