Decide for Yourself

What would be best for YOUR school and kids?
Source:UtahEducationFact.org

 

PTO and PTA Comparison Chart

PTO		PTA
Determined by local PTO if there are dues at all.	Annual Dues	$1,075 average per Utah PTA ($5.00 per member)
100% of dues remains at the local school and is spent as determined by the members of the local PTO.	Dues Allocation	- 45% of dues remains at the local school.  - 35% goes to the National PTA.  - 20% goes to the Utah PTA.
Each PTO is independently controlled by the local PTO members.	Control	Local PTA's make decisions under the framework set up by the National and Utah PTA.  Non-compliant PTA's can lose their membership in the PTA.
Each PTO is free to set up its organization however it wishes.  Most have elected officers and a set of governing bylaws set by the local PTO members.	Organizational Structure	The PTA has a rigid, top-down structure set by voting members of the National and Utah PTA. The Utah PTA has a state board and staff, 20 regions comprised of several councils each, and local PTA’s at individual schools.
Each PTO determines how it wants to spend money it raises.	Fundraising	The PTA has specific guidelines on how local PTA's can raise money and spend it.
Each PTO focuses on the needs of their school and its students.	Political Agenda	The National PTA has final say on the PTA’s political agenda but allows the state and local PTA’s some latitude on certain issues.  On major issues, the PTA’s works with the teachers unions.
Many resources are available for free online.  A PTO can also join PTO Today and access all of its services for $199 per year.	Networking/ Resources	PTA’s have access to the resources provided by the National PTA and Utah PTA.
Nationwide: - 75% of public schools	Membership	Nationwide: - 20% of public schools Utah: - 70% of public schools - 138,000 members
Since PTO is a generic term for any parent teacher organization, they have probably existed in some form or another since the existence of public schools in the U.S.	History	Founded in 1897 in Georgia as the National Congress of Mothers.  The National PTA is headquartered in Chicago with offices in Washington, DC.