How to Start a Parent-Teacher-Student Organization

Parent-Teacher-Student Organization (PTSO) support local schools in various ways. Their primary function is to raise funds for the district, but they may also organize social and educational events like talent shows and science fairs, and create a singular voice about school policies, and enhance communication among educational personnel, parents, students and community members. Starting a PTSO is pretty easy, as well.

PTO vs. PTA

Parent-Teacher Organizations, PTOs, are independent groups that set their own rules and are typically non-profit organizations. (A PTSO includes students as well as parents and teachers.) Parent-Teacher Associations, PTAs, on the other hand, are branches of the national PTA group and so must follow the national by-laws. PTAs collect dues and forward a portion of those dues to the national PTA while PTOs don't often have dues. Decide which kind of group you want to start and be sure to explain the differences to potential members.

Purpose

Develop a mission statement that illustrates the purposes of your group. Think about what you want to accomplish. You might list creating a strong communications network among parents, teachers and students as one of the goals. Another might be increasing community awareness of and rewarding good teaching practices.

Also consider how you want meetings to run. How will votes be taken? What is considered a quorum? Will you follow Roberts Rules of Order or have an informal process for deciding issues?

Professionals

If you want to be a non-profit PTSO, you will probably need to file legal paperwork. Find a lawyer or accountant who will be willing to donate the time to do so. If you don't have a member of your group who will donate time, other community members may be willing.

Recruit

Advertise your organization's purpose and first meeting time everywhere you can. Send information through the school by sending notes home with students and publishing in the school newspaper, bulletins and websites. Local media often have free community announcements for such groups. Print off flyers and place them around town. Be sure to stay in touch with school principals and counselors to help find members. If you start a PTA rather than a PTO or PTSO, get your group added to the national PTA register and website.

Finding student members may be more difficult. Give a brief presentation to a student council meeting since these students are already involved in student government.

Meet

Organize carefully at the first meeting to set up for success. Elect officers, hand out information about by-laws, decide upon a meeting schedule, publish information wherever possible, and brainstorm group activities, especially fundraisers. Choose someone before the meeting to take notes so a record will be kept.

Keep an open mind about activities and purposes for the group as you start, and your PTA, PTO or PTSO is sure to grow and become more effective.

References

"About PTA." PTA. Pta.org.

"Starting a PTO." Ptotoday.org.