PTO vs. PTA: Differences at a Glance PTA PTO DEFINITION local perent grou fomallyaffiiatd with ts state's PTA organization and An independent parent group; in ner words, any non-A Geup. Many cronyms— | the National PTA. ‘uch as HSA, PCC, PTO, and more—tll under the independent group umbrella. (hn this chart, we use "PTO" generically to mean any independent parent group.) HOW MANY? National PTA reports close to 25,000 uns. The number has generaly been ur estimate (PTOs are not quired to register, so this counts an educated | between 22,000 and 26,000 units for years | caleation: approximately 55,000 PTOsin the Unite States. (The PTO estimate takes the roughly 83,000 K-8 schools in the US, subtracts the roughly 2,500 K-8 PTA unis, and subtracts an addtional 5,000 for KB schools with no parent coup.) UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION/ National PTA has dazens of paid employees ats Alexa, Va, PROFESSIONAL STAFF | headquarters. Many state PTAS have at last one ational pa sta [0 akin to Natonal PTA and no official umbrella organization ‘media and services company (30-plus employees) that aims | memtet Most nator od aa PTA eens came tom desma —_ta serve uth al PTO and acl PTA groups The at maoy of PTO Tats nits income comes fom pid averting, not rom PTO or PTA groups. ‘DUES—REQUIRED? Yes. No. The decison to charge dues is completely up to your local group, ‘DUES—HOW MUCH? Because state ds vary and because the number of units vary per state, tis upto your group, bt the entire amount stays at your schoo. Many PTOs choose | this numbers not exact. But avery conservative estimate sys that the to charge no dues asa way to foster Sarent volvement. They consi al parents average local PTA nt sends more than $700 to ts tate PTA ad to ‘members autenatialy, "National PTA in dues payments. Tis number is based ona weighted | average of 175 paid PTA members pr local PTA unit and an average combined state-pus-natonal-dues figure of ust $4 Uns with more | members wil spend more in sate and national dues Units wit ewer | members wt pend ess in stat and national ues. INSURANCE—REQUIRED? | Varies by state. Most often, yes. | No: itis up your group. But we highly recommend that al groups get | Insurance, INSURANCE—ACCESS Moststate PTAS have anegotatod rate with a prefered provider Tos can access preferred rates trough the optional PTO Today Phas program ‘or obtain naurance on their own PTO ecetsoycPTO vs. PTA: Differences at a Glance (continued) INSURANCE—COST ‘sometimes lower PTA rates. NONPRORT STATUS. ‘g1cup'aflation with National PTA and payment of annual dues. ‘TOTAL COST OF AFFILIATION | smaller unts pay les ofa withthe PTA and ager unis pay more, | -Requied. National PTA openly an advocacy organization for | _PTA-approved postions, Local PTA groups cannot advocate pubely "against PTA-approved psiions. PTA dues support state and national PTA ‘advocacy efor. NATIONAL VOICE Yes. This isa key difference Your group is part of state and national poltical and advecacy efforts. And your group can playa cain ‘determining National PTA postions. ‘Want the National PTA views on these same issues? Check out ther “differences” page here, teat en ah ot oe ee eh TO Tay’ enterive lt of programs, artes, and resources ara avalable tal pare oups, Varies by state Typically out not always) insurance is less expensive for PTAs than for PTOs, But groups must pay PTA dues in order to access the equited. Sats is typical granted automatically as parto a parent “The biggest factors how many paid members you wil nave, Our estimate is TO Today is insrance rates rage fam $701 $165 orient yes of coverage, ncaingofcer aby, general abity, and propery insane. ‘Not required. your group decides to become a registred nonprofit apples ‘ect othe IS and pays a one-time $750 fe, Steo-by-step instructions (suocesstuly used by hundreds of groups) are avaliable from PTO Today. ‘Can be zero, the group doesn't apply for tax-exempt status and doesnt got insurance, Tax-exempt stasis a one-time (not annual fee of $750. Insurance can be secure individually (otten $500. per yean or as part ofthe PTO Today Pius rogram, which provides several benefits as wel s discounted insurance for roughly $300 por yeas, | Not required. Groups can choose to play an advocacy/pltical oe; However, many TOs otto remain focused on parent invchvement, schoovteacher/student support, ‘and commurty-bulding at her local school __|No.Most POs choose to devote tel energies toward work focused ona single schoo! or porhapsa single town. Many PTOs don't fel that poles aro what they're | sout or don't ke the potential acrimony that poitics can bring (rbot) 4. Make your choice and get back tothe more portant work of bung parent vehement Both POs end PTAS ave dane an wil contre todo great wok for chen and ech. PTO Today looks ‘orward to being of srvieno ater which option you choose