Take a Notebook Break!

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PTA
2
Who We Are

• PTA is an organization of nearly 6 million
  parents and concerned adults, working to support
  parent involvement in schools so children succeed
  and learning environments improve.

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Why Do People Join PTA?

• PTA builds bridges between homes and schools,
  integrating the efforts of parents with
  principals and teachers. When you get involved in
  PTA, the child who benefits most is your own, but
  you are also positively affecting your child's
  school, your community, your state legislation,
  and your nation's education policies.

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Why Do People Join PTA?

• PTAs have a broad role to play, beyond
  fundraising. Parents who are knowledgeable about
  issues can effectively participate in local and
  district school decisions, and can address
  legislative needs to allocate more funds for
  public schools, such as
• School construction and modernization,
• School safety,
• High-quality teachers,
• High nutrition standards in school lunch
  programs,
• After-school programs, and much more.

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The Best in Parent Involvement

• For more than 100 years, National PTA has
  promoted the education, health, and safety of
  children and families. It was founded in 1897 in
  Washington, DC, as the national Congress of
  Mothers by Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe
  Apperson Hearst.
• National PTA was created to meet a profound
  challenge to better the lives of children.
  Today, it continues to flourish because PTA has
  never lost sight of that goal.

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PTA Vision
What the future will look like if PTA
accomplishes its
mission. Every child's potential will
be a reality
PTA Mission

• A powerful voice for all children,
• A relevant resource for families and communities,
  and
• A strong advocate for the education and
  well-being of every child.

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PTA Purpose

• To promote the welfare of children and youth in
  home, school, community, and place of worship.
• To raise the standards of home life.
• To secure adequate laws for the care and
  protection of children and youth.
• To bring into closer relation the home and the
  school, that parents and teachers may cooperate
  intelligently in the education of children and
  youth.
• To develop between educators and the general
  public such united efforts as will secure for all
  children and youth the highest advantages in
  physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.

8
Our Rights

• To function as an independent, nonpartisan child
  advocacy group
• To seek enactment of policies and practices that
  protect children and youth.
• To participate within school board policy in the
  setting of school goals and assist in the review
  of teaching materials.
• To participate in making decisions affecting
  policies, rules, and regulations.
• To meet with appropriate school officials to
  discuss matters of mutual concern affecting
  children.

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Our Responsibilities

• To protect access to quality education for all
  children
• To seek information on policies, curricula, and
  laws that affect children.
• To share accurate information with members and
  the school community.
• To know, help, and interact with teachers and
  administrators.
• To accept responsibilities willingly to assure
  that the PTA is strong and active.

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Our Responsibilities

• To work both within PTA and the school in a
  constructive manner, maintaining respect for
  democratic procedures and a tolerance for the
  diversity of opinions.
• To work in partnership with school professionals
  to determine appropriate programs and services.
• To participate in making decisions affecting
  policies, rules, and regulations.

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Policies for All Levels of PTA...

• All levels of PTA operate under three core
  policies  
• Non-partisan policy
• Non-sectarian policy and
• Non-commercial policy.
• We are a non-profit organization, so National PTA
  and all state PTAs have been granted tax-exempt
  status under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section
  501(c)(3) or Section 501(c)(4). We must maintain
  strict adherence to these requirements in order
  to retain our tax-exemption. Many PTAs must file
  records with the IRS.

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Policies for All Levels of PTA...

• A PTA is accountable to the parents, students,
  teachers, and school community it serves. A PTA's
  budget is approved annually by its membership and
  its financial operations are reported on at
  regular, public meetings.
• PTA's mission of creating safe and nurturing
  environments for all children means promoting
  diversity and inclusiveness within your PTA, your
  school, and your community.

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Your PTA Programs and Activities

• Providing parent involvement information,
  resources, events, and activities is central to
  the work of PTAs.

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Your County Council PTA

• The purpose of the council is to enable leaders,
  provide leadership training, and coordinate the
  efforts of the local PTAs in Harford County.
• Support of local PTAs in the county.
• Provide official representation at state PTA
  conventions
• Represent the county on the state PTA board of
  directors.
• Provide representation on the state PTA
  Legislative committee.
• Provide coordination and county judging for the
  Reflections Program.
• Support local units as they take action on local
  issues.

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Your State PTA

• State PTAs partner with National PTA to provide
  services and programs to local units, helping
  them achieve goals and grow membership..
• State PTAs activities are to develop and
  strengthen leadership within councils and local
  PTAs, organize new PTAs, and increase public
  understanding of PTA work.
• State PTAs engage in legislative activity at both
  the state and federal levels.
• Share information and provide instruction at
  state conventions.
• Publish a state bulletin and other materials.
• Conduct conferences and workshops and assist
  councils in conducting similar educational
  meetings..

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Your National PTA

• National PTA raises public awareness and provides
  parents and families with a powerful voice to
  speak on behalf of every child. The work of
  National PTA is directed by its board of
  directors and standing committees...
• The focus of National PTA's legislative activity
  is to "secure adequate laws for the care and
  protection of children and youth.".
• National PTA's website provides information,
  news, services, and resources about education,
  health and safety issues, and federal legislative
  activity..
• National PTA also offers free e-mail newsletters
  to bring news and updated information directly to
  PTA leaders, members, and the public.
• Provides Member-to-Member Network, a grassroots
  advocacy system that helps secure adequate laws
  for the care and protection of children and
  youth.

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Contact Information
Harford County Council of PTA Maryland PTA P.O.
Box 435 5 Central Ave. Bel Air, MD
21014 Glen Burnie, Md. 21061 410-760-6221 w
ww.hccpta.org www.mdpta.org