THE VALUE OF A PTA MEMBERSHIP
When you join the PTA, you join millions of others who care about issues that affect children. Membership is open to anyone concerned with the education, health and welfare of children and youth.
WHY PTA?
“For me, the best part about being a PTA member is…… I can make a difference in our children’s lives.” — Mary Anderson, PTA Member
There are numerous parent groups out there, but there is only one PTA. Connecting families and schools for more than 115 years, PTA is the largest children’s advocacy organization in the country. Here are just a few reasons to join PTA.
JOIN ONLINE NOW!
Join the PTA today! PTA connects families, schools and communities, and joining PTA is a great way to support your child’s education and the education of all of Florida’s children. Find your local PTA below, or join the statewide association through Sunshine State PTA. For questions, email us at membership@floridapta.org.
MEMBERSHIP DUES
PTA annual dues for each local PTA may differ from school to school, and help support valuable programs and services for student learning and family engagement. Many PTAs support academic enrichment programs, such as field trips or after-school art, drama, music, math and reading programs while other PTAs support events and activities that promote family engagement at school, to strengthen home and school relationships. Other PTAs support health programs, safety and physical education.
Your local PTA dues stay with your school site, and a portion is sent up to support the work of your council PTA (if in council), Florida State PTA and National PTA. Please check with your local PTA regarding annual membership dues.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATES FROM FLORIDA STATE PTA
Membership
Q: How much are State/National membership dues?
A: Dues are $3.50 per member; National PTA receives $2.25 and Florida PTA retains $1.25 per member for the services each entity provides to members.
Q: Where can you join PTA?
A: PTA is a membership association and people join a PTA unit each year by paying membership dues. People cannot join PTA at the County Council level. Every PTA member belongs to at least one PTA unit in Florida. If you have children in different schools, you may join at each school. You may also join the Sunshine State PTA, a statewide, at-large, local unit that benefits the Florida PTA.
Q: Is PTA only for parents?
A: No! Remember the T in PTA stands for teachers, and if your unit is a PTSA, the S stands for students. PTA invites school staff, school district staff, grandparents, business leaders and neighbors to become members. PTA membership is open to everyone and does not require having a child in a school.
Q: Can we have “levels” of membership?
A: There is only one level of PTA membership but sometimes PTAs may wish to encourage or recognize financial support or a contribution of differing amounts. The actual per person dues amount, however, must always be specified (standing rules) and members must be allowed to join at that price. If the PTA wishes to solicit donations with levels of contribution, it is done as a separate project from the membership campaign. The membership campaign invitation should be for membership enrollment only. (Membership dues and donations to the PTA budget should be recorded separately.) For example, a gold donor/patron could reflect a contribution of $100; a silver donor/patron $50, or whatever names and amounts the PTA decides. The details of the donation project should be outlined in the standing rules and approved annually by the membership. A membership drive is not a fundraising project; membership in PTA should be affordable to everyone. A good rule of thumb for membership dues is to collect an amount that will cover per capita for the constituent organizations – National PTA, Florida PTA, and County Council PTA (if applicable). Some county councils apply a small portion of each membership for liability insurance premiums.
Q: What about “Family Memberships”?
A: The Florida PTA discourages group and/or family memberships. The concept of group memberships (e.g., family memberships) must include the payment of per capita dues and a membership card issued to each member. The PTA’s bylaws must stipulate the number of members considered a family. If a PTA unit wishes to include a family membership dues structure, the amended bylaws must be forwarded to Florida PTA for approval.
Q: May we charge students a lower rate of membership dues?
A: Yes, you may have a student membership rate. However, student dues must be listed in your standing rules and must be enough to cover the portion of dues that is forwarded to county council (if applicable), Florida and National PTA. Student members’ dues may not be subsidized by the unit.