Parents organizations fall into a few categories, and most involve teachers. One type of group is called a Parent Teacher Organization or Parent Teacher Association. PTAs operate in ways similar to PTOs; however, PTAs must belong to the national PTA, pay dues and follow a set of established bylaws. PTO members can write their own bylaws and set their own meeting schedules. Advocacy groups are another type of parent organization. Advocacy groups can also contain teachers and promote special causes, such as advancing gifted education within the school district.
Most groups elect officers including a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. Other members may volunteer and help organize the group's activities and fund-raising events. The president leads the group, orchestrating meetings and making sure the group stays on track with its goals. The vice president helps the president, functions as second-level leader and may act as the president if the top leader must vacate the post. The treasurer tracks the group's finances and the secretary often takes meeting minutes and uploads documents onto the computer.
Groups must adopt bylaws that spell out how often they meet, what criteria a person must meet to be considered for office and how long a person will serve in any given office. The bylaws should set forth a mission statement that the officers agree upon and establish a clearly defined goal, such as helping to promote local education. The bylaws need to spell out legal issues, such as the procedures meetings will follow, what constitutes a quorum for voting, how money will be taken in and accounted for and a method for dissolving the group. If a group wants to file for nonprofit status, it will need a clause for dissolving the group.
A parent organization's objectives will vary depending on the type of group. Members can choose whatever objectives they wish. A PTO at an elementary school may want to raise money for new playground equipment one year. A parent group at the high school might opt to help the school upgrade its electronics equipment. Advocacy groups, such as ones promoting gifted education, might raise money to help gifted children thrive despite budget cutbacks. The group might raise money for a field trip so students can see the Statue of Liberty or visit the White House.
To raise money and achieve the objectives, the parent organization may hold fund-raisers, such as car washes, spaghetti dinners or pancake breakfasts. Some groups have held rummage sales. The school can post parent organization activity information on its website, and group members can send out notices to all the people in their email lists. Groups can also send notes to the local newspaper to publish in the events section. Group members can also attend local school board meetings to brief members and enlist their help in publicizing the event.