Schools are often short on money necessary for school supplies, repairs and extra-curricular activities. The PTA helps fill budget gaps with fund raising activities. The PTA distributes fund raising materials and guidelines to members, whom they encourage to coordinate with school administrators, corporations and local business. The PTA also provides educational grant information to help members apply for funding opportunities on behalf of local schools.
The PTA engages in local and national politics, encouraging members to get involved in promoting--or fighting--legislation pertinent to education. The PTA's public policy branch maps the group's political goals and keeps track of legislation. The organization provides a "toolkit" for online advocacy, as well as "take action alerts" with information on upcoming policy issues.
One of the most important duties of the PTA is connecting schools with their wider communities. This is particularly important in areas without a history of parental involvement. The PTA's "Family-School Partnership" program is a three-pronged initiative aimed at raising local awareness, creating active engagement and celebrating successful initiatives. Increased student success is the goal of all community involvement programs, as schools with high family and community involvement are more likely to produce successful students.
When schools and local communities find themselves at an impasse, it's the PTA's duty to try and act as intermediary. Problem solving can include creating a school-community conference or putting together an issue task force. The PTA's mission statement emphasizes inclusive policies, collaboration with schools and communities and making student success the ultimate goal of all endeavors. This mission comes into play during problem solving, guiding the PTA to act as independent mediators.