Why Membership Themes Matter for PTAs: Standing Out While Staying Connected
PTAs play a vital role in enhancing school communities, yet they often face a unique challenge – being seen as separate from the school itself. While collaboration with school staff is essential, PTAs also need to maintain their own identity to effectively advocate, fundraise, and engage families. One powerful way to do that? Membership themes. …
Category:
Membership
PTAs and Politics: Protecting Your PTA’s Tax-Exempt Status
One of the many benefits of being a part of PTA is support around topics that may be new or seem intimidating to you, like protecting your PTA’s tax-exempt status. Washington State PTA would like to help our PTAs sort out some of the challenges that politics and elections can bring. This resource provides guidelines…
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Advocacy
August Checklist for Running Your PTA
Board To-Do List for August Ongoing Tasks Attend board and membership meetings Read meeting minutes and offer corrections Prepare reports for board and membership meetings Get educated: take advantage of in-person and online training opportunities Be familiar with your responsibilities and fulfill them Review and ask questions about the monthly financial report Actively engage in…
Category:
Leadership
August Checklist for Councils Supporting Local PTAs
Welcome to the new PTA year! PTA’s fiscal year runs July 1 – June 30. Each month we will post monthly task lists for you to use that will help develop your calendar for the year. The dates listed reflect best practices. Ongoing Tasks Review the Standards of Affiliation Checklist. Offer support to local PTAs…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA Family and Community Engagement: Family Celebration Calendar
The first Friday of each month is “WSPTA Family Celebrations Friday” where relationship and curiosity meet observances. WSPTA highlights student-focused celebrations and wants to know what you and your family observe. Download the August 2025 calendar by clicking on the graphic below! We want to hear about your family celebrations! Fill out the form below…
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Family Engagement
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Uncategorized
Changes to the 2025-2026 Reflections Program
Check out all the new changes that have been made to the 2025-2026 Reflections program! Accessible Arts Division: Additional information on participation details, including accepted and not accepted accommodations. Dance Choreography: Adjustments to emphasize that the student submitting the entry must be the choreographer. Performances of others’ choreography are not allowed (e.g., teachers, coaches, friends). …
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Events
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Reflections
A Message from our Council PTA of the Year 2024-2025: Lake Washington PTSA Council
Lake Washington PTSA Council 2.8 was surprised and deeply honored to receive the Outstanding Secondary / Council PTA of the Year award at the 2025 WSPTA Convention. LWPTSA Council has had a strong year of growth. We added a new college essay workshop to our council’s student programs; we leveled up our DEI committee to Diversity,…
Category:
Awards
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Uncategorized
Awards of Excellence Changes for 2025-2026
The Awards of Excellence Program recognizes local PTAs, community PTAs, and councils whose level of effort in specific areas help them make a difference in their communities. The Awards of Excellence committee has been working hard to update the awards information and judging rubric based on feedback we received through surveys. Please see below for…
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Uncategorized
A Message from our Outstanding Primary PTA of the Year 2024-2025: Pope PTA
Pope PTA is absolutely delighted to be recognized by the Washington State PTA as the Outstanding Primary PTA of the Year for 2025! As are ALL PTA members, we are a team of dedicated volunteers who strive to support and advocate for our children. This award reflects our strong collective commitment to positively impacting our children’s lives.…
Category:
Awards
Why PTA Requires Membership: Because It’s Powered by You
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is more than just a school-based group—it’s a member-driven nonprofit organization with a mission to make every child’s potential a reality through advocacy, family engagement, and community-building. And at every level—local, state, and national—membership is the foundation of how that work happens. What It Means to Be Member-Driven PTA operates as a…
Category:
Membership