Start a PTA
Is Your School Ready to Start a PTA?
As a grassroots organization, PTA begins at the local level. A PTA may be any group that is committed to supporting the purposes of PTA – that group may be in a school, it may encompass several schools, or it may be a community-wide group.
Washington State PTA is here to guide you through the steps for each local PTA to become an independent nonprofit business including requirements necessary to ensure compliance with state and federal laws. The process is unique to each potential local PTA, but there are general steps that every local PTA will take to begin chartering. Click here to view potential startup costs.
Get Started Now!
Whether you are starting a new PTA or re-starting a previous PTA, or want to make the switch from your unaffiliated parent group to PTA, we are ready to get you started. Contact Washington State PTA via email or call (253) 214-7410 to set up an initial meeting/phone call to discuss the process for chartering and the benefits of joining the Washington State PTA.
What Happens Next?
Pre-Affiliation
Affiliation Meeting
Once there is enough interest in forming a PTA, an affiliation meeting will be organized. At this meeting individuals will be found to serve on the new PTA steering committee and nominating committee. The application for affiliation is filled out at the end of this meeting.
Build a Foundation
The steering committee works with a PTA support team to get charter members, create foundational documents for the PTA and identify officer nominees. Your support team will offer plenty of training, information, and support along the way!
Charter Meeting
This is the meeting where the new PTA is created. The charter membership will be accepted (must have at least 25 members) and the new members will elect officers and vote on the standing rules and budget.
Support
Your support team will guide you through the legal paperwork to finalize your PTA. New PTAs are assigned a support team that will be in place for three years, to assist your new officers in building a lasting foundation. Support will include training, goal setting, committee chair and volunteer recruitment, fiduciary responsibilities and much more.
WSPTA Welcomes the Following New Local PTAs in 2024-25:
- Expedition Elementary PTA 5.3.19 – July 2024
- Hawthorne PTA 12.4.7 – July 2024
WSPTA Welcomes the Following New Local PTAs in 2023-24
- Canyon Ridge PTSA 9.7.50 – May 2024
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg Elementary PTA 3.7.20 – April 2024
- Sacajawea Middle PTSA 9.4.91 – April 2024
- Bellevue Digital Discovery PTSA 2.3.100 – April 2024
- Panther Lake PTA 9.4.50 – April 2024
- Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary PTA 3.7.65 – February 2024
- Elmhurst PTA 5.5.25 – February 2024
- Nisqually Totems PTSA 4.4.51- February 2024
- Voyager Middle PTA 7.5.30 – February 2024
- PTA of Methow Valley 12.13.10 – December 2023
- Gilbert Elementary PTA 11.2.30 – November 2023
- VITA Elementary School PTSA 3.7.45 – November 2023
- Sequoyah Middle PTSA 9.4.94 – November 2023
- Mirror Lake PTA 9.4.30 – November 2023
- Lake Dolloff PTA 9.4.20 – October 2023
- Lydia J Hawk PTA 4.4.5 – October 2023
- Dunlap PTSA 6.15.95 – October 2023
- Hilltop Heritage Elementary PTA 9.11.40 – September 2023
- Northshore Special Education Community PTSA 6.10.95 – September 2023
WSPTA Welcomes the Following New Local PTAs in 2022-23
- Sunnycrest PTA 9.4.60 – May 2023
- Larchmont PTA 10.9.105 – May 2023
- Pioneer Middle PTA 10.8.15 – March 2023
- Bernice Vossbeck PTA 8.4.6 – March 2023
- Manitou Park PTSA 10.9.130 – February 2023
- Granite Falls Special Education PTSA 7.8.2 – February 2023
- McMicken Heights PTA 9.5.100 – January 2023
- Willow Crest PTA 9.2.28 – December 2022
- La Conner PTSA 8.2.30 – December 2022
- Weston High School PTSA 7.1.100 – December 2022
- Lutacaga PTA 12.2.26 – November 2022
- Talbot Hill PTA 9.11.80 – November 2022
- Stevenson Carson PTA 3.6.37 – November 2022
- South Whidbey Elementary PTA 7.7.15 – September 2022
WSPTA Welcomes the Following New Local PTAs in 2021-22
- Home Program PTA 9.11.13 – May 2022
- Chimacum Community PTA 1.5.13 – May 2022
- College Place Elementary PTA 7.2.30 – April 2022
- Issaquah Special Education PTSA 2.6.13 – March 2022
- Maritime PTSA 9.5.295 – November 2021
- John Hay Elementary PTSA 6.15.160 – November 2021
- Katherine G. Johnson Elementary PTA 5.3.22 – July 2021
WSPTA welcomed the following new local PTAs in 2020-21
- Cougar Mountain Middle School PTSA 2.6.34 – May 2021
- Cedar Trails Elementary PTSA 2.6.12 – May 2021
- Mason Middle School PTSA 10.9.25 – May 2021
- Innovation Lab High School PTSA 6.10.90 – February 2021
- Ruby Bridges Elementary PTSA 6.10.9 – October 2020
- Quil Ceda Tulalip PTA 7.4.30 – October 2020
- Lochburn Middle PTSA 10.4.105 – October 2020
- MLK Dreamkeepers PTA 6.15.10 – September 2020
- Northshore Family Parent Cooperative PTSA 6.10.100 – September 2020
- Bowman Creek Elementary PTA 9.2.25 – September 2020
WSPTA welcomed the following new local PTAs in 2019-20
- Springbrook PTSA 9.7.75 – April 2020
- Lopez Island PTSA 8.2.100 – March 2020
- Voyager Middle School PTA 7.5.30 – February 2020
- Olympic View Elementary PTA 8.7.9 – January 2020
- Liberty Lake Elementary PTA 15.2.30 – January 2020
- Lakewood Middle School PTSA 7.1.55 – August 2019
- Snoqualmie Middle School PTA 2.18.33 – August 2019
- Tambark Creek PTSA 7.3.12 – July 2019
- Dessie Evans PTA 5.7.22 – July 2019
- Kamiak Elementary PTA 15.6.5 – July 2019
- Benton-Franklin Counties Special Education PTA 12.2.3 – July 2019
WSPTA welcomed the following new local PTAs in 2018-19
- Pioneer Elementary PTA 9.2.30 – June 2019
- Timberline Middle School PTSA 2.8.82 – May 2019
- Magnolia Elementary PTA 6.15.2 – May 2019
- Greater Pierce Special Needs PTA 5.13.5 – April 2019
- MLK Allstars PTA 11.2.37 – April 2019
- Lincoln High School PTSA 6.15.485 – March 2019
- Wainwright PTA 10.9.220 – January 2019
- Rainier View PTSA 6.15.65 – January 2019
- Thornton Creek Elementary PTA 6.15.80 – October 2018
- Emerson PTA 6.15.100 – August 2018
- Sartori Elementary PTA 9.11.25 – August 2018
- Tehaleh Heights Elementary PTA 5.8.5 – August 2018
- Riverbend PTSA 15.2.20 – July 2018
- Stevens Creek PTA 7.6.7 – July 2018
- Wilburton Elementary PTA 2.3.15 – July 2018
WSPTA welcomed the following new local PTAs in 2017-18
- Lakeview Hope Academy PTA 10.4.60 – June 2018
- Ella Baker PTSA 2.8.28 – June 2018
- Clara Barton Elementary PTSA 2.8.27 – May 2018
- Whitney PTA 11.2.10 – May 2018
- Spanaway Middle PTSA 5.3.30 – April 2018
- Trent Elementary PTA 15.3.47 – March 2018
- Stewart Middle School PTSA 10.9.280 – January 2018
- Leona Libby Middle PTSA 12.5.40 – August 2017
- North Creek High PTSA 6.10.80 – August 2017
- Cascade Middle PTSA 9.5.180 July 2017
- Cedar Park PTA 6.15.30 – July 2017
- Grand Coulee Dam PTA 15.1.25 – July 2017