I am a member of the PTP at my son's charter school & have noticed that our main focus always seems to be raising money for school trips. I was wondering what the "official role" of a PTO/PTA is. I would think it should be more than just that. Can anymore provide a little more information for me?

Thanks so much.

PTA Mission Statement: The mission for the Calahan St. Elementary PTA is to identify curriculum and programs deemed by the membership* in its sole discretion to be vital to affect the richest educational experience possible for our children; to maximize the role of the school itself in fulfilling these objectives; and to plan, organize and execute events and programs which generate the resources and mechanisms necessary to fulfill these objectives.

and another

The mission of Crestview School, in partnership with the Vandenberg Air Force Base community and Lompoc Unified School District, is to provide a positive learning environment which encourages the development of the whole child. We believe every child comes into the world with gifts waiting to be discovered and nourished. It is our goal, as both parents and educators, to help each child find and develop these gifts. In doing so, the children will come to appreciate and value themselves, others, and the world in which we live.

The Crestview Community is committed to the wise use of available resources

to create a positive learning environment for all.



Therefore, we will:

Promote TRUST by using clear, open and frequent communication.
Reorganize and reappoint our TIME to better meet the needs of our school.
Coordinate major CURRICULUM units across 6 grade levels.

The mission of the PTO is to foster a spirit of cooperation and communication among all members of our school community and to help develop a closer relationship between home and school.

and another (that I really like)

The PTA organization was established to:

promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, community and place of worship.
raise the standard of home life.
secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.
develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social and spiritual education.
To accomplish these goals, your support is needed. While we realize that everyone is unable to participate in all the activities, we hope that you will be able to participate in any way possible.

As Shawn has shown you through the various mission statements, a PTO's mission is what the members decide it will be. Maybe you should take some of these mission statements and sit down with a group of like minded parents and talk about what you think is important and what goals you would like to see the parent group achieve. After you've done that, you could go to a meeting and express your thoughts along those lines.

A PTO(or any other parent group) can benefit the school far beyond financial aid. You just have to find out what the needs are and establish programs to meet them.