ISSUE DATES

  • PTO Today Spending Survey 2023: A Familiar Landscape

    Our latest parent group survey shows that PTO spending and volunteerism have leveled out over the past two years.

  • Get text alerts for freebies, giveaways, and more

    Want to hear about our latest giveaways, freebies, events and more for your school? Subscribe to texts from PTO Today so you don't miss out on all the good stuff we've got in the works, like free gift packs, snack samples, toys, and more! Create or update your contact info with us below. Just add your mobile number where prompted during registration and make sure to check the box to "opt in" to mobile text alerts. That's it! Update Contact Info ☞   By clicking “UPDATE CONTACT INFO”, you agree that School Family Media, LLC may contact you with offers and other information, including the use of automated technology, text and recorded messages. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Reply STOP to opt out of text messaging. Standard rates apply.*     *Read mobile terms of service    

  • Altered Reality

    The more things change...the more they stay the same.

  • Then and Now: What’s Changed (and What Hasn’t)

    A look back at the early days of PTO Today and parent group leadership.

  • 2023 National School Parent Group of the Year Winner

    Congratulations to the Huntingtowne Farms Elementary PTA in Charlotte, N.C., which worked hard to make the parent group inclusive and representative of their diverse school community!

  • A Classroom Without Walls

    From fundraising to design to construction, here's what to know to create a beautiful and functional outdoor learning space for your school.

  • How To Run a School Holiday Shop

    Free Guide: How To Run a School Holiday Shop   At many schools, a holiday shop (also called a Santa shop) is a beloved tradition that gives students the opportunity to pick out gifts for their parents, grandparents, siblings, and other people important to them. Whether you’ve run a holiday shop before or are just starting to think about it, our school holiday shop planning guide for PTOs and PTAs includes helpful information so you can have a well-run event at school. Plus, you can also opt in to receive a free holiday shop sample kit from our sponsor, Lil’ Shopper’s Shoppe, featuring a delightful selection of their high-quality gifts, holiday shop bucks, gift bags, budget envelope, and more! Read Free Guide By registering to access this free guide, you’ll be opted in to receive communications from PTO Today and our sponsor to help your group do great work! You may unsubscribe anytime. Inside the School Holiday Shop Planning Guide: How To Choose a Service Provider An overview of the benefits of using a service provider, and questions to ask before signing a contract (while all holiday shop companies provide inventory and support, their services can differ, and it’s important to know what you’ll be getting). Planning Your Holiday Shop in 6 Weeks or Less A detailed planning timeline, including tips for the key ways to promote your school holiday shop. Organizing Your Shop Holiday shops are typically easier to organize than PTOs and PTAs might realize, especially if a service provider handles the bulk of the inventory details. Get the scoop on volunteers, supplies, working with teachers, location and setup, floor plans and inventory management, helping students who need financial assistance, cash management, and gift-wrapping. Field-Tested Tips for Success Best practices such as giving your group enough time to plan your shop and helping kids stay within their budget. Decoration Ideas and Hacks Scroll through a photo gallery with new uses for cardboard boxes, solo cups, balloons, pool noodles, and more. Make Your Shop a Family Event Activities to add on to your shop to welcome parents and other caregivers. Thank-You Gift Ideas for Volunteers Cute, festive, and low-cost ways to let holiday shop helpers know you appreciate their efforts. Holiday Shop Forms and Tools Clip art, flyers, volunteer sign-up sheets, budget envelope labels, social graphic Canva templates, and sample emails to request volunteers for four common shop names: Holiday Shop, Santa’s Workshop, Candy Cane Lane, and Winter Wonderland. Read Free Guide By registering to access this free guide, you’ll be opted in to receive communications from PTO Today and our sponsor to help your group do great work! You may unsubscribe anytime. What Is a School Holiday Shop? School holiday shops give students the opportunity to look at a range of items and buy holiday gifts (for moms, dads, siblings, grandparents, and even their pets) “in secret” during the school day. They’re often set up and run by PTOs and PTAs in a school library, gym, or other similar area. Volunteers help children choose gifts and work within their budgets. It’s the enjoyment of helping children and seeing their delight in choosing special gifts that largely accounts for why parent groups do these shops. The holiday timing coupled with the satisfaction of what it provides makes a holiday shop a perennial favorite event and fundraiser. While previous generations of school and PTO parents relied on moms who liked making sellable crafts or searching year-round for bargain items to sell (and some still do), many parent groups these days are turning to service providers to ease their load. Companies that specialize in holiday shops supply inventory, provide detailed help on running school shops, take back unsold items, and more. Generally, when schools use a holiday shop service, they receive merchandise on consignment—they don’t send money to the service provider until the shop is over, and they only pay for what’s sold. Parent groups are free to mark up the items, but many run a holiday shop as a service and tradition for children rather than as a fundraising activity.   @demimctizic A sneak peak of our Holiday Shop! PTO Mom life! #pto #momlife #happyholidays ♬ Holidays (feat. Earth, Wind & Fire) - Meghan Trainor   .mb { margin-bottom: 10px; line-height:150%; }

  • School Fundraiser Planning Checklist

    The keys to holding a successful school fundraiser are communication and participation. Maximize both by following this plan!

  • 148 Silent Auction Ideas and More

    You can’t have successful school auctions without items for bid, and getting the right donations is key. You need to know what your community will find fun and exciting—and what they’re willing to pay for. Plus, if you use an auction platform, it’ll be even easier for your supporters to place bids, get winning items, and pay your PTO. Need auction donation ideas? Worried about how to find donations? Want to know how to ask for donations? Relax and browse our list of 148 silent auction items—plus we’ve identified a few items that don’t work at school auctions, along with lots of helpful tips to make the process of securing items easier for you. Get Free Ideas By downloading this free content, you agree that School Family Media LLC may call, email, and/or mail you at the number, email address, physical address you entered with reminders, offers, and other information, including the use of automated technology, text, and recorded messages. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Reply STOP to opt out of text messaging. Standard rates apply. Inside 148 Silent Auction Ideas and More: Benefits of Working With an Auction Provider Six ways an auction platform can make your event a success. Ideas for Silent, Live, and Online Auctions Almost 150 ideas sorted into experiences, student handicrafts, teacher/staff donations, always-popular items, general theme ideas for combining items together, and theme basket ideas with specific items to include. 7 Things To Avoid These items usually tank; don’t waste your time. Sources for Silent Auction Donations Nearly 50 types of organizations and businesses that you can approach to request donations of items for bid. Donation Request Tips 10 tips to increase your chances that a business will say yes when you ask for a donation. Why Hold a Silent Auction? Silent auctions typically round up some really special prizes for bidders—from theme baskets created by individual classrooms to vacation packages—and these special prizes can lead to significant profits for your group, particularly because most (or even all) items are typically donated. Plus, at a silent auction, supporters can purchase something they want while at the same time supporting the PTO or PTA. Organizing a school auction is a lot of work, and its success depends on your level of pre-event organization, the venue, and most of all the quality of the donated items you can get. What you have available for bidding is really what will make or break your event. Start planning your auction up to six months in advance, and start promoting it soon after that. There are lots of ways to make your school auction fun for everyone, organizers and attendees alike. Best of all is to add a theme to your event, such as island paradise or winter wonderland. Besides being exciting for the people attending, it gives your volunteers a chance to get creative with invitations, decorations, and more. To maximize your profit potential, you’ll need at least a few big-ticket items, like passes to a popular sporting event or a stay at a vacation home. But equally important are those silent auction items that have sentimental value. These include student handicrafts, like painted tiles, patchwork quilts, and collages (either sold individually or combined as a class project), and can also extend to one-of-a-kind objects from school parents and staff, such as a painting or personalized comic strip from the art teacher. Experience items also have a lot of earning potential because they get students excited. These prizes might take place during the school day (principal for a day, picnic lunch with three friends, ice cream party in the school gym) or not (reserved parking at school for a year, bedtime story from a teacher). Get Free Ideas By downloading this free content, you agree that School Family Media LLC may call, email, and/or mail you at the number, email address, physical address you entered with reminders, offers, and other information, including the use of automated technology, text, and recorded messages. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Reply STOP to opt out of text messaging. Standard rates apply. Still have questions? Call us at 800-644-3561; we’re here to help. Share this page:

  • Family Tech Talk: A Free Internet Safety Event for Schools

    Help parents at your school learn the risks kids face online Being a kid in today’s digital world isn’t easy. As parents and caregivers, the best thing we can do is educate ourselves so that we can help our kids use the Internet safely—and your parent group can help! Family Tech Talk is a free parent education event for schools, from PTO Today and global cybersecurity leader Trend Micro. Parents will learn what kids are doing online, the risks they face, and how they can help their kids use the Internet safely. Sessions are hosted by an Internet safety expert over Zoom, with in-person events available in select cities. Register Your School This free educational event is Title I parent and family engagement approved and available in multiple languages upon request. What Parents Will Learn: Popular apps, social media, and gaming: What parents need to know How to prevent online risks Best practices to be safe online Managing screentime App settings for age-appropriate content Ways to set devices Parents can ask their own questions during the Q&A 👉 If you’d like to share this program with your principal first, you can download and customize this letter from your group.   How Family Tech Talk Works 1. Register for an event (it’s free!) Select the Zoom webinar date and time that works best for your school’s parents. In-person events (hosted by an Internet safety expert) are also available in select cities. Register now 👉 Free in-person events are available to schools in the following cities: Washington, DC Orlando, FL Jersey City, NJ New York City, NY Austin, TX Dallas, TX Forth Worth, TX Houston, TX Within two to three weeks of registration, a Trend Micro rep will confirm with you the availability of an expert in your area and a mutually agreed upon date and time for your event. Free Zoom webinar dates (only one date remains for the 2023-2024 school year): May 15, 2024 (Wed) – 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific After registering for a Zoom webinar event, you’ll receive a confirmation email from PTO Today that includes the event date and time you selected, and the Zoom link to share with parents ahead of your event. 2. Promote your event Our free toolkit includes a flyer and social media graphics to help your group promote Family Tech Talk to parents. If you registered for a Zoom webinar event, you’ll receive your event details immediately after registering. You can also invite other schools in your community to join, too! 3. During your event Parents are encouraged to sign in during Zoom webinars. If you’re a Title I school, you can request a copy of the parent sign-in sheet from your Trend Micro representative after your event to submit as Title I documentation.   Register Your School This free educational event is Title I parent and family engagement approved and available in multiple languages upon request. Why School PTO and PTA Groups Love This Event! Presented by a knowledgeable Internet safety professional from global cybersecurity leader Trend Micro’s Internet Safety for Kids and Families team Accessible to all families over Zoom or in person at schools located in select cities Available in multiple languages Title I parent and family engagement approved Free for all schools Appropriate for parents of kids of all ages Parents have the opportunity to chat (in real time) with other parents attending from across the country (Zoom events only) and feel supported during this shared experience A great way to supplement other Internet safety initiatives at your school Family Tech Talk Is Hosted by Professional Internet Safety Experts Lynette Owens, Founder and Global Director of Trend Micro’s Internet Safety for Kids and Families program, has worked with PTO Today for more than 12 years to offer Family Tech Talk—a free parent education event—to families via PTO and PTA groups. Lynette or another Internet safety expert from her team will deliver an engaging presentation and Q&A over Zoom for parents (you can invite other local schools to attend, too!). With 20-plus years in the tech industry, Lynette speaks and blogs regularly on how to help kids become great digital citizens. She works with communities and school districts across the United States and around the world to support online safety, digital and media literacy, and digital citizenship education. She is a board member of the National Association for Media Literacy Education, is an advisory committee member of the Digital Wellness Lab, and serves on the advisory boards of INHOPE and U.S. Safer Internet Day. Why Your Group Should Educate Parents About Internet Safety Our increasingly digital world is changing faster than most parents can keep up, and often, children know more about it than the grown-ups! It’s not just about knowing the newest trends; it’s also about how to make smart, safe choices, how to balance time spent online and off-, and knowing the importance of being considerate and respectful of others (as well as yourself). Family Tech Talk makes it possible for PTO and PTA groups to connect their school’s parents with an Internet safety expert so that families talk openly about digital responsibility, online safety for kids, privacy settings, and why it’s all so important. What PTO and PTA Leaders Say About Family Tech Talk “This generated many conversations between parents and kids. I look forward to hosting this event yearly.” —A. Gonzalez-Torres, Uplift Pinnacle, Dallas, TX “Many of my parents are really on top of the tech situation at home, yet everybody admitted they learned something new. I did, as well!” —C. Ogoe, Mahanay Elementary, Houston, TX What Is Digital Citizenship? Being a good digital citizen is much the same as being a good citizen offline—it means being mindful, careful, and considerate when using technology and spending time online. Interacting digitally is just part of the everyday norm for kids now—whether consuming online content like games and vlogs, “hanging out” in social communities like Instagram, or exchanging texts and snaps with friends. As these types of digital interactions increase, so too does the importance of good digital citizenship and making smart, safe choices online. Digital Citizenship Week is celebrated the third week of October each year; plan your Family Tech Talk event (or reserve an event date) in honor of Digital Citizenship Week!  Digital Citizenship Week Oct. 14-18, 2024 Safer Internet Day February 11, 2025 Register Your School This free educational event is Title I parent and family engagement approved and available in multiple languages upon request.   Still have questions? Call us at 800-644-3561; we’re here to help. Share this page:

  • PTO Today University Spring 2023

  • Social Media Content Calendar Template for PTOs and PTAs

  • PTO Today Spending Survey 2021: Resilience During Recovery

    During the pandemic recovery phase, parent groups are being asked to provide more money and more time—despite having less of both available.

  • Save the Date! Free PTO Today Events

    PTO Today offers two ways you can level up your parent group work, for free: in-person events and virtual education sessions.

  • Deals, Steals, and Ideas for PTO and PTA Leaders

    .connect-through-music { letter-spacing: -1px !important; } Parent Education Event Free Internet Safety Event from PTO Today At a Family Tech Talk Zoom or in-person event, parents learn what kids are doing online and how they can help them use the Internet safely. Learn More Read More Product Fundraiser Yankee Candle, Wrapping Paper, Gifts, Candy & More Fundraise with quality and value! Free incentives to motivate and everything you need to make your job easy! Learn More Read More Apps and Software Finance Manager Accounting Software Make filling the treasurer seat on your PTO/PTA a lot less stressful with our easy-to-use accounting software. Get Free Trial Read More PTO Today Freebie Get FREE Parent Gift Packs for Back to School A great way to get parents to your PTO's welcome table at your back-to-school event? Free gift packs! Sign Up Now Read More Free 2024-2025 Calendar Fun National Holidays and Special Days To Celebrate Here’s the ultimate list of special days to celebrate in 2024-2025. This is a great resource to share with all your board members and volunteers! Download Now Read More Athon Fundraiser Highest fundraising profit % for schools - 99Pledges Our FREE online platform will 2-3X your results and make everything simple for donors, parent, and volunteers! Learn More Read More Giveaways and More Get text alerts from PTO Today Don’t miss out on all the good stuff from PTO Today, like free gift packs, samples, events, and more! Sign Up Now Read More Product Fundraiser Fast & Easy Car Magnet Fundraiser! Earn 50%+ Profit Custom car magnets by LogoMagnet are a fun, effective way to raise money and awareness for your organization. Learn More Read More Playground and Recreation Affordable Playground & Sports Equipment Gaga Ball Pits, sports equipment, playground borders and supplies, furnishings – more than 25 manufacturers! Shop Online! Read More Holiday Shop Kids’ Kastle: The Leader In Holiday Shop Fundraising $5.00 and under for 85% of our quality gift items, and everything needed to run a successful Holiday Shop. Learn & See More Read More Athon Fundraiser 20+ School Grants – Your Free PTO Guide! Everything you need to win big grant money for your school! 20+ grant opportunities for your PTO/PTA. Get Your Guide Read More Holiday Shop The ONLY Pop the Top and Shop ready Holiday Store! All product comes in pre-organized trays, price coded and ready to sell! Free sign on bonuses available! Learn More Read More Apps and Software Start collecting payments & forms online for free! Thousands of PTOs trust Cheddar Up to collect for events, fundraising, spirit wear, enrichment programs & dues. Get Offer Read More Holiday Shop We make it easy with quality gifts & sign up bonuses! 85% of our gifts are $5.00 or less, free shipping & supplies, count or no count inventory, cash register App. Learn More Read More Food Fundraiser Fresh Fruit Fundraiser – Easy & Profitable! Sell and distribute locally or run a 100% online-based home delivery sale. Free ecommerce websites and apps. Learn More Read More Shopping Fundraiser Announcing Flo’s PTO Program for Your School A+ ways for your school to SAVE with exclusive perks and benefits! Get free shipping, givebacks and more! Sign Up Today Read More Arts & Enrichment Bring a Book Vending Machine to Your School Engage students in fun reading incentives. Insert token, get a free book. Build home libraries! Learn More Read More Miscellaneous Support student success with EduKit Trusted by schools and families to craft custom supply kits, tailored to teachers' lists. Learn More Read More Holiday Shop Buying your own Holiday Shop Gifts? D.I.Y. at 50% Off Tired of running to the Dollar Store? Personalized gifts for: mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle and teacher! Shop Now Read More Apps and Software Reduce Your Chaos With PTA/PTO Software Take the stress out of managing your PTA/PTO with communication, fundraising, and engagement tools. Get Free Trial Read More Athon Fundraiser Earn up to 70% Profit Let Schoolathon take your next Thon from Bland to Grand! ColorAThon is the nations leading color run provider! Learn More Read More Food Fundraiser Dependable Fundraising The good ’ol days are still here with the World’s Finest Chocolate $1 bar that earns your group big profits. Start Fundraising Today Read More Holiday Shop Your Quality Holiday Shop—We Excel in Service! Gift store quality at kid friendly prices. Ring up gifts with our hand-held EZ scanners. A treasured program kids love! Request a Gift Sample Read More

  • PTO Today University

    Wednesday, April 17, 2024 11 am and 2 pm ET From Finish Line to Starting Line: School Year Wrap-Up and Future Planning Register Now During this one-hour session we’ll discuss: Mission Transition: holding elections, filling vacant positions, and training new officers Closing the books on fiscal year-end finances, event review, and recordkeeping Sharing your group's accomplishments and gratitude Summer work social and how to recruit new volunteers Get it on the calendar: back to school open house, kindergarten welcome event, school planning Sponsors .cl-body > p { padding: 5px; } .cl-sponsor-flex { display:flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center; } .cl-sponsor-flex > a {width:100%;text-align:center;padding:21px;} .cl-controls-wrapper { width: unset !important; } .disabled { pointer-events: none; background: gray !important; } .pull-right { padding: 13px; } @media screen and (max-width : 769px) { .cl-sponsor-flex { flex-direction:column; } .cl-sponsor-flex > a { width:100%; } }

  • Email Opt-in Form

    Share this form with parents to collect email addresses (and get permission to send updates).

  • “How We Support Our School” Template

    Customize this flyer with your events, activities, etc. for a visual representation of the many things your group does for the school.

  • “What the PTO Pays For” Template

    Fill in this flyer with your fundraising information to let your school community know where its hard-earned funds are going (and all the good they're doing).

  • Template: Parent Group Letterhead

    A blank slate for any of your PTO communications; double-click the header area to update the logo, name, and contact info for your group.
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