ISSUE DATES

  • A Simple Communication System

    To help parents keep up with news, events, and activities, use a "communications envelope" to send school and PTO correspondence home with students on a regular schedule.

  • How To Inspect Your Playground

    Playgrounds take a lot of wear and tear. Here's what to look for to make sure your playground remains a safe environment for kids.

  • How To Retire Gracefully

    The way in which officers move on from their leadership roles can affect the group even after they're gone. Make your transition a positive one.

  • Officer Transition: Planning Ahead

    Prepare new officers for success by making sure they have the information and training they need.

  • Regional Councils Strengthen PTOs

    Forming a regional council helps parent groups share ideas, coordinate events and fundraisers, and tackle bigger issues.

  • Tackling Your PTO Tax Return

    Even tax-exempt nonprofit organizations need to file a yearly statement with the IRS. With a little decoding, it's not so hard to do.

  • Worth a Thousand Words

    Sharing school achievements and news with the greater community serves as a very public way to invite their participation.

  • Annual Audit: How and Why

    A yearly audit is a key safeguard for your money and a planning tool for the year ahead. Think of it as a "year in review" for your finances.

  • Auction Action Plan

    Secrets the pros use to turn even small auctions into highly profitable big-dollar fundraisers.

  • Breaking Up Our PTO

    The break-up of a districtwide PTO into smaller, school-based groups provided a lesson in viewing change as an opportunity rather than a setback.

  • Dealing With Bad Checks

    Many problems with check payments can be avoided by having a clear policy in place from the start.

  • Learning About Ellis Island

    This simulation of the Ellis Island immigration experience taught kids and engaged parents in a dynamic way.

  • Playground Surface Is a Safety Key

    Installing and maintaining the right surface underneath your playground is crucial to prevent injuries.

  • PTO Mom Wins on TV Show

    A trivia buff undertakes a unique fundraiser: competing on Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?

  • Rating the Clip-and-Save Fundraisers

    PTO Today's scorecard of the best and worst label and box-top collection programs.

  • The Truth About Cliques

    If people say your group is a clique, it is. In this case, perception matters.

  • Visibility: A Leadership Challenge

    You've done the work—do people know about it? Getting your group's name and message out to a wide audience, in the right way, is an essential part of success.

  • 26 Ways To Build Parent Involvement

    Getting more parents to participate is as easy as A, B, C when you follow this list of best practices.

  • Can I Deduct That?

    The information you need so that your group’s supporters can get the full advantage from their tax-deductible donations.

  • Funding Our Playground

    How one PTA met its goal of raising $40,000 in a single year to update the school playground.
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