A council is a group of PTA units organized under the authority of California State PTA for the purpose of collaboration, leadership training, and coordination of the efforts of the member units. A council provides the units within a city, county, or area an opportunity for cooperation in promoting their common interests and discussion regarding their common issues. It coordinates the work of the member units with other agencies or organizations in the area working for children and youth. It serves as a channel of communication between the state and district PTA and the units.
To remain in good standing, a council must:
- Adhere to the Purposes and basic policies of the National PTA and the California State PTA;
- Adhere to California State PTA policies and Bylaws;
- Have Bylaws reviewed yearly and approved biennially according to the procedures of California State PTA;
- Have a minimum of three units as council members;
- Have a minimum of three officers: president, secretary, and treasurer;
- Remit the national, state, and district PTA portion of the unit per capita dues to the district PTA by the due date;
- Remit council insurance premiums to AIM Insurance by December 20;
- File all required state and federal tax returns and other government forms;
- Submit the names and addresses of association and council officers to the district PTA according to established procedures and due dates.
In addition, the council must:
- Possess a Charitable Trust number from the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts;
- File an annual Registration Renewal Fee Report (RRF-1) and CT-TR-1 (if applicable) with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts.
Responsibilities (Not All-inclusive)
The Council Shall
Provide information and support to member units.
Supply counseling and encouragement to unify and strengthen member units.
Form a close tie between the district PTA and the units.
Promote PTA programs and observance of PTA policies, principles, procedures, and Bylaws.
Arrange training or workshops and group conferences for unit leaders in cooperation with the district PTA.
Work closely with district PTA president and leadership department in organizing new units and all matters of leadership service.
Coordinate PTA activities in a community or school district with the consent of the majority of its member units.
Provide opportunities for local units to collaborate on projects together.
Act as a clearinghouse for an exchange of ideas and experiences for member units.
Implement council projects only after a majority of the local units vote to support them.
The Council Shall Not
Legislate for units or regiment them in activities.
Duplicate the function of unit or district PTA type of meeting.
Utilize unit leaders in council roles if needed at the unit level.
Policies
- A council cooperates with, but does not join, other organizations.
- A council does not pay dues to the National PTA, California State PTA, or district PTA. It may collect council per capita dues from its units, and/or a unit assessment. An assessment must have units’ approval and be included in all the units’ standing rules.
- A council shall not assess additional fines or late fees for the late submission of insurance, per capita or reports required by California State PTA.
- A council’s officers, committee chairmen, and representatives must be members of PTA units within the council.
- The council president-elect (or the president continuing in office) or the elected alternate and one delegate or alternate elected from the council of the voting body shall represent the council at the California State PTA Convention.
