Search Results for: the council pta

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

1. A council cooperates with, but does not join, other organizations.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. A council’s officers, committee chairmen, and representatives must be members of PTA units within the council.
5. 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.

(Established 2000 – Reviewed April 2017)

Grants may be available annually from California State PTA to encourage and support attendance at the California State PTA Convention, regional and/or local trainings in order to strengthen leadership on unit, council, and district PTA boards.

Selection: A check for the grant is sent to the district PTA. It is the responsibility of the district PTA to select recipients and forward grants to the individual PTA.

The district PTA must submit a final report to the California State PTA office detailing the distribution of leadership development grant funds no later than June 1. See Forms, Leadership Development Grant Report.

Failure to submit this report by the due date will result in an invoice payable upon receipt from California State PTA for the amount of the grant. The Scholarships and Grants Committee and Leadership Services Commission will take into consideration the timely receipt of the report when awarding future Leadership Development Grants.

Direct all questions regarding due dates or rules for all grants to the California State PTA Scholarships and Grants Committee Chairman at grants@capta.org for leadership development grants please contact your district PTA.

(Established 2000 – Reviewed August 2014)

Grants are available annually from California State PTA for use by unit, council, and district PTAs to develop and implement student-centered cultural arts programs and projects focused on arts education.

Application: An application form for the grant is available online. Applications must be received by October 15.

Eligibility: Applicant must be a unit, council or district PTA in good standing.

Selection: Recipients are selected by the California State PTA Scholarships and Grants Committee. A check for the grant is sent to each unit, council, and district PTA recipient following selection.

(Established 1997 – Reviewed August 2014)

Grants are available annually from California State PTA for use by unit, council and district PTAs for written or verbal translation of PTA materials into other languages.

Application: An application form for the grant is available online. Applications must be received by October 15.

Eligibility: Applicant must be a unit, council, or district PTA in good standing.

Selection: Recipients are selected by the California State PTA Scholarships and Grants Committee. A check for the grant is sent to each unit, council, and district PTA recipient.

(Established 1953 – Reviewed August 2014)

Grants are available annually from California State PTA for use by unit, council, and district PTAs to develop and implement parent education programs or projects.

Application: An application form for the grant is available online. Applications are due by October 15.

Eligibility: Applicant must be a unit, council or district PTA in good standing.

Selection: Recipients are selected by the California State PTA Scholarship and Grant Committee. A check for the grant is sent to each unit, council and district PTA recipient.

California State PTA provides mailings, subscriptions, publications, and supplies to unit, council, and district PTAs.

PTA units may enroll to participate in the California State PTA online membership program provided as another means for encouraging people to join their PTA. The program is not meant to replace traditional member campaigns/programs; it is intended to be another alternative. Enrollment is optional and requires registration by the district and council as well as the unit.

Features of the E-membership program include:

• The ability to join multiple units at one time
• Members may choose to auto-renew
• Donations can be received through the E- membership program
• No fees charged to units for memberships collected
• No need to remit E-membership dues through channels; all money is sent directly to unit, council, district and State
• Accounting and reconciliation reports are available to assist in financial record keeping
• A separate bank account is recommended but not required.

For more information see capta.org/join.

Each PTA District, Council or Unit can create its own policies for members who use social media and identify themselves as PTA leaders or members. The California State PTA Social Media Policy is included as an example. 

The California State PTA uses social media and encourages leaders at all levels to participate in an engaging and productive exchange. The community-based aspects of social media can benefit PTAs in reaching out to new audiences and engaging an existing base. However, use of social media carries with it certain responsibilities. To assist leaders and members in making responsible decisions about using social media, we have established the following guidelines:

Guidelines

For our purposes, social media includes all means of communicating or posting information or content of any sort on the Internet – whether or not these channels are associated or affiliated with a PTA – Ultimately, you are solely responsible for what you post online.

Leaders and members may associate themselves with the organization in different ways—explicitly – by stating in a profile or on a site a PTA title or involvement and/or implicitly—by posting photos, graphics or other information that identifies them as a PTA leader or member.

You speak for yourself but your actions reflect on the organization. Do not post confidential information, accusatory statements, or any defamatory information. Be respectful, truthful, discreet and responsible no matter your privacy settings.

Consider the following:

If your profile picture identifies you as PTA, be aware when posting comments on other sites, both public and private. Remember PTA’s Noncommercial, Nonsectarian, Nonpartisan policies when posting on public sites (i.e., newspaper comments, public blogs, trade publications and other)

Privacy settings are no guarantee of privacy. Search engines and other technologies make it impossible to take something back once it’s been posted. Screen shots, forwards and other technologies can spread messages quickly beyond your intended circle of friends or followers.

Mistakes happen. If they do, apologize.

The seven commissions can be classified into two groups: (1) those dealing primarily with internal, organizational matters: convention, leadership services, membership services, and communications; and (2) those dealing with external issues in which PTA has a vital interest: health & community concerns, education, and family engagement.

The commissions are chaired by vice presidents elected biennially by the PTA membership at the annual convention in odd-numbered years. Commissioners are appointed members who serve during the administration. The treasurer serves on the leadership services commission.

California State PTA constantly assesses children’s needs to determine where and how PTA action should be initiated or intensified. State resolutions, letters, and results of studies from unit, council, and district PTAs as well as National PTA programs and priorities provide direction to the California State PTA Board of Managers. Each commission develops its plan of action based on the goals and priorities of the association.

The work of the commissions is facilitated through special committee studies and cooperation with statewide allied groups, agencies, and coalitions whose goals are similar to PTAs. Each commission is responsible for providing leadership and education to unit, council, and district PTAs to help implement the projects and activities that fall within its area of concern. Through PTA in California, the website – capta.org – and other avenues of communication, unit, council, and district PTAs are kept informed of current projects, the progress of studies, and the initiation of new projects.

Service to Unit, Council, and District PTAs
California State PTA Brief Statements on Current Issues

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Organizational Flow Chart (pdf)

Annual Historian Report – PTA Unit
Annual Historian Report – PTA Unit (Fillable)
Annual Historian Report – PTA Council
Annual Historian Report – PTA Council (Fillable)
Annual Historian Report – PTA District
Annual Historian Report – PTA District (Fillable)
Application for Youth Group Sponsorship or Renewal
Bylaws Submittal Form for Units and Councils (Fillable)
Conflict/Whistleblower Form
Event/Program Planning
…Evaluation
…Event Planning Worksheet
…Final Action Plan
…Needs Assessment Worksheet
…Service Provider/Speakers/Program Participants Check List
Facsimile Consent Form
Photography Release
Volunteer Tally Sheet