Connecting and Supporting Parent Organizations in NYC Public Schools

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    • Parent Leadership
      • DOE Leadership Structures
      • Parent Advocacy
    • Running a PA/PTA
      • PA/PTA Overview
      • Bylaws, Chancellor's Regulations, and other Laws
      • Executive Board: Officers, Elections, and Transition
      • Working with the School Administration & DOE
      • Parent Members: Committees, Volunteerism, and Advocacy
      • Financial Affairs
      • Communication and Meetings
      • Not-for-Profit & Tax Exempt Status
    • Planning Events
      • Community Building
      • Curriculum Based/Classroom
      • Philanthropy
      • School Gardens
      • Health and Wellness
      • Parent Education
      • Arts Enrichment
      • College and Career Readiness
    • Fundraising
      • Sales & Product Fundraisers
      • Grants
      • Auctions & Galas
      • Online Campaigns
      • Earning through Shopping
      • Flea/City Markets
      • Participatory Budgeting
      • Donation Requests
      • Raffles
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    100 results:

    Category

    Running a PA/PTA

    Each public school in NYC is required to have a PA/PTA, a parent-led organization. PA/PTAs are made up of an executive board, general members, and committees. They are governed by multiple regulations...

    Category

    Earning through Shopping

    There are a number of ways that your PA/PTA can earn money through parents' regular shopping. Giving through shopping is free and generally easy—just register your PA/PTA and spread the word to your s...

    Category

    Parent Leadership

    Anyone with a child in a NYC public school -- parents, foster parents, guardians, step-parents, persons in parental relation -- can be a parent leader. Parent leaders: volunteer in schools (not just i...

    Category

    Donation Requests

    PA/PTAs often raise money through direct asks -- the Annual or Direct Appeal is, for many, the largest fundraising event of the year, while others rely on dues. Matching Gift programs allow parents to...

    Category

    Raffles

    Chancellor’s Regulation A-660 (CR A-660) allows PA/PTAs that have been in existence for at least three years to hold raffles for fundraising purposes. A PA/PTA or Presidents’ Council in existence for ...

    Category

    Parent Members: Committees, Volunteerism, and Advocacy

    While the executive board serves as the PA/PTA's administration, all parents make up the PA/PTA and are responsible for its success. Parents can support their schools by joining committees; volunteeri...

    Category

    Bylaws, Chancellor's Regulations, and other Laws

    Each New York City public school PA/PTA must comply with the NYC Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor's Regulations as well as its own bylaws. If your PA/PTA is incorporated as a not-for-profit in...

    Category

    College and Career Readiness

    PA/PTAs can provide parents and students with programs and access to information for life outside of school. Some hold weekend events that showcase camps and other opportunities for summer enrichment....

    Category

    Not-for-Profit & Tax Exempt Status

    Generally, it is useful for PA/PTAs to incorporate as not-for-profit organizations and obtain tax exempt status, but doing so might not be necessary for every NYC public school PA/PTA. This section is...

    Category

    Communication and Meetings

    To a large extent, PA/PTA affairs are managed through a combination of meetings of the general membership, executive board meetings, and committee meetings. CR A-660 allows general membership and exec...

    Category

    Working with the School Administration & DOE

    While PA/PTAs are self-governing organizations, they are required to work with the school administration and certain DOE offices in a number instances per the CR A-660. Apart from compliance with the ...

    Category

    Financial Affairs

    A PA/PTA’s funds are separate and independent from those of the school, and PA/PTAs are responsible for their own financial affairs. Managing these affairs is the responsibility of the executive board...

    Category

    PA/PTA Overview

    A Parent Association (PA) or Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is the official organization of the parent body in a school. Every New York City public school is required by the New York State Education...

    Category

    Executive Board: Officers, Elections, and Transition

    The executive board is your PA/PTA’s administration — it runs your PA/PTA. It should function also as a representative of the entire parent body, which is important to keep in mind when defining its c...

    Category

    Arts Enrichment

    While budget cuts have thwarted many schools' ability to provide arts programs in schools, many PA/PTAs are helping bring arts enrichment to the students, either through grants or funds they have rais...

    Category

    Online Campaigns

    PA/PTAs, student groups, and teachers turn to the internet for a variety of fundraising activities — from benefit auctions to crowdfunding for classroom projects. Crowdfunding, which allows groups to ...

    Category

    Planning Events

    PA/PTAs can enrich their schools by running a wide variety of programs, activities, and events for students, parents, and the school community. For example, PA/PTAs can: plan community-building cele...

    Category

    Flea/City Markets

    The Department of Education allows PA/PTAs to run flea markets and City markets on school property in order to raise money for the schools. For schools with appropriate space, markets can be significa...

    Category

    Auctions & Galas

    For many schools, the auction is the year’s biggest fundraiser. It is often turned into a gala, an adult-night-out which includes dinner, a dance party, and live and/or silent auctions. These events r...

    Category

    Grants

    Grants can be a significant source of funding for PA/PTAs, particularly for special projects or certain programs. They require a plan for how the funds will be spent, and someone to put that and other...

    Category

    Sales & Product Fundraisers

    While fundraising often is thought of in terms of donations of money, many PA/PTAs hold sales – also called product fundraisers – to raise money....

    Category

    Parent Education

    Parent education can take many forms, depending on the needs of your families. Some PA/PTAs host workshops on topics such as internet safety, bullying, and issues related to raising teens. Others focu...

    Category

    Health and Wellness

    Over the years, many PA/PTAs have started programs to support healthy living. They hold run curricula-based wellness program, organize health and fitness events, and become involved with the food offe...

    Category

    School Gardens

    Some PA/PTAs have built school gardens to help improve school lunches, advance environmental literacy, bring children outside, provide green space at urban schools, and introduce young people to fresh...

    Category

    Philanthropy

    Activities and events designed to provide resources to individuals and communities in need can also can educate students about social issues and help bring the school community together. Although CR A...

    Category

    Curriculum Based/Classroom

    Curriculum based activities and events can spur students' interest in particular areas of the school’s curriculum, help familiarize families with different aspects of it, and provide an opportunity fo...

    Category

    Community Building

    Community building is for PA/PTAs, whose function, in part, is to make families feel welcome and comfortable in their children’s schools. Additionally, the more unified the parent body, the better it ...

    Category

    Parent Advocacy

    Parent organizations are excellent vehicles to support parent advocacy. For example, PA/PTAs in some NYC public schools play a significant role in helping parents advocate for mandated and needed prog...

    Category

    DOE Leadership Structures

    Opportunities for parent leadership and advocacy exist within the NYC school system at the school, district, and citywide levels. These opportunities are meant to grant parents meaningful roles as par...

    Category

    Fundraising

    PA/PTAs are allowed to fundraise in order to enrich students' education -including for classroom materials, school-wide improvements, enrichment activities, after-school programs, and other student ne...

    Category

    Participatory Budgeting

    Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. In NYC Council Members choose to join Participatory Budgeting in New Yo...

    Homepage

    It’s true, this site doesn’t have a whole lot of content yet, but don’t worry. Our web developers have just installed the CMS, and they’re setting things up for the content editors this very moment. S...

    Resources

    P.S. 217 Legislative Breakfast Invitation

    Use the letter as a template for your school's event

    Events

    DOE's PA/PTA Executive Board Orientation Conference

    Join the DOE's Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) and others, including PTAlink, had a conference designed to help you plan and prepare for the school year.  Learn about the roles respon...

    Resources

    Parent Association Guide to Conducting Raffles

    Read this guidance for more information on the requirements of New York General Municipal Law and the regulations of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board applicable to the conduct of raffles. ...

    NY Times: "Anger of Principal Prompts Parents to Occupy an East Harlem School Over Night"

    Conflict between parents and the principal at an East Harlem school has escalated to the point where some parents said they would remain overnight at the school until the principal resigned.

    Events

    CEJ Rally for Culturally Relevant Education

    Join the rally and hear the Coalition for Educational Justice's (CEJ) vision for: In depth, on going anti-bias training for teachers, administrators, and all school staff. Recruitment ...

    Resources

    DOE's Education Council Resource Page

    This page includes links to to relevant regulations that impact the work of Education Councils and information on the roles and responsibilities of members.

    Resources

    Citywide and Community Education Councils' Current Members

    List from DOE's website

    Organizations

    NYC Opt Out

    NYC Opt Out is a coalition of families concerned about the impact of high-stakes testing on New York City’s schools, children, and teachers.

    Organizations

    Change the Stakes

    Change the Stakes a group of New York City parents and educators who believe that every child should have access to a great public education but are concerned about the impact of high stakes-testing. ...

    Articles

    Donate

    Your contribution will make it possible for us to expand the website and the services we provide to New York City public school parent organizations. PTAlink is a project of New York Appleseed, Inc. a...

    Resources

    INCLUDEnyc Parent Advocacy Resources

    A thorough list of resources to help parents advocate for their children

    Elissa Stein


    Articles

    Parent Engagement Basics

    Here are a tips that our presidents found useful for engaging parent members in the PA/PTA: Communication, Communication, Communication – use different methods (email, website, flyers, backpacked note...

    Articles

    Legislative Breakfast - P.S. 217K

    Inviting a politician to meet with you outside of his/her office is a great way to guarantee that you have his/her full, undivided attention. Inviting a group of politicians is even better. For the pa...

    Events

    Running PA/PTA Elections Workshop - District 29

    Presented by experienced parent leaders from PTAlinkLearn how the revisions to Chancellor’s Regulation A-660 impact the PA/PTA Election ProcessDiscuss best practices for forming a nominating committee...

    Resources

    Hybrid Meeting Guidance

    DOE Guidance to Conducting a a hybrid meeting in accordance with amended Chancellor's Regulation A-660 (Dec 2021)

    Resources

    Debit Card Disbursement Form

    Use this form for debit card disbursements. The form is translated into several different languages in the resource folder on FACE's website.

    Articles

    Hiring Staff

    Chancellor’s Regulation A-660 permits PA/PTAs to use funds to hire staff either indirectly by donating money to schools or directly; however, its rules governing PA/PTAs’ hiring of staff are detailed ...

    Articles

    Local Business Solicitation

    Many PA/PTAs ask local businesses to make donations -- food, services, or money -- to the school's PA/PTA for specific events and/or pledge sponsorships. For instance, a local pizzeria might be willin...

    Organizations

    The Alliance for School Integration and Desegregation (ASID)

    ASID is a collaboration between New York Appleseed and the NYU Metro Center. It is comprised of stakeholders from all across the city, focused on the integration and desegregation of NYC schools. ASID...

    Events

    CCHS/NYC High School Presidents' Councils Joint Meeting

    The CCHS Outreach Committee is hosting a joint meeting with the NYC High School Presidents’ Councils from all five boroughs. RSVP below.

    Organizations

    Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP)

    The Participatory Budgeting Project (PBP) is a nonprofit organization that empowers people to decide together how to spend public money, primarily in the US and Canada. PBP creates and supports partic...

    Resources

    PTO Today

    Tips for Using Social Media

    Articles

    Participatory Budgeting

    Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget.  In NYC Council Members choose to join Participatory Budgeting New York...

    Articles

    Standardized Testing

    Each spring, public school students in 3rd through 8th grade take state tests in English and math; 4th and 8th graders take a science test as well. These tests were introduced in the mid-2000s in orde...

    Tracy Tullis


    Articles

    Marta Torres - District 16

    Where did you grow up and what schools did you attend? I grew up in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and went to District 16 public schools. I attended PS 26, where my mom was PTA president when I was a c...

    NY Times: "A PTA Gift For Someone Else's Child? A Touchy Subject in CA"

    Several years, the Santa Monica-Malibu school board came up with a solution to PTA inequality: pooling the gains from PTA fundraising across the district and distributing the funds equally among all s...

    Events

    Running PA/PTA Elections--Citywide Workshop

    Presented by FACE and PTAlinkLearn how the revisions to Chancellor’s Regulation A-660 impact the PA/PTA Election ProcessDiscuss best practices for selecting candidates, verifying eligibility, running ...

    Resources

    DOE's PA/PTA Election Guide


    "Hidden Money The Outsized Role of Parent Contributions in School Finance"

    This report by the Center for American Progress discusses the impact PTA-supported school funding, particularly what it means for disadvantaged students.

    Resources

    Taproot+

    Taproot+, a program of the Taproot Foundation, is an online matchmaking platform that connects nonprofits with professionals skilled in information technology (as well as marketing, IT, HR, business s...

    Resources

    Spokal

    "We Created a Site in Wix, Weebly, Squarespace & WordPress – See How Each Stacks Up" compares the four website creation tools listed in the title.

    Resources

    CodeinWP

    This blog piece, "Wix vs SquareSpace vs Virb vs Weebly vs Jimdo vs WordPress Theme Builders" examines the differences between the referenced website building tools.

    Resources

    Make a Website Hub

    The article, "Weebly vs Wix vs SquareSpace vs WordPress" discusses the pros and cons of each of the four web building platforms.

    Resources

    Make a Websitehub.com

    This article, "Weeblyl vs Wix vs SquareSpace vs WordPress" discusses the pros and cons of each of the web building platforms.

    Resources

    The Website Builder Expert

    This article, entitled, "Wix vs Weebly vs Squarepace vs Jimdo - Top 3 Pros & Cons in 2017" gives insight into the attributes of each web-builder.

    ioby bog: Fundraising if you're not a 501(c)(3)

    Read ioby's piece on how organizations that are not 501(c)(3)s can raise funds through crowdfunding. 

    November Newsletter

    Read our latest newsletter.

    Events

    UFT Staten Island Parent Conference

    Staten Island parents, grandparents, guardians and education activists are invited to the UFT Staten Island parent conference. There will be workshops, food, and the chance to network with fellow pare...

    Events

    UFT Queens Parent Conference

    Join parents, guardians, grandparents and neighbors for a free, fun-filled day of informative workshops, networking, exhibitors and giveaways. Registration is required. Mail-in registration brochures ...

    Events

    UFT Bronx Parent Summit

    Join parents, guardians, grandparents, and educators for a day filled with workshops, exhibitors, giveaways, and networking. FREE.

    Events

    UFT Manhattan Parent Conference

    Join parents, guardians, grandparents, and educators for a day of workshops, networking, exhibitors, a Scholarship Fair, and giveaways. FREE.

    Events

    First Book Brooklyn Book Giveaway

    The UFT will be passing out 40,000 free books to Brooklyn families and educators. Parents may take 15 books home for their families. The books are available on a first-come, first-served basis,...

    Events

    Running PA/PTA Elections Workshop - District 30

    Presented by experienced parent leaders from PTAlinkLearn how the revisions to Chancellor’s Regulation A-660 impact the PA/PTA Election ProcessDiscuss best practices for forming a nominating committee...

    Events

    Citywide Council on Special Education Meeting

    ASK THE EXPERTS Speak one-on-one to someone about: Preschool Special Education, Kindergarten Special Education Related Services, Busing IEPs, Advocacy NEST, ACES and Horizon Programs.Translation ...

    Articles

    A Glimpse into the PTO at P.S. 282K

    A conversation with Andrew Marshall, Una LaMarche, and Steve Hamill, co-presidents and vice president of PS 282’s Parent Teacher Organization Becoming Involved with the PTO Executive Board Andrew: My ...

    Highlights from CPAC's August Meeting

    Read about the highlights and takeaways from the latest Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council (CPAC) meeting.

    Events

    INCLUDEnyc Workshop: The Individualized Education Program (IEP)

    How to read your child's IEP, understand the sections, and learn where to find recommendations and important information. Bring your child's IEP.English (Chinese interpretation will be available upon ...

    Fundraising Ideas from the author of "Beyond the Bake Sale"

    This piece on PTOToday profiles Beyond the Bake Sale: The Ultimate School Fundraising Book author Jean Joachim, and offers fundraising ideas from the book.

    Events

    Brooklyn PTA 5K Run for Schools

    For ten years, the PTA 5K Fun Run has brought together hundreds of parents, teachers, and students from scores of Brooklyn schools and beyond to run/walk/stroll/toddle 5-kilometers through Prospect Pa...

    New PA/PTA Bylaws Template

    The DOE recently issued its updated PA/PTA Bylaws Template. If your PA/PTA does not have bylaws or needs to revise theirs, the template is a good place to start. It's also available in other languages...

    Resources

    DOE's PA/PTA Bylaws Template


    Events

    Running PA/PTA Elections Workshop - District 31

    Presented by experienced parent leaders from PTAlinkLearn how the revisions to Chancellor’s Regulation A-660 impact the PA/PTA Election ProcessDiscuss best practices for forming a nominating committee...

    Events

    Running PA/PTA Elections Workshop - District 16

    Presented by experienced parent leaders from PTAlinkLearn how the revisions to Chancellor’s Regulation A-660 impact the PA/PTA Election ProcessDiscuss best practices for forming a nominating committee...

    Events

    Running PA/PTA Elections Workshop - District 5

    Presented by experienced parent leaders from PTAlinkLearn how the revisions to Chancellor’s Regulation A-660 impact the PA/PTA Election ProcessDiscuss best practices for forming a nominating committee...

    Events

    Running PA/PTA Elections Workshop - Tweed Courthouse

    Presented by experienced parent leaders from PTAlinkLearn how the revisions to Chancellor’s Regulation A-660 impact the PA/PTA Election ProcessDiscuss best practices for forming a nominating committee...

    Articles

    PA/PTA Facebook Group Sample Guidelines

    Some PA/PTAs decide to use social media to communicate with their school community online. Since any form of communication should reach as many parents as possible, it's a good idea to survey parents ...

    Chancellor's Regulation A-660 has been revised

    PA/PTA leaders should review the new CR A-660 to make sure they understand their PA/PTA's rights and the organization's practices are in compliance. The PDF contains a summary of the changes.

    New York City Public School System Will Get a New Leader

    Carmen Farina is stepping down at Chancellor of NYC public schools.

    Articles

    Family Education Events - P.S. 73X

    At P.S. 73, while chair of the Title I Committee and PTA President, I worked to improve the effectiveness of how we spent our Title I funds and to increase collaboration between the administration, te...

    Resources

    Sample Flyer

    Heritage Day

    Resources

    Event Planning Document

    Heritage Day

    Organizations

    NYLPI's Environmental Justice and Community Development Program

    Find information on the program's efforts to remove toxic PCB light fixtures in NYC public schools and its work with parent associations and community groups fighting the building of schools on toxic ...

    Articles

    Is Your School Renovation Safe?

    In 2012, we were excited when we heard that the City was going to repair leaks in P.S. 29’s roof and walls and get rid of mold in our classrooms. We also had questions about how to protect our kids’ h...

    Organizations

    AFC's Immigrant Students' Rights Project

    Advocates for Children's Immigrant Students' Rights Project provides support to immigrant student and parents by representing them in school administrative hearings, helping parents enroll their child...

    Organizations

    NYLPI's Disability Rights Program

    NYLPI’s Education Program protects and promotes the educational rights of students with disabilities in New York City. Its attorneys and advocates use a variety of approaches to ensure that students w...

    Resources

    NYLPI's DIsability RIghts Program

    Program protects and promotes the educational rights of students with disabilities in New York City. NYLPI's attorneys and advocates use a variety of approaches to ensure that students with disabiliti...

    Resources

    NYLPI's DIsability RIghts Program

    Program protects and promotes the educational rights of students with disabilities in New York City. NYLPI's attorneys and advocates use a variety of approaches to ensure that students with disabiliti...

    Articles

    Building a Network for Parents of Children with IEPs & Special Needs

    I am the mother of 3 children, two of them school age. One of them has an IEP. I know, first-hand, the difficulties that parents of children with special needs have navigating the school system. When ...

    Organizations

    PiggyBackr

    Piggybackr is a crowdfunding website designed specifically for young people — it’s like Kickstarter for kids –although it can be used by adults as well. Older children (13 and above) can use the site ...

    Organizations

    ioby

    ioby is a nation-wide nonprofit crowdfunding platform for projects that make communities greener, stronger, healthier and more fun. ioby believes that it should be easy to make meaningful change “in o...

    Organizations

    DonorsChoose

    DonorsChoose is nonprofit organization that allows public school teachers to raise money for classroom projects through donations from individuals. Public school teachers post classroom project reques...

    Resources

    PS 217 School Food Cover Letter


    Resources

    Grandparents Recruitment Form

    Heritage Day

    Resources

    PS 217 School Food Petition


    Organizations

    Community Food Advocates

    Community Food Advocates' (CFA) focus includes NYC's School Breakfast and Lunch Programs in public schools, and seeks innovative ways to increase participation in these programs through community and ...

    Resources

    P.S. 3M Website

    The list, as well as descriptions, of the P.S. 3 PTA's committees

    Articles

    Sample Treasurer's Checklist

    This treasurer’s checklist is consistent with the requirements contained in CR A-660 but is intended only as a general guide. As the role of the treasurer differs among PA/PTAs, the timeline should be...

    Resources

    DOE's PA/PTA Proposed Budget Form

    This report must be filed with the principal by the June PA/PTA meeting

    Resources

    Arts & Letters Committees Letter to Parents

    Description of types of committees that comprise the PA

    Articles

    Rummage Sale and Event - P.S. 29K

    Twice each year, in the Spring and the Fall, P.S. 29 school in Brooklyn hosts a Rummage and Recycling Event for our community where we collect e­waste and textiles. People come from all over the city ...

    Articles

    Barnes & Noble Book Fairs

    A book fair at your local Barnes & Noble store can be a relatively easy way to earn money for your school. Barnes & Noble representatives do much of the work involved in hosting the book fair ...

    Articles

    A PA/PTA President's Tips: 10 Things to Remember

    The principal is the school leader. He/she was probably at the school before you arrived and will most likely be there after you leave. Create a strong partnership with your principal but remember to ...

    Resources

    IRS Publication 1771

    IRS Substantiation and Disclosure Requirements

    Jeremy Greensmith - PS 321K teacher and La Guardia High School parent


    Michele Israel


    Resources

    Sample Country Organizer Packet

    Heritage Day

    Resources

    Audition Sign-up/Permission Slip

    Talent Show

    Events

    "Building a Better PA/PTA" Workshop: Grant Writing for PA/PTAs

    Please join PTAlink and the Brooklyn Borough President's Office for our next "Building a Better PA/PTA" leadership workshop. We’re excited to partner with Tracy Kauffman from Candid to bring you this ...

    Organizations

    Amazon Smile Program

    Amazon Smile, another Amazon fundraising program, is aimed more specifically at nonprofit fundraising than Amazon Associates, but it donates a smaller portion of the purchase (.5 percent).

    Resources

    DOE's School Leadership Team Resource Page

    This page includes links to the DOE's SLT Bylaws Template and the SLT Toolkit.

    Articles

    SLT FAQs

    Roles and Responsibilities of SLT Members What are the responsibilities of members of a school’s SLT? Mandatory members of the SLT include: The school principal, PA/PTA president or designated PA/PTA ...

    Lisa Donlan


    Organizations

    IntegrateNYC

    IntegrateNYC is a student-organizing initiative with opportunities for students, parents, and teachers to become involved in countering the harmful effects of segregation. In some cases, IntegrateNYC ...

    Organizations

    National Coalition on School Diversity

    The National Coalition on School Diversity (NCSD) is a network of national civil rights organizations, university-based research centers, and state and local coalitions working to expand support for g...

    District 3's Presidents' Council


    Organizations

    United Federation of Teachers

    The UFT’s work is not confined to supporting teachers; it also conducts outreach to parents and other community members. In addition, it offers support to parents in every borough through parent and c...

    Organizations

    NYC Coalition for Educational Justice (CEJ)

    Led by parents, CEJ is a collaborative of community-based organizations and unions whose members include culturally diverse parents, community members, students and educators. By mobilizing parents an...

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