PTA is part of the fabric of the United States’ public-education system and a trusted partner to millions of parents, families, educators and community members, as it advocates for education, health and well-being of all children. PTA has been instrumental in establishing programs and services to improve children’s lives.
- Student and School Success — All students should receive a world-class education that prepares them for long-term success in college and careers. PTA programs like Take Your Family to School Week, Family Reading Experience and School of Excellence empower families to be engaged in their children’s education and support their learning, which makes a difference for student success and school improvement.
- Health and Safety — Every child should have a healthy and safe place to live, learn and thrive. PTA provides tools and resources—such as our Connect for Respect initiative—that help students, parents and schools work together to create a positive school climate.
- Arts and Culture — Every child should receive a well-rounded education with access to arts and cultural opportunities. PTA celebrates and raises awareness about the importance of arts education and provides all students the opportunity to explore and be involved in the arts through our annual Reflections program.
- Advocacy — All families should be at the table and empowered to advocate for their own and every child. PTA’s policy agenda, advocacy toolkit and state and national trainings make it easy for every parent to make a difference.
For more than 100 years, National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA®) has worked toward bettering the lives of every child in education, health and safety. Founded in 1897 as the National Congress of Mothers by Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst, National PTA is a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education.
Our founders represented women of imagination and courage. They had a simple idea—to improve the lives and future of all children. They understood the power of individual action, worked beyond the accepted barriers of their day, and took action to change the world for all children. On Feb., 17, 1897, more than 2,000 people—mostly mothers, but also fathers, teachers, laborers and legislators—attended the first convocation of the National Congress of Mothers in Washington, D.C. In 1908, the organization changed its name to the National Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Associations. In 1970, the National Congress of Parents and Teachers (National PTA) and the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers (NCCPT)—founded by Selena Sloan Butler in Atlanta, Ga.—merged to serve all children.
Today’s PTA is a network of millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools.
As the largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the nation, National PTA is the conscience of the country for children and youth issues. Through advocacy, as well as family and community education, National PTA has established programs and called for legislation that improves our children’s lives, such as:
- Creation of Kindergarten classes
- Child labor laws
- Public health service
- Hot and healthy lunch programs
- Juvenile justice system
- Mandatory immunization
- Arts in Education
- School Safety
Florida’s first local unit PTA was chartered in 1921 in Jacksonville, Florida. In just two years Florida had enough local PTA units to establish a state association. Since 1923 Florida PTA has supported millions of parents and families through its members, coalitions and partnerships and has a history of landmark advocacy. Florida PTA continues to focus on social and educational programs that inspire an importance on family engagement in all schools and communities.
Recently, Florida PTA has been a force for change in bringing light to funding issues and ensuring that family engagement and community voice have a place at the table where funding decisions are made. PTA is building ways to ensure that family engagement is never overlooked and is providing training on its importance in and out of the classroom.
Florida PTA has made a profound difference in the lives of all children and families. Among the more the more recent issues that Florida PTA has taken on:
- Prescription and Over the Counter Drug Abuse (2008)
- Child Trafficking (2009)
- Alcoholic Energy Drinks (2009)
- Social Host Accountability (2009)
- Educational Opportunity for Military Children (2009)
- Sexting: Legal Consequences (2011)
- Head Injury Reporting (2011)
- Improved Infrastructure Around Schools (2012)
- Support of Health and Wellness to Reduce Childhood Obesity Policy (2013)
- Voucher Funded School Accountability (2003) (2013)
- Preventing Solicitation of Adult Products to Minors (2015)
- Restraint & Seclusion (2015)
- Response to Sexual Harassment & Sexual Violence in Schools (2015)
- Healthy Sleep for Teens (2016)
- Mental Health Support in Schools (2017)
- Promoting Civil Citations as an Alternate to Youth Arrest (2017)
- Testing in Native Language (2018)
- Educational Implications of Dyslexia and Other SLDs (2018)
- Career and Technical Education (2019)
- Banning Therapies Directed at Sexual Orientation Conversions (2019)
Join PTA and help us keep moving forward! Together we will continue to be
- powerful voice for all children;
- relevant resource for parents; and
- strong advocate for public education.
With more than 275,000 members throughout Florida, we’re carrying our founders’ vision – and our children’s lives — into the future.
PTA is the premier legacy association for children, families, and education. PTA is invested in the whole child and advocates on their behalf. Florida PTA reaches millions of parents and families through members, coalitions and partnerships and has a history of landmark advocacy. PTA focuses on social and educational programs that inspire an importance on family engagement in all schools and communities.