What is a PA/PTA?
Parent Associations (PAs) are the main way for parents to get involved in their children’s schools. Parent Associations are school-based organizations open to all parents, foster parents, and legally appointed guardians of children currently attending a New York City public school.
If a PA decides to include teachers, parent members can elect to become a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).
Every PA/PTA should be representative of the parents within its school. This includes parents of special education students and English language learners, as well as students who are eligible for Title I, gifted and talented services, and magnet programs.
PA/PTAs’ roles in schools:
The PA/PTA helps parents become involved in their children’s education, share ideas, and enrich their school communities. While the specific roles of PA/PTAs vary, among their responsibilities are electing parent members to serve on School Leadership Teams and Community Education Councils, conducting outreach to get other parents involved in school life, and supporting school activities like Parent-Teacher Conferences, open houses, curriculum nights and District Family Day events. Each PA develops its own bylaws, elects officers, and holds regular meetings.
How do I join my school’s PA/PTA?
All parents are automatically members of their school’s PA/PTA.
Under State Education Law, Section 2590, every New York City public school is required to form a Parent Association. All PA/PTA bylaws must comply with the current Chancellor’s Regulation A-660.
Forms and Templates
Meeting Notices:
Version One
Version Two
Meeting notice must be sent home 10 school days prior to the date of the meeting.
Bylaws Template:
Bylaws Template
Bylaws must be reviewed every 3 years and whenever CR A- 660 is revised.
The PA Bylaws Template is in compliance with CR A-660.
OFIA recommends that PAs adopt this template. Any and all amendments or alterations to these templates must comply with CR A-660.
Other Languages:
Arabic Bengali Chinese Haitian Creole Korean Russian Spanish Urdu
Ballot Template:
Ballot Template Ballot Template - Write-In
Other Languages:
Ballot Template_Chinese Ballot Template_Spanish Ballot Template_Arabic
Ballot Template_Russian Ballot Template_Bengali Ballot Template_Haitian Creole
Ballot Template_Urdu
Ballot Tally Sheet:
Ballot Tally Sheet
PA Election Guide:
Parent Association Election Guide
Other Languages:
Chinese Spanish Arabic Bengali French Haitian Creole
Korean Russian Urdu
PA Election Certification:
PA Election Certification Form
Financial Record Keeping:
Financial Parent Association Training
Proposed Budget Form
Fundraising Activity Report
Interim PA Financial Report
Annual PA Financial Report
PA Guide to Conducting Raffles
June Transfer of Records Guide
EIN (Employee Identification Number)
Below is infor from Chancellors Regs about PAs getting their own EINs.
Phone number is included.
TAX EXEMPT EXPENDITURES
Below is info from Chancellors Regs about PAs getting their own New York State Tax Exempt Number. Phone number is included.
