Why Students Should Join PTSA

GET INVOLVED – JOIN YOUR PTA/PTSA!

Offering Students an Opportunity to be Involved in their Education

The youth of today are genuinely interested in improving their communities and their education. PTSAs actually provide youth members with the opportunity to make a difference. Students develop leadership skills, learn about the legislative process, increase their self-esteem, and contribute to the school. In turn, adult members gain a new perspective for program development, as well as acquire a better understanding of the youth of today.

As a student, you know what’s happening in your school and you are uniquely qualified to determine how your education can be improved.

You can provide this important student perspective for PTA/PTSA ideas and programs. Instead of being spoken for, you can speak for yourself. After all, you are the reason there is an education system.

PTA/PTSA will provide you with an open forum for discussing students’ needs in the school. You’ll be expressing your views to people who share your concerns about education, including the teachers and school administrators who make final decisions.

You can make a difference in your community and school through involvement in PTA/PTSA programs that address issues such as school violence, bullies, cliques, alcohol and substance abuse, smoking, teenage sexuality and adolescent health concerns.

Membership in your local PTA/PTSA is your direct connection to the Virginia PTA and to a nationwide network of more than six million members in the National PTA, one of the largest child advocacy and volunteer organizations in the world. The National PTA is your voice in Washington, DC, just as the Virginia PTA serves your local interests in Richmond.

Learning means doing in PTA/PTSA. You can attend school board meetings with members of your unit, become an expert of issues of education and legislation and you can help gather community support for school board referendums and other legislation that is important to you and your school.

You will gain an understanding of public education and how it works, the operations of state and local governments and school boards as they affect schools. You will learn about the legislation process and its impact on school funding and services.

PTA/PTSA involvement can help you gain leadership skills such as goal setting and conflict resolution. You will learn how to run a meeting according to parliamentary procedures, strengthen your decision-making skills and be comfortable with public speaking.

PTA/PTSA is one of the few youth-focused organizations that actually gives its youth members equal opportunity, equal responsibility and an equal vote.

Your PTA/PTSA membership entitles students to the same rights and privileges as adult members. You can become a leader in your unit by serving as a chairperson of a committee.

Many of the contacts that you make in the community during your PTA/PTSA work may prove useful after you graduate (e.g. college recommendation letters and job prospects).

PTA/PTSA is an excellent way to meet people and to get involved in your school and in your education. You can make an impact on school policy or you will have a voice in determining the direction of your education.