How School Parent Groups Spend Money
Many leaders cited school budget cuts as a reason they felt pressured to do more."
WRENTHAM, Mass. (PRWEB) April 18, 2018
PTOs and PTAs make major contributions to schools through fundraising and volunteer support, but leaders of many school parent groups feel pressure to contribute even more, according to a fall 2017 survey by PTO Today.
“Many leaders cited school budget cuts as a reason they felt pressured to do more,” said Bret Thomas, publisher of PTO Today. “Leaders told us that their PTOs and PTAs are trying to pay for items that used to be in school budgets, and volunteers are taking on tasks formerly handled by paid staff members.”
More than 83,000 school parent groups support K-8 schools in the United States. Parent groups go by many names—PTO, PTA, HSA, PTC, and PCC, to name a few. While the groups vary in size and scope, they share the common goal of supporting schools so students can be more successful.
Leaders from 1,274 schools responded to the survey, which asked about their parent group’s plans for the 2017-18 school year. PTO Today has conducted the survey every two years since 2011.
Most of the groups surveyed have budgets of $15,000 or less per year and have 20 or fewer regular volunteers. School parent groups prioritize spending in these areas:
- Student enrichment
- School equipment or renovations
- Technology purchases
- Teaching aids and classroom supplies
- Family events
- Teacher and staff appreciation
For more information about this survey or parent involvement in schools, contact us at 800-644-3561 ext. 242, or bthomas@ptotoday.com.
About PTO Today
PTO Today is an essential resource for leaders of parent groups (often called parent-teacher organizations) at elementary and middle schools across the United States. PTO Today is a property of School Family Media, Inc., a media and marketing company that engages PTO and PTA leaders, volunteers, teachers, and parents with unique tools, programs, and resources that help both schools and students succeed.
