Washington Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

"Founded in 1905, the Washington Congress of Parents and Teachers, better known as the Washington State PTA, is the largest volunteer organization in the state, with more than 140,000 members in more than 900 local units across the state. Our vision is that every child's potential becomes a reality. PTA is a powerful voice for children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and an advocate for the well-being and education of all children. When you join your local PTA or PTSA, you become part of our state association and the larger National PTA. Your voice joins tens of thousands across Washington and millions across the United States as advocates for children. Washington State PTA today is a vibrant active association of people from all walks of life and all backgrounds, working together toward a common vision that every child’s potential should become a reality. Our efforts toward that effort include the following: the Reflections Program that gives thousands of children each year the opportunity to express themselves through the arts; the Scholarship Program that provides approximately $60,000 in financial support for graduating seniors from Washington schools during their first-year of post-high school education; a statewide essay contest open to all children in the state; leadership training for thousands of local PTA leaders each year, training that helps them address the nuts and bolts of their PTA responsibilities, but also prepares them to assume greater leadership roles in their communities and the state; a strong voice advocating for children at the local and state level through a combination of grass roots advocacy and a full-time staff to coordinate those efforts and represent the Association in Olympia; outreach efforts at the local and state level to ensure our membership reflects the rich diversity of the children on whose behalf we advocate; an online compendium of resources for parents.

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