Why Choose PTA?
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PTA is the oldest and largest child advocacy association in America. PTA is comprised of four million parents, teachers, grandparents, caregivers, foster parents and other caring adults who share a commitment to improving the education, health, and safety of all children. We speak with one voice for every child.
Today, the issues that affect our children extend beyond their individual schools. PTA’s nationwide network provides parents with the forum and tools to collectively influence the decisions that affect children not only at their schools, but also throughout their districts, within their states, and across the nation. This mission is unique to PTA.
Many of the benefits our children receive today, such as universal kindergarten, the National School Lunch Program, and a juvenile justice system, were accomplished as a result of PTA’s mission.
Click here to see the amazing things that PTA has accomplished in New Mexico.
Looking to Become a PTA?
Whether you are switching over your existing unaffiliated parent organization or starting from scratch, we can help you establish a Parent Teacher Association (PTA) or Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) in your community!
- If you haven’t already, please read through the New Mexico PTA “Why Choose PTA?” page. https://www.newmexicopta.org/why-choose-pta/ You’ll want to take pertinent information from this page to meet with your administration. Express your interest in becoming a PTA to vp.membership@newmexicopta.org.
- Host an informational meeting for your school community to share the benefits of starting a PTA, gauge interest, and engage potential volunteers and leaders. You may request a New Mexico PTA Board member to attend this meeting. If there is sufficient interest, share the New Mexico PTA MemberHub Store URL for community members to pay dues before the next meeting. https://nmpta.memberhub.com/store# If you have members wanting to pay by check, the checks should be made out to New Mexico PTA, have your new PTA’s name in the memo, and be mailed to PO Box 14706 Albuquerque NM 87191. Dues for new PTAs are $6 per person per year. Your PTA may vote to change this amount effective July 1 after chartering.
- Hold a meeting to charter your PTA (officially vote to become a PTA), elect officers, and approve three check signers for your bank account. Those who have paid dues may vote. Contact vp.membership@newmexicopta.org to obtain a list of paid members. You must have at least four officers to organize your PTA: president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Your officers and your check signers must be paid members of your PTA. You may request a New Mexico PTA Board member to attend this meeting.
- Submit the Application for Local PTA Charter Membership to New Mexico PTA via email at vp.membership@newmexicopta.org. Attach the meeting minutes where your members voted to charter.
- Once New Mexico PTA receives this form, we will secure an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS for your PTA. This number allows your PTA to make tax-free purchases. New Mexico PTA will register your new Local PTA with National PTA and issue you a Local PTA ID # that will be used on your membership cards and other PTA forms and applications. NMPTA will also generate a MemberHub account for your PTA. After chartering, MemberHub will be the method of submission for membership and compliance documents. NMPTA will also issue a check to your PTA for the members that have paid dues.
- Once NMPTA has provided you with your EIN, open a bank account for your PTA. Take minutes from your organizational meeting showing the names of those approved to be check signers.
- Submit membership dues via your MemberHub account for all of the members of your PTA (including those that paid to vote at your charter meeting and any new ones obtained since then). Submit a membership approved budget, a draft of your proposed bylaws, and officer e-learning certificates prior to the annual submission deadlines or within 90 days of receiving your Local PTA ID#, if it is received after the annual submission deadlines. (Please note that the audit submission and proof of 990 filing requirement are waived for newly chartered PTAs in their first year.) Insurance should be purchased within 120 days of charter.
- Contact bylaws@newmexicopta.org for the Bylaws Template, flow chart, and to answer any questions.
Thank you for your interest in starting a new PTA in your school community. We appreciate your willingness to step up and work through the chartering process. Please don’t hesitate to reach out via email at vp.membership@newmexicopta.org if you have any questions as you begin your PTA journey!