Bachrodt Academy PTA in San Jose (San Jose Council PTA, Sixth District PTA) is planning for a great school year!

Helpful tips for running your PTA

Check out these eight tips for a successful PTA year!

• Promote teamwork - It's a powerful tool that will enhance your success as a PTA.  Learn strategies to be a successful team leader.

• Set goals, develop ground rules and practice delegation. 

• Run effective meetings - Understand the different types of PTA meetings.  Find out how to make your meetings more effective.  Use our sample PTA agenda to create your own meeting agenda. Make the most of your association meetings.

• Your principal is a member of your executive board and should be part of your meetings.

• Prepare for the first association meeting - Be sure to have the year-end financial report and year-end audit ready for review and adoption by the association.  A treasurer's report covering the period since the last association meeting should also be presented. Make efforts to ensure that you always have a quorum at your meetings and can accomplish the tasks at hand.

• Create a plan to retain records and keep your procedure book up-to-date. If you did not receive a procedure book, now is a great time to create one!

• Know and use your PTA bylaws - Bylaws play an essential role in your PTA.  Use California State PTA's e-Bylaws to update your bylaws easily.

• Understand the PTA insurance as you plan programs and events - Be sure your entire board understands insurance requirements and restrictions.  Check the Insurance and Loss Prevention Guide, a resource that new presidents should have received from their predecessor or contact capta@BBandT.com to obtain a copy..

It's scholarship and grant time!

California State PTA offers a variety of scholarships and grants to help your members and your PTA!

PTA GRANTS - The California State PTA Grant Program provides funding (on average $500-$2,000) in four categories for PTAs to develop, sponsor and implement model programs and projects for their communities. Application deadline: October 15. Download an application or apply online.

SCHOLARSHIPS - California State PTA offers a variety of Continuing Education Scholarships ($500) to assist PTA volunteers, credentialed classroom teachers and counselors, and school nurses in pursuing their education efforts at accredited colleges, universities, trade or technical schools. Application deadline: October 15. Learn more and share this information with your members.

Graduating High School Senior Scholarships are also available to recognize volunteer service by high school seniors in a school and community. This scholarship provides funds ($750)  for PTA members to register for courses at accredited colleges, universities, trade or technical schools. Application deadline: February 2, 2015.  Download an application (available in English and Spanish) or apply online.

Here's what our scholarship recipients are saying:

• "I'd like to thank you for selecting me as one of your scholarship recipients.  You have been such a blessing."        - L.P., West Covina

• "Words cannot express how thankful I am for this scholarship.  My dream has always been to go to college ... thank you so much for helping this dream become a reality."        - K.C., San Ramon

• "The investment that you made in my future is much appreciated.  I will be attending Johns Hopkins University in the fall ..."        - J.D., Glendale

New ideas to build membership

Looking for new ideas to increase PTA membership at your school?  Check out our new Membership Toolbox which includes these great ideas and resources:

• Membership timeline
• Membership theme ideas
• Ways to increase PTA membership
• Ways to encourage teachers to join PTA
• Ideas to build student membership and involvement

Reflections 2014-15
"The world would be a better place if ..."

Introducing Ed100.org

A PTA leader's dream is to have a room full of members who understand how education and schools work in California. 

That dream can come true by introducing your PTA members to Ed100.org.  It's a new website for leaders and parents created to demystify California's school system.  In 10 easy online lessons, PTA members can learn about California's education issues at their own pace and in their own space. 

Introduce your members to this great resource at your next meeting!

Get pinning!

If you have a Pinterest account, make sure to enter our Back-to-School Pin to Win contest!

Four winners will be randomly chosen for prizes valued at $100 each! The contest runs from August 15-30.

Learn more about the contest rules and get pinning today!

Congratulations!
National PTA School of Excellence recipients

Applause is in order for the following California schools:

• Henry W. Longfellow Elementary PTA, Thirty-Third District
• Monterey Highlands Elementary PTA, First District
• Park School Elementary PTA, Sixteenth District
• Stonebrae Elementary PTA, Peralta District

This is a time for all PTAs to celebrate our leadership role in building strong, effective family-school partnerships that work toward achieving our shared vision - to make every child's potential a reality.

Key PTA Deadlines

• October 15 — New deadline to apply for scholarships and grants.

• October 30 — Per capita for 30 members due to the state office to qualify for the  "Ready, Set...Remit Award."*

• November 1 —Reflections Art Program theme search entries due.

• November 1 — NEW DUE DATE! Draft resolutions due to the state PTA office. Learn more about the procedure for preparing PTA resolutions.

• November 15—Tax deadline for PTAs with a fiscal year ending June 30. Learn more about tax-filing requirements through California State PTA's Tax Filing Support Center.

• February 2 - Applications due for Graduating High School Senior Scholarships. Applications are typically due on February 1. Since due date falls on a Sunday in 2015, applications will be due February 2.

*Per capita is sent through channels to council and district PTAs before remittance to state PTA.