Serving Tennessee's Children...Advocating for everychild.onevoice

Welcome to the Tennessee PTA website!

The Tennessee Congress of Parents and Teachers, a branch of  the National Congress of Parents and Teachers, is a non-profit  organization which seeks to unite the forces of home, school,  and community on behalf of children and youth.

The National PTA is a powerful voice for children, a relevant  resource for parents, and a strong advocate for public  education. The almost six million members of the National PTA  represent the oldest and the largest organization devoted to  child advocacy. Those individual voices, united in common  concern and common effort remain a formidable force in  securing what is best for the care and protection of children and youth.

The work of the Tennessee PTA is carried on through its council and local PTAs.  Each council and local unit is a self governing group, planning its programs and activities to meet the needs of the children and youth in the communities in which they serve.  However, the bylaws of each association must be approved by the State Bylaws Chairman, as they must conform to the policies of the National and Tennessee PTAs.

Charter History
The first Tennessee PTA President was Kate Campbell Robertson of  Jackson, TN, in 1911.

Mission

• To support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community, and before governmental agencies and other
  organizations that make decisions affecting children;
• To assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and
  protect their children; and
• To encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools
  of this nation.

Services

The Tennessee PTA serves its membership through the following methods:

• State Office in Nashville
• Annual Packet for each local unit and Council containing handbooks and membership cards
• Summer Leadership Training
• Tax Information
• Honoray State Life Membership Awards
• PTA jewelry and gift items
• Membership and other awards
• Membership card (initial and additional)
• The Tennessee PTA Newsletter
• Resources to aid charipersons
• Scholarship application for students
• Group of individual help by the leadership team
• Legislative Conference at the State Capitol
• Annual State Convention
• Region Conferences

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Facts

WHAT IS A LOCAL PTA/PTSA BOARD/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE?
The local PTA/PTSA board/executive committee takes action on matters that require attention between meetings.  It handles emergencies as they arise and carries on the specific functions assigned by the bylaws.  It can consist of its elected offices alone or elected officers and committee chairs.  The local unit is often a member of a council, which can serve as an organizing and coordinating body for all local units in the area.

DOES PTA RECOGNIZE "CO" PRESIDENTS/CHAIRMEN?
Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised does not recognize "co" officers.  Co-president or co-chairman implies two of equal rank.  However, this is not correct.  Only one may be recognized and may vote.  The second forfeits these rights.  Vice President or Vice Chairman is someone who serves in place of, and they hold a recognized office and have the privilege of vote.

WHAT IS QUORUM?
It is important to establish a quorum which can reasonably be depended on to be present at any general meeting.  The quorum should be a specific number rather than a percentage which might cause the quorum to be a different number at each meeting.  In a board of committee, the recommended quorum is one over half, which is a majority of the board or committee.

WHAT ARE BYLAWS?
Bylaws of the PTA/PTSA determine its structure and provide specific regulations by which its affairs are governed.  They protect the group from error and guide it to efficient service.  The bylaws define or explain the rules under which the PTA/PTSA functions.  A group, upon organization and before becoming a local unit of the Tennessee PTA, must adopt bylaws to meet its particular needs and submit two copies for approval to the Tennessee PTA Bylaws Chairman.  Upon approval, the chairman returns one copy to the local unit and sends the other copy to the State Office to be placed on file.

WHAT IS A LOCAL UNIT?
A PTA is a self-governing local units linked to the Tennessee PTA and the National PTA (and where applicable, a council PTA), the largest child advocacy group in the United States.  Through this linkage, the local unit is part of a nationwide network of adults working for all children and youth.  Local units provide parents, teachers, and community members the opportunity to unite to improve children's lives by addressing health, education, and social concerns.  Through its own plans, programs, and activities, the local unit strives to meet the needs of children and youth in its own community.

ABOUT OUR SERVICE MARK - PTA
In order to ensure proper and legitimate use of the phrase Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the National PTA has established the
following guidelines:     

1. When referring to the PTA in print, do not use periods to separate the letters.
2. The PTA should be referred to in capital letters at all times.
3. The PTA symbol is a registered service mark and may not be used by non-member organizations.

THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The future of your PTA/PTSA is in this committee's hands.  The members of the nominating committee are ELECTED not selected, and should have PTA knowledge and know the members within the PTA/PTSA.  The committee selects one nominee for each office to be filled.  Members of the nominating committee are not prohibited from becoming a nominee for office themselves.

PTAs - LEGISLATE AND ADVOCATE
The PTA is concerned with enactment, implementation, and enforcement of legislation to improve the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.  PTA encourages all local units to appoint a Legislative Chairman to help coordinate local, council, state and national legislative programs and to provide information to the general membership on legislative issues relating to the health, education, and welfare of children and youth.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PTA/PTSA AND PTO?
The PTA is an association that provides members with access to an established network of volunteers at the local, council, state, and national levels who help one another and share resources, ideas, and projects.  It goes beyond the local school as many problems affecting children and youth cannot be solved by local action alone.  There is strength in numbers, and the PTA has the clout and numbers to get the job done.  Parent groups or PTOs are solely school based and do not provide a larger network of individuals, resources, training opportunities and support.

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Other Important Information

Policy
The organization is non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-partisan. No commercial enterprise and no candidate may be endorsed by it. The name of the Tennessee PTA, its regions, councils, and their local units or their officers in their official capacities, may not be used in any connection with a commercial concern, or with any partisan interest, or for any other purposes than the regular work of the organization. This policy should not be confused with authorized parent-teacher activities in the field of legislation.

Cooperative Relationships
While maintaining its independence as an organization, the Tennessee PTA recognizes the value of cooperation with governmental and other agencies whose programs are based on a common interest in child welfare and service to youth. In the fields of education, recreation, health, and welfare, the Tennessee PTA often shares in the combined knowledge of many organizations and contributes its experience and leadership to joint projects.

Membership and Dues
Any person interested in the Objects of the PTA and willing to uphold its basic polices and adhere to its bylaws may become a member. Membership is all-inclusive. When an individual pays dues in a local PTA/PTSA unit, he/she becomes at the same time, a member of the Tennessee PTA and the National PTA, and where applicable, a PTA council.

The Tennessee PTA Bulletin
The Tennessee PTA Bulletin is the official communication of the Tennessee PTA .  Information concerning subscription costs and procedures is sent to each local and council.  All local units and councils are urged to subscribe for their officers and chairmen and are requested to contribute information which will be of interest to other PTAs.  PTA groups may reprint freely from the Bulletin in their own publications  These services are made possible with money received from membership dues.

Contact Us

The Tennessee PTA
1905 Acklen Avenue
Nashville, TN  37212
615-383-9740
Toll-Free: 1-888-PTA(782)-5712
Fax: 615-383-9741
ptaoffice@tnpta.org

Visit the State Office: Monday - Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CST

Directions
The office is conveniently located off Interstate-440, Hillsboro Road, or West End Avenue (depending onthe direction you are approaching Nashville). From I-440, take the 21st Avenue/Hillsboro Road Exit and travel East (toward Downtown Nashville) on 21st Avenue to Acklen Avenue. Turn right on Acklen Avenue and the office is located at 1905 Acklen Avenue, on the right.