Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers

The Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers, commonly known as the Virginia PTA, is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the well-being and education of children in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the largest and oldest non-partisan volunteer child advocacy association in Virginia, chartered by the National PTA in 1921.

Overview

The Virginia PTA operates with the primary goal of strengthening schools and communities through parent and family involvement. Recognizing parents as the first educators in the home, the organization works to promote parents as partners in schools, creating a critical bridge between home and school environments. This partnership is designed to enhance the academic success, health, and well-being of all children in Virginia.

Structure and Operations

The organization is managed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, composed of parents, grandparents, and caregivers elected by the membership from communities across Virginia. The Virginia PTA supports more than 6,000 volunteer PTA officers with leadership training, family engagement toolkits, student recognition programs, advocacy resources, parent education resources, and non-profit governance oversight.

Membership and Activities

Membership is open to anyone supporting the mission and purposes of the National PTA. Members can join through local schools or as Honorary Commonwealth Members at the state level. The Virginia PTA provides resources that empower parents, enable student success, reduce volunteer workloads, and foster strong family-school partnerships. The organization is divided into twenty-one districts across six regions, with over 1,095 local units.

Advocacy and Impact

Virginia PTA's parent volunteers participate in coalitions and workgroups to bring parent voices and perspectives to policy discussions, advocating for family engagement in education. Council PTAs facilitate communication among PTAs within single school divisions, sharing best practices and advocating for policies that improve student success. The organization has been instrumental in elevating family involvement in Virginia's educational landscape.

Recognition and Contributions

The Virginia General Assembly recognized the contributions of the Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers through designating PTA Appreciation Day each year. This acknowledgment underscores the significant role the organization plays in promoting public education in Virginia.