Mission Statement

In This Section



Notes from the Backpack Podcast

Join PTA For Your Child


Every Child. One Voice.

PTA's mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

PTA Values

  • Collaboration: We will work in partnership with a wide array of individuals and organizations to broaden and enhance our ability to serve and advocate for all children and families.
  • Commitment: We are dedicated to children’s educational success, health, and well-being through strong family and community engagement, while remaining accountable to the principles upon which our association was founded.
  • Diversity: We acknowledge the potential of everyone without regard, including but not limited to: age, culture, economic status, educational background, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, legal status, marital status, mental ability, national origin, organizational position, parental status, physical ability, political philosophy, race, religion, sexual orientation, and work experience.
  • Respect: We value the individual contributions of members, employees, volunteers, and partners as we work collaboratively to achieve our association’s goals.
  • Accountability: All members, employees, volunteers, and partners have a shared responsibility to align their efforts toward the achievement of our association’s strategic initiatives.

Every Child. One Voice.


The PTA Difference

Discover the PTA Difference and learn what makes PTA unique from unaffiliated parent groups.

The PTA Difference



PTA: 125 Years of Legacy and Impact

PTA is the oldest and largest child advocacy association in America. PTA is comprised of millions of 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. PTAs provide 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 the PTA mission.

With PTA, families also have access to important benefits, including:




Over 120 Years Strong

Look back at the history of National PTA to see its impact and influence toward bettering the lives of every child in education, health and safety.

PTA History