Thank you for your desire to request funding from the Marshall Area PTA. We are anxious to read your grant proposal, the number of students this opportunity will affect, and how it will benefit the students of Marshall Public Schools. 

Before you apply for a grant, it is important that you read and understand what the PTA is, please read the following information from the Minnesota State PTA website: 

"Given the longevity and universal name recognition of our organization, it’s easy to understand how “PTA” is commonly used to describe all parent groups, whether or not they are actually affiliated with PTA. Parents, teachers, and even administrators are frequently confused or even unaware of the differences between PTA and other parent organizations. This page has been prepared to help you, the PTA leader, explain what truly differentiates PTA from all other parent groups and to dispel some of the myths that have circulated about our organization.

Defining the Difference

• PTA is the nation’s original parent group in schools, supporting and encouraging millions of parents to get involved in their children’s education. We are the nation’s premier resource for parent involvement.
• PTA is a national, grassroots, not-for-profit organization; neither the organization nor its leaders make any profit or receive any financial benefit from PTA activities.
• PTA is composed of nearly 6 million volunteers in 23,000 local units. These units are supported by a national and state system that provides them with information, resources, and training.
• PTA is run by volunteers and led by volunteers, and we are accountable to our members, parents, and schools. We give parents what they want—a way to help their children succeed.

Our programs connect parents to schools and recognize their achievements. Programs include:

• Building Successful Partnerships—Based on the National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs, this program makes available presenters to speak to schools and communities about strengthening parent involvement and to implement parent involvement programs, plans, and policies in local schools.
• Parent Involvement Schools of Excellence Certification—This program is a means for schools to assess their current parent involvement practices and earn recognition. The application process helps parents, teachers, and principals work as a team to measure current practices and plan for specific improvements in parent involvement. Receiving the Certification of Excellence is a positive recognition the whole school community can be proud to display.
• Reflections Program—The annual arts program allows more than 500,000 children and youth to express themselves through musical composition, photography, visual arts, and literature. For many school districts with limited funding, this program provides great value to the students and school community at no cost to the district.
• Phoebe Apperson Hearst-National PTA Excellence in Education Partnership Award—This award program recognizes a local PTA for its collaborative efforts with parents, families, educators, and community members in ongoing programs that encourage student success.
• Back-to-School program resources help PTAs get children ready for a successful school year; activities and materials for Support for After- School Programs Week help PTAs promote the benefits of school-based after-school programs; and Teacher Appreciation Week provides ideas and resources to PTAs so they can recognize the contributions made by teachers to their children’s education.
• School–Community Workshops on student achievement, child nutrition, prevention of violence and bullying, and other topics provide a framework for PTAs to increase parental awareness about issues affecting their children.
• Three for Me—This program promotes volunteerism and organizes parent/family involvement. By asking parents to volunteer three hours per year in school for their child, Three for Me helps overcome perceived barriers to parent involvement today—time, access to a school, and diversity among families.
• Fundraising
  • PTA believes the core value of a parent is more important than only as a fundraiser. Fundraising is a means to carry out the goals and work of PTA. Fundraising events provide a valuable service and involve more parents in the school.
  • PTA Fundraising Essentials is a guide National PTA publishes and distributes to every local PTA leader and public school principal across the country. It’s filled with ideas, suggestions, success stories, resources, and more to help PTAs organize fundraising activities and, at the same time, support parent involvement initiatives.

The Voice for Children

• Not all decisions affecting a child’s school happen at the local level. That’s why, from day one, it has been the Mission of National PTA to address the needs of all children, in every school, in every state, across the entire nation. Even if you’re not a member, PTA still works for your child.
• PTA has the vision and determination to push for national education policies. We have been a driving force in establishing school lunch programs, after-school care, immunization programs, school bus safety, and TV rating standards before they became law.
• Today our government-relations staff is addressing the importance of parent involvement, safe and nurturing environments, and support for public schools."

Minneosta PTA. The PTA Difference. Retrieved from: https://mnpta.org/membership/the-pta-difference/