I’m in one of the BCC cluster schools. Parent involvement is high and PTA membership is high.

Most families do not join pta
.not even one. In fact the statement most parents do not join the pta is more accurate

It depends on the school. I was PTA president and I would say about 60-70% generally join, with a drop last year with COVID. Our dues are $12 per parent.

However, if you want to use it as a way to meet other families, you need to be involved too. Normally, anyone can attend PTA events and parent meetings, whether you are a member or not, so simply joining isn't going to give you access to much more than a non-member. But if you volunteer for a committee or take on a role, that's a great way to to meet more people. Membership gives you access to the directory, which is great, but that's really more helpful if you are looking for a specific person.

Anonymous wrote:We were sent information about PTA and I am curious if most families join their PTAs. There was a thread recently about how ineffective the PTAs are and I have no way of accessing whether ours is great or not. The events listed were 90% virtual, as expected. We are a COSA family and DH thought it would be a great way to connect with other families. I am just dubious if we would be able to do that due to covid.

No, most families do not join PTA. Less than 1/3 join. The PTA membership numbers are way down and dropping each year. As enrollment in MCPS increases, PTA numbers drop.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please join the PTA. They pay for so many things that you wouldn’t expect. And having the parent involvement with the administration is invaluable. So much advocacy and your PTA is the collective voice of the parents. They’re not perfect, but I can’t tell you how many times we pushed for really important initiatives when I was on the PTA board. Mold in portables, bullying, playground safety, etc.

You van still volunteer and be involved even of you dont contribute $ that will simoly end up in the hands of MCCPTA which, depending on who you are and what you value, will use that money to advocate against your best interests. Many MCCPTA officers openly support busing and it now looks like a few of them support teaching CRT in MCPS.

OMG, who put a bee in your bonnet? PTA’s do so much good in their individual schools and support many things that most don’t even realize. And while yes, folks are welcome to volunteer to and contribute without financially joining, the reality is that activities and their related supplies cost money. It’s already hard enough for PTAs to function and thrive when they have a budget because people paid the fee. Now you’re trying to make it more difficult.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please join the PTA. They pay for so many things that you wouldn’t expect. And having the parent involvement with the administration is invaluable. So much advocacy and your PTA is the collective voice of the parents. They’re not perfect, but I can’t tell you how many times we pushed for really important initiatives when I was on the PTA board. Mold in portables, bullying, playground safety, etc.

You van still volunteer and be involved even of you dont contribute $ that will simoly end up in the hands of MCCPTA which, depending on who you are and what you value, will use that money to advocate against your best interests. Many MCCPTA officers openly support busing and it now looks like a few of them support teaching CRT in MCPS.

Omg is there some kind of campaign to eliminate MCPS bus services? Why?

Anonymous wrote:Please join the PTA. They pay for so many things that you wouldn’t expect. And having the parent involvement with the administration is invaluable. So much advocacy and your PTA is the collective voice of the parents. They’re not perfect, but I can’t tell you how many times we pushed for really important initiatives when I was on the PTA board. Mold in portables, bullying, playground safety, etc.

You van still volunteer and be involved even of you dont contribute $ that will simoly end up in the hands of MCCPTA which, depending on who you are and what you value, will use that money to advocate against your best interests. Many MCCPTA officers openly support busing and it now looks like a few of them support teaching CRT in MCPS.

Each school determines the contribution, $35 is really a good amount. There are schools with much higher fees.

Please join the PTA. They pay for so many things that you wouldn’t expect. And having the parent involvement with the administration is invaluable. So much advocacy and your PTA is the collective voice of the parents. They’re not perfect, but I can’t tell you how many times we pushed for really important initiatives when I was on the PTA board. Mold in portables, bullying, playground safety, etc.

Anonymous wrote:At our school, yes, most families join the PTA and attend meetings. The PTA is active and facilitates a sense of community among the parents and families. It also is the liaison between parents and the administration. What school does your child attend, OP? It may very well depend on the school.

OP, certainly join your PTA>. The effectiveness and quality of the PTA is dependent on parental involvement. The more parents willing to join and actually volunteer to do the work of the organization the better it will be.

Anonymous wrote:You can just join your school's PTA (around $5). You don't have to give family contribution if you are not able to.

$5?? At our school, it’s $35.

At our school, yes they do. Beyond the committees and events, families get access to a school directory, and the monthly PTA meetings feature different speakers on interesting topics, and the principal or assistant principal opens the meeting so you can hear from them too. With COVID it'll be hard to meet other families anyway, so there's very little downside to not joining.

You can just join your school's PTA (around $5). You don't have to give family contribution if you are not able to.

At our school, yes, most families join the PTA and attend meetings. The PTA is active and facilitates a sense of community among the parents and families. It also is the liaison between parents and the administration. What school does your child attend, OP? It may very well depend on the school.

We were sent information about PTA and I am curious if most families join their PTAs. There was a thread recently about how ineffective the PTAs are and I have no way of accessing whether ours is great or not. The events listed were 90% virtual, as expected. We are a COSA family and DH thought it would be a great way to connect with other families. I am just dubious if we would be able to do that due to covid.