ahhhhh....that wasn't the original question.

In response to the original question: DCPS school governance via a functioning LSAT (Local School Advisory Team) is open to everyone who has a child at the school. If you are concerned that you need to pay to have a say be sure your school organizes well publicized and fair LSAT elections. Although the PTA is typically in charge of hosting them, they need to take place outside the PTA meeting (before is fine) and they need to be advertized as everyone with children at the school being eligible to run and vote. And also make sure your LSAT has the upper hand in advising the principal on strategic matters. Of course, the LSAT can't tell the PTA what to do but neither can the principal completely disregard what the LSAT advises.
On a personal note, I don't think it's correct for public schools to erect financial barriers to participation. And it's not effective either. I think the kind of voluntary solution that was outlined regarding Maury, for example, is a much fairer approach. This is a very direct way to vote with your purse (on a specific program component) without however excluding those who don't want to or can't pay from sharing in the PTA decision making process (including whether or not to launch such a campaign).

Anonymous wrote:At Maury ES it's voluntary--no requirement to contribute in order to have a say. I can't imagine it's different anywhere else.

A Maury parent here: That's incorrect. Maury's PTA membership fee is $15. But there is an annual fundraiser where families are asked to pitch in (about $175 per child) for a specific program component. One does need to be a PTA member to vote on PTA matters. But, as presumably elsewhere, it's totally possible to weigh in on PTA meetings and debates if no one bothers to point out that you're not a paid-up members. More diligent checking is done for elections.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:reserving judgement on the fee/pa vote until I hear more about the process used for the decision. would welcome a PA rep from the school to comment on that (no "i think i know how it happened" posters, please!) but the point is lots of people who can pay just aren't, and the pa is NOT a pta, and is its own separate entity. seems to me you don't have to belong to have a voice in the school or donate to the school for specific causes, but if you want to tell this specific non-profit how to spend its money you have to give to decide. seems fair to me.

If the pa is a separate entity, why is the school making follow up calls to families who don't pay the fees? And how can this supply fee be "required" by a PA that is separate from the school? Aren't individual supplies a school matter, not a pa matter?

this was in the past when the school collected the supply fee, not the PA.

Anonymous wrote:Yu Ying should not have a supply fee. Parents should make their own purchases with the suggested list.

The YY PA should allow every parent participation in the PA (already does). However, the only members allowed to vote on expenditures are those who have paid dues for those expenditures.

Case closed.

Please move the YY conversation to its own thread

Yu Ying should not have a supply fee. Parents should make their own purchases with the suggested list.

The YY PA should allow every parent participation in the PA (already does). However, the only members allowed to vote on expenditures are those who have paid dues for those expenditures.

Case closed.

Anonymous wrote:So far to vote in the PTA/PA per family:

Brent $20
Lafayette $50
Mann $10
Janney $10
Maury Free
Shepherd Free
Kipp - Benning Campus $10
Eaton Free
Eastern $5
Hearst $0
Barnard $10


Yu Ying $100 per child

Yu Ying's fee include all the school supplies. Do the other schools supply all the requisite supplies for the children. If so, what are the costs?