Put it this way. Privates cost $30k+ and most donate $$ on top of that. If you have enough to contribute without it really affecting you and it will help the school to provide activities or specials for the kids, then it seems like a bargain to me. But maybe find out what the money is used for first?

Our school (a DCPS) asks for $650/child. I know quite a few families who can afford this and do, and quite a few families who give much less. Give what you can. They ask for more because they want to give a target amount for the families that can afford more.

Anonymous wrote:Our requires $25 to join, but suggests $500-$1000 per family.

That's a pretty common annual donation in good public schools. DCPS underfunds them, and parents need to pony up to cover essentials such as a science or art teacher, or support for special ed students.

Our PTA dues are high because they pay for 4-5 teacher aides and some instructional specialists not funded by dcps.

Anonymous wrote:Our suggested donation is $150 per child in Bethesda. On the West coast our public school PTA asked for $450 per kid because of the dearth of funding

This is ridiculous. My three kids are in three schools - elementary, middle, high. I'm not paying $450 to the PTAs. I pay my dues, and then volunteer during the year (time or donations such as baking), as I am able (both my husband and I work full time).

You only need $150 per child if you are making up for other children. That shouldn't be the case in Bethesda and similarly low FARMs schools.

Our PTA doesn't do this. They don't want any family to feel like they cannot be a part of the PTA due to lack of funds. But I sort of wish it were an option. We end up giving money throughout the year at various fundraisers- but this is more donation jar style. Sometimes we just give whatever change we have in our pockets. Sometimes we go out of our way to get some cash from the bank to make a larger donation.

If I could, I think I would make a suggested amount per kid and ask for donations. Not a high amount, but I think it would be an easy way to raise some money right at the beginning of the school year. I think $25 per kid is perfectly reasonable but would not judge/think twice about someone giving less or giving more. I know many schools raise significant funds this way.

Ours (Bethesda) is either $35 or $55, I forget which. No extra donation asked for by PTA but there is a Foundation that raises money, plus sports boosters, drama boosters, music boosters for kids involved in those activities. It's all voluntary, although the sports boosters put a lot of pressure on team managers to get all families to pay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am on the PTA and we ask for $150 per kid, too. DCPS. It's a fundraising effort for the PTA which supports the school. It's a suggested amount though, it is not mandatory. Give what you want.

Maybe also think about whether what the PTA does is valuable to you at your school. Our PTA funds lots of supplies/basics at the school, so that the principal can use her DCPS budget on staff salaries. I think that is valuable, so I support the PTA.

Can the PTA supplement salaries? I asked about this years ago and was told no. It would be great if they could give teaching awards just to the really good teachers. I would donate specifically toward that if it was for a teacher we thought was great.

Sorry misread. It saves the principal money. Would still give if we could give monetart teaching awards only to those go are top notch.

DCPS does allow to pay for teachers- but I think only for specials teachers. It's not as restrictive as MCPS, I know that. Our school pays for some teachers and also gives teachers $$ for classroom supplies, educational materials, art and music supplies, library books, teacher appreciation, technology, school improvements and other stuff.

To clarify: PTA funds don't come in the form of reward money for good teachers, rather we pay the entire salary for some staff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am on the PTA and we ask for $150 per kid, too. DCPS. It's a fundraising effort for the PTA which supports the school. It's a suggested amount though, it is not mandatory. Give what you want.

Maybe also think about whether what the PTA does is valuable to you at your school. Our PTA funds lots of supplies/basics at the school, so that the principal can use her DCPS budget on staff salaries. I think that is valuable, so I support the PTA.

Can the PTA supplement salaries? I asked about this years ago and was told no. It would be great if they could give teaching awards just to the really good teachers. I would donate specifically toward that if it was for a teacher we thought was great.

Sorry misread. It saves the principal money. Would still give if we could give monetart teaching awards only to those go are top notch.

DCPS does allow to pay for teachers- but I think only for specials teachers. It's not as restrictive as MCPS, I know that. Our school pays for some teachers and also gives teachers $$ for classroom supplies, educational materials, art and music supplies, library books, teacher appreciation, technology, school improvements and other stuff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am on the PTA and we ask for $150 per kid, too. DCPS. It's a fundraising effort for the PTA which supports the school. It's a suggested amount though, it is not mandatory. Give what you want.

Maybe also think about whether what the PTA does is valuable to you at your school. Our PTA funds lots of supplies/basics at the school, so that the principal can use her DCPS budget on staff salaries. I think that is valuable, so I support the PTA.

Can the PTA supplement salaries? I asked about this years ago and was told no. It would be great if they could give teaching awards just to the really good teachers. I would donate specifically toward that if it was for a teacher we thought was great.

Sorry misread. It saves the principal money. Would still give if we could give monetart teaching awards only to those go are top notch.

Anonymous wrote:Am on the PTA and we ask for $150 per kid, too. DCPS. It's a fundraising effort for the PTA which supports the school. It's a suggested amount though, it is not mandatory. Give what you want.

Maybe also think about whether what the PTA does is valuable to you at your school. Our PTA funds lots of supplies/basics at the school, so that the principal can use her DCPS budget on staff salaries. I think that is valuable, so I support the PTA.

Can the PTA supplement salaries? I asked about this years ago and was told no. It would be great if they could give teaching awards just to the really good teachers. I would donate specifically toward that if it was for a teacher we thought was great.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posting again to say, it seems like a shakedown.

It's not. One of the NW DC public schools. There's a lot of affluence and they raise a lot this way. Many parents are happier to write a big check at the beginning of the year and call it a day.

Do they actually stop fundraising or do you write your check and still get requests through the year?

Should be "goes" to the kids. PTA members don't get anything.

Am on the PTA and we ask for $150 per kid, too. DCPS. It's a fundraising effort for the PTA which supports the school. It's a suggested amount though, it is not mandatory. Give what you want.

Maybe also think about whether what the PTA does is valuable to you at your school. Our PTA funds lots of supplies/basics at the school, so that the principal can use her DCPS budget on staff salaries. I think that is valuable, so I support the PTA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Posting again to say, it seems like a shakedown.

heaven forbid helping the children

It's fundraising, all of which does directly to the kids.