Parents for Public Schools serves a very different purpose from the PTA.  The organizations complement each other in significant ways.   PPS is community-based with an emphasis on public school recruitment and district level parent involvement.  Once parents and students are in the public schools, PPS encourages membership and active participation in the PTA/PTSA or PTO.  A great number of PPS parents are leaders in their children's school's PTA/PTSA or PTO.  If your school does not have a PTA/PTSA or PTO we encourage you to start one.

Do you have to be a parent to be a PPS member?

Absolutely not.  Membership is open to any person or organization who supports our goals.  However, Parents for Public Schools does represent an autonomous parent voice, a voice that is often unequally represented in public discussions.  Mutual support and individual testimony of public school parents are especially powerful tools in convincing other parents to register their children in public schools, but all PPS members can effectively encourage enrollment, involvement, and improvement.

How much does it cost to be a chapter?

The annual chapter fee is $250 per year, which may be waived for the first year.  There is no initial incorporation fee payable to Parents for Public Schools, though your state may require a filing fee for incorporation.  The largest cost is time - your group will need to complete an application for chapter status and submit it to the national office.

What services are available to an emerging chapter before it is officially incorporated?

As you are organizing a chapter, you can make use of all services available to an incorporated chapter once you have submitted an application and received a Letter of Agreement executed by chapter and PPS National.  Specific services for emerging chapters include:   Speakers for an introductory/information meeting, connections to established chapter leadership in other communities, technical assistance in developing a workplan.

Are there additional fees for technical assistance from PPS National?

At this time, the following services are provided as needed by the national office at no additional charge to chapters in good standing.  This includes strategic planning, the national clearinghouse, PPS publications, and a toll-free number to contact national support staff.  Chapters will be expected to contribute to a portion of expenses for elected services such as on-site visits, regional chapter convenings and national conference participation.

Who can attend the PPS Leadership Conference?

All chapter members and leaders of emerging chapters are welcome to attend.  We encourage each chapter to send at least two members, a current chapter leader and an emerging chapter leader, to participate in the conference.  The leadership conference is held in the spring.  The host city is usually home to a PPS chapter in good standing.