Parent Organizations

If parents want to create a new organization, they need a core group of fellow parent leaders and school staff to start the process. This core group should:

• Identify other active parents on campus
• Inform school leadership about the desire to start a parent organization and obtain principal approval
• Organize a strategy meeting with active parents and school staff
• Discuss recruiting interested parents and staff to become members of this new group
• Discuss the objectives of this new organization and which type of organization to establish

The Fort Worth ISD does not promote any specific organization. Parents and campus administration at each campus choose the type of parent organization that is the best match for their school. This section addresses PTA, PTO and booster clubs in Fort Worth ISD.

NOTE: All parent organizations are considered separate entities from Fort Worth ISD. The following guidelines are suggestions and do not constitute legal advice. Fort Worth ISD is not liable for the proceedings and actions of parent organizations.

• The National PTA (Parent Teacher Association) is a formal membership organization, founded in 1897, with headquarters in Chicago. PTA provides leadership training and staff
• Local groups that choose to belong to the PTA must pay dues to the state and national organizations and follow state and national group
• In return, local PTA groups receive member benefits and have a voice in the operations of the larger organization.
• The National PTA maintains a Washington, C., lobbying office, and most state PTAs advocate at their respective state capitals as well.
• Texas PTA provides chartering of local units. Office training, mentoring, and unit support are also
• The PTA carefully protects its name, so that in theory only dues-paying members of the group can call themselves a PTA

• PTO stands for parent teacher organization and is the acronym for most organizations that are independent from the National
• A PTO has its own unique mission, purpose, bylaws, and IRS
• These organizations are most often single-school groups and primarily concern themselves with the activities at their building

Parents and communities form booster clubs to help enrich the school’s participation in extracurricular activities. The fundraising role of booster clubs is a valuable way to support students. In Texas, the University Interscholastic League (UIL) governs all booster clubs.

Schools that are members of UIL make the rules and determine policies. The superintendent is solely responsible for the entire UIL program in a school district. All school activities, organizations (including booster clubs), events and personnel are under the jurisdiction of the superintendent. Booster clubs must recognize this authority and work within a framework prescribed by the school administration.

There are athletic booster clubs, academic booster clubs and music booster clubs. Athletic boosters must abide by strict policies and rules that govern amateur athletes. Academic boosters must abide by rules about what kinds of awards students can receive. Music boosters are also subject to rules about awards. These rules and policies can be found in the Policies and Compliance section of this manual.

Fund raising plays a large role in booster clubs and some fund raisers are subject to state law. Generally speaking, earnings by a properly organized booster club may not benefit any private shareholder or individual.

Those who would like to form a parent-teacher group or booster club should hold a public school-community meeting to review guidelines for parent organizations in Fort Worth ISD. They should also visit PTA, PTO and booster club resources, such as ptotoday.com, txpta.org and uiltexas.org. Current PTO presidents and representatives from the Fort Worth ISD Council of PTAs should be invited to speak to the new organizing group. The meeting should end with a vote on what type of organization would be best for the campus.

>> If the group chooses to form a PTA, they should contact the Fort Worth ISD Council of PTAs for assistance.

>> If the group chooses to form a PTO, they should join PTO Today.

>> If the group would like to establish a booster club, they should consult UIL booster club guidelines (see links section) and work with their school administration to begin the process.

Once the parent-school group or booster club has decided which type of organization to have, they must outline and fill leadership positions, draft bylaws, review voting procedures, create articles of incorporation, and obtain and turn in relevant IRS documents. Once this is done, the organization should open a bank account and keep detailed financial records, complete the Texas Application for Exemption, and then incorporate best practices to become a successful organization.

Board Policy states that booster clubs and PTAs/PTOs shall establish their own charters, bylaws and the like, which shall be approved by the respective school principals. No activities other than those necessary to form and organize the club or association shall be permitted until such charters and bylaws have been adopted and approved. The organizations shall be responsible for filing tax-exempt/nonprofit organization status and submitting any required tax payments and/or reports. Booster clubs and PTAs/PTOs are not authorized to use the District’s tax identification number.

The organization shall maintain its own bank account, issue its own checks, and maintain its own financial records. District administrators shall not serve as club officers or sign financial obligations or checks for the organization at any District school. Teachers and other District employees, other than school administrators, may serve as officers of parent organizations at their campus or at other campuses.

However, full-time and part-time employees of the District shall not:

1. Serve as treasurer of the organization;
2. Sign checks on the organization’s account; or
3. Sign financial obligations for the funds collected on behalf of the organization shall be accounted for and receipted by the organization, and deposited in the organization account [see CFD].

School personnel shall only act as a conduit for funds collected on behalf of such an organization. School personnel shall forward collections to the school’s office to be secured upon collection. All collections shall be removed from the school’s office by the organization on a daily basis. Booster clubs and PTAs/PTOs shall not leave collections at the school overnight. A repeat violation of this policy within the same fiscal year shall result in the club or organization forfeiting the privilege of collecting funds at the school site.

The District assumes no liability for debts incurred by Booster clubs or PTAs/PTOs. Any such organization has the obligation to follow guidelines established for visiting on the school campus [see GKC (LOCAL)].

Any activity organized by the booster club/PTA/PTO to be held on school property shall require approval from the principal or others deemed appropriate. Booster clubs and PTAs/PTOs shall not represent themselves as agents of the District [see GE(LOCAL)].