A "Parent-Teacher Association" ("PTA") or "Parent-Teacher Organization" ("PTO") is a voluntary organization bringing together parents and teachers of pupils in a particular school or school district, usually for fund-raising, building parent involvement and community at school and other activities relating to the welfare of the school, rather than the progress of individual pupils. The term PTA is used in the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom and also in some other Commonwealth countries.
United States
There are nearly 23,000 local organizations recognized by the National PTA organization in the United States. and therefore correctly termed official PTAs. The generic term "PTO" is used to refer to either all parent-teacher groups (regardless of affiliation) or (more often) to just independent parent-teacher groups, who choose not to be affiliated with the National PTA. Roughly 75% of U.S. parent-teacher groups are independent groups (PTOs).The National PTA is a non-profit o