Wisconsin PTA is a branch of National PTA, which is the oldest and largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the United States.  National PTA and all of the branches under them are a not-for-profit organization of parents, educators, students, and other citizens who are active in their schools and communities. Membership in National PTA is open to anyone who is concerned with the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. 

Coming up on 100 years, Wisconsin PTA was founded June 7, 1910 by Agnes Betts of the Milwaukee/Waukesha area.  Our first president was Mrs. R. J. Sullivan of Milwaukee.  Some of the early issues Wisconsin PTA was successful of influencing in Wisconsin are:

• Required Kindergarten
• Required Teacher Certification
• Literacy
• Better movies for children/movie going habits of children

We are still going strong today!  Using our voice of almost 25,000 members in 250 Local Units and Councils all over the state, we participate in and represent parents on advisory/educational councils & panels all over the state along with advocating the PTA objects and mission.

One of our main focuses is to support our local units and councils. We provide resources, training and programs to all of our units.  This includes:

• Hold a group tax exemption for our units and offer access to group rates on insurance for units
• Support and advice on how to run an effective organization
• Annual mailings of resources and help on a individual basis as needed
• Help units problem solve when difficulties arise
• Administer the National PTA Reflections Arts program for our units and hold a celebration for winning entrants.
• Hold a Convention, Leadership & Legislative Conferences & give trainings and presentations on a local basis as well.
• Give awards and honors for PTA volunteers, teachers, units and programs
• Award 2 scholarships yearly to seniors of PTA high schools who are going into education
• Publish a newsletter nine times a year

Each state president has up to four special projects which provide education to our members and promote advocacy in specific areas. Our special projects for the 2007-09 term have been:

• Gifted and Talented Education with a focus on increasing awareness of the needs of GT children and increasing funding for GT programs;
• Middle and High School Outreach with a focus on helping students go on to post secondary education;
• Safe Schools with a focus on bullying prevention;
• Membership Inclusion, with a focus how to ensure your PTA represents the population at your school.

Our current main advocacy areas are:

• School funding: We have been a member of the School Finance Network and have actively participated in the formation of a school funding reform plan and are now actively advocating for the passage of the associated bill in the legislature. We also advocate for full funding of mandated programs.
• Afterschool programs: We sit on the leadership team of the Wisconsin Afterschool Network.
• Parent Involvement: We know that having parents engaged in student learning increases achievement. We help and encourage our PTAs to become partners with their schools and to help the school engage all parents who have children there.
• Closing the Achievement Gap: We advocate for increased parent engagement to help close the gap.
• School nurses and school based health care: We advocate for a better nurse/student ratio and better trained school staff for improved handling of health issues during school hours.
• Access to health insurance for all children: We've partnered with Badger Care to get the word out about its programs.  
• Obesity prevention and health and fitness programs: Our annual Walk for Healthy Kids provides mini grants for health and wellness programs.
• Substance abuse prevention particularly awareness of inhalant abuse.

On the local level our units and councils partner with their schools to increase parent involvement and enhance and expand the educational opportunity of all children in their community. They work to improve the health, welfare and safety of all community members and to engage the community in the work of the schools. They provide programs to help families overcome barriers of language, culture and poverty so that their children can succeed in school and grow to be productive adults.