National PTA Allocates over $1M in grants to support family engagement, student success and STEM
The National PTA has announced over $1 million in funding to support PTAs across the USA in hosting programs that support family engagement, student success, and access to arts education.
The funding, made possible by organizations including AT&T, TikTok, Google, Walmart, and the New York Life Foundation, will enable local PTAs to deliver programs focusing on digital safety, mental health, STEM education, and more.
Yvonne Johnson, president of the National PTA, stated:
"PTAs work hard every day to meet the critical needs of students, families, schools and communities and make every child's potential a reality. We are grateful to our generous funders for supporting the efforts of PTAs and helping them host programs for students and families in the areas of digital safety, mental health, healthy lifestyles, STEM and the arts."
Programs supported by funding
Funding has been allocated across several initiatives, with specific goals tailored to community needs:
PTA Connected Programs:
Ready, Tech, Go!: Supported by AT&T, 350 PTAs will receive $1,500 each to host interactive sessions for parents and caregivers about screen readiness and fostering responsible technology use at home.
Create with Kindness: Sponsored by TikTok, 87 local PTAs and 13 district or community PTAs will receive grants between $3,000 and $5,000 to facilitate discussions about online safety and positive digital behavior for high school families.
Be Internet Awesome: Google and YouTube are providing $1,250 grants to 55 PTAs for peer-led programs teaching online safety and fostering healthy digital habits.
Build Up and Belong: Discord is offering $2,000 grants to 25 PTAs to promote family conversations on fostering belonging and positive online interactions.
The Smart Talk: Norton is supporting 20 PTAs with $1,250 grants for facilitating conversations around digital safety and privacy through an interactive tool that helps families create personalized technology agreements.
Mental Health and Wellness:
Healthy Minds: Fifty PTAs, supported by the New York Life Foundation, will receive $1,250 to strengthen parent and caregiver skills in supporting children’s mental health and resilience.
Wellness Fairs: Walmart is funding 40 PTAs with $1,250 grants to host interactive health fairs addressing topics like healthy bodies, minds, and environmental awareness.
STEM + Families Initiatives:
Science Festivals: Bayer Fund is providing $1,250 grants to 40 PTAs and $5,000 grants to two regional PTAs to engage families in hands-on science activities aimed at reducing intimidation and making science more accessible.
Engineering Design Challenges: Huntington Ingalls Industries is funding 40 PTAs with $1,250 grants to host interactive engineering activities showcasing careers in STEM and skilled trades.
Arts Education:
Two PTAs will receive $1,250 each through the Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grants, aimed at providing underserved students access to arts education opportunities.
State PTA capacity building
Ten state PTAs, including those in Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota, have been awarded $10,000 each to strengthen membership, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. These funds aim to bolster PTA operations, ensuring continued support for local communities.
According to National PTA Executive Director Nathan R. Monell, the grants also enhance the PTA's ability to make a sustained impact:
"Growth in membership, leadership development and organizational effectiveness are the foundation for our association's ability to achieve our mission to make every child's potential a reality.
"By investing in these areas, we can improve our impact and continue serving our communities for the long term. We are grateful to our funders for making this funding possible."
