The technical differences between a PTA (Parent Teacher Association) and a PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) are fairly simple. The National PTA is a formal membership organization headquartered in Chicago with a 100+ year history. Local groups that choose to belong to the PTA must pay dues to the state and national organizations and abide by state and national group rules. The PTA carefully protects its name, so that in theory only dues-paying members of the group can call themselves a PTA.

The PTO, on the other hand, is a decidedly independent organization. PTO believes that every school is unique and has individual needs and goals. PTO provides resources and tools — it represents the thousands of groups that choose to remain independent of the PTA. It encourages single-school groups that operate under their own bylaws and concern themselves with the goings-on at their building or in their town only.

The “independence” of a PTO seems to be a better fit for us. Despite its national profile and terrific name recognition, the National PTA actually represents only about 24 percent of the country’s parent groups. The remainder have chosen to go (or remain) independent.