North Dakota PTA Information

North Dakota PTA (NDPTA) was founded in May of 1915 and was first officially recognized at the National Congress of Parents and Teachers convention in Portland, Oregon on May 12-16, 1915. The first President of NDPTA was Dr. R. A. Archer of Valley City. Initially, there were about 200 members throughout the state, with no local units. the first unit formed in the state was the "Pioneer" unit and was established in Cathay in 1923. Membership since that first year has varied from that original 200 members across the state to a record high of 40,000 plus members in 1956-57. Today membership is approximately 5300 members, with 2 councils and 40 local units. The work of the NDPTA through the years varied immensely. Areas of emphasis and accomplishments include:The Rural Demonstration - established in 1924, this 5 year project awakened interest in the work of PTA and helped people learn a responsibility to their schools. It resulted in phenomenal growth in PTA membership and a group of trained people who knew parent-teacher objectives and procedures. Country Play Day Movement - resulted in hot lunches and play ground equipment for rural schools.Development of youth advisory councils to improve hot school lunches. Development of the Coalition for Public Education which was formed to fight tuition tax credits. Save our State coalition which succeeded in protecting education funding for the children in our state. Work on School Nurse LegislationNDPTA is continually working towards its' mission and with your help, all of our children can be successful.