About Us

About Washington State PTA

Founded in 1905, the Washington Congress of Parents and Teachers, now known as the Washington State Parent Teacher Association (WSPTA), is the largest non-profit, volunteer organization in Washington. As the premier parent organization, with over 80,000 members in more than 830 local PTAs, the association is an innovative, forward-thinking, and effective advocate for children.

Our Vision

Our vision is that every child’s potential becomes a reality.

Our Mission

Our mission is for PTA to be:

• A powerful voice for children,
• A relevant resource for families, schools and communities, and
• A strong advocate for the well-being and education of all children.

When you join your local Parent Teacher Association (PTA) or Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), you become part of our state association and the larger National PTA. Your voice joins tens of thousands across Washington and millions across the United States, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe and Puerto Rico, as advocates for children.

Our Values

WSPTA maintains a set of core values as the foundation of our service to families. We use the following belief statements in our decision-making protocols, our resource development, our advocacy efforts, and our programs and events:

• By honoring each family’s specific living situation and support system, we share in decision-making, so all have an equitable opportunity to advocate for themselves, drive their priorities, and act.
• We create safe space, advocate for, and respect the uniqueness of all students, families, communities, and schools so that historically underserved feel invited, welcomed, and able to participate.
• We reject bias and favoritism to create an empathetic environment that respects the different ways people engage with PTA. We prioritize making our communications, events, resources, and programs accessible to our communities, regardless of race, culture, gender identity, beliefs, ability, and background.
• We build community through listening and understanding current and historical harms, especially those experienced by Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQ+, and families with disabilities, so collectively we design, implement, and evaluate a program that focuses on all families.
• We embrace culture and traditions so that we can intentionally celebrate the diversity of our families and communities.