PTA stands for Parent-Teacher Association, an organization that brings together parents and teachers to support students and improve schools. When your school has a PTA, it means there's a group of parents and teachers who meet regularly to plan events, raise money for supplies and programs, and discuss ways to make your school better.

A PTA might organize the fall carnival, coordinate volunteers for the school library, or raise funds to buy new playground equipment. They might plan teacher appreciation events, organize book fairs, or help with field trips. The people who run the PTA are volunteers: parents and teachers who care about making school better for all students and the whole school community.

Schools aren't required to have a PTA, but many do because they create a strong connection between home and school. When parents and teachers work together as partners, students benefit. Your parent or guardian might attend PTA meetings in the evening to hear what's happening at school and vote on how to spend money the group has raised. Some PTAs are small and informal, while others in larger schools might raise thousands of dollars each year for special programs, technology, or improvements that the school budget doesn't cover.