A new website aims to connect city PTAs

Parent-teacher associations at city schools will be able to operate and collaborate more effectively, thanks to a new website that aims to compile resources for the groups.

The new site, PTAlink.org, launched last month with funding from City Councilman Brad Lander and support from New York Lawyers for the Public Interest. It includes guides to the Department of Education, rules for fundraising, and ideas for activities such as talent shows and creating school gardens.

“Inequality is a big and growing problem in New York City public schools,” Lander said in a statement. “I hope that PTAlink can help turn the tide by connecting eager public school parents to the information and advice they need to build successful PTAs.”

Strong PTAs at schools with many middle-class families routinely raise tens of thousands of dollars to buy “extras” for their schools. Some PTAs even hire additional school staff, effectively reducing the student-teacher ratio at their schools. But class tensions can emerge when schools rely on parent fundraising to close budget gaps.