Outstanding Unit

Criteria

ALL award applications are due Feb. 1st of each year. Units MUST use the official Award Form HERE. No award applications will be accepted without the proper form.

CERTIFICATE OF BRIGHT IDEAS

Describe your most successful program(s).

• Submit on ONE sheet of 8 ½ x 11” plain white paper, typed, (typewriter, word processor or computer), single-sided, double-spaced, with 1” margins on all sides (Check your computer default margin settings)
• Unit name must be typed at the top of the page
• Bright Ideas will be printed in a booklet and distributed at the Indiana PTA convention

CERTIFICATE OF MERIT

All 5 items must be completed to obtain the “Certificate of Merit.” Place a check beside each goal attained.

• Dues into Indiana PTA offi ce by November 15th
• Unit bylaws reviewed and submitted to the state for approval within the last (3) years
• Budget prepared according to PTA policies and submitted to the membership for adoption. (Budget and Finance Policies are found in National PTA Annual Resources)
• Treasurer’s books audited each year. Annual audited financial report sent to the Indiana PTA office. Form NP20 (Indiana Department of Revenue) and Form 990 filed (Internal Revenue Service requirement)
• At least one member of your Unit attended a PTA sponsored leadership opportunity during the current school year (i.e. region leadership conference, packet meeting, etc.) if one was held (You may NOT count a member of the State Board of Managers unless the unit pays the registration fee). All attendees’ names and PTA units should be listed on the registration form and sign-in sheet.

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE

After attaining the “Certificate of Merit” a Unit should strive toward a “Certificate of Excellence!” To be eligible you must take part in 8 of the following 15 activities of which numbers 4, 5, and 9 are required.

• Presented State or National Life Achievement Award during the year
• Observed Founder’s Day and/or sent contribution to the Indiana PTA office
• Attended Indiana PTA Legislative Conference (You may NOT count a member of the State Board of Managers)
• Participated in State PTA legislative activities (Documentation required) Required
• Participated in National PTA legislative activities (Documentation required) Required
• Unit represented at school board meetings
• Participated in the Indiana PTA Citizenship Program
• Participated in the Indiana PTA Refl ections Program
• At least one member of your Unit attended an Indiana PTA convention in the past three years as a registered delegate (You may NOT count a member of the State Board of Managers) Required
• Prepared and passed out procedure books
• Promoted parent involvement (i.e. programs, activities, Resource Center)
• Unit submitted a resolution to the Indiana PTA
• How did your Unit communicate with your membership?
• How did your Unit communicate with the community (including school staff, school board, Town officials, and other groups)?
• At least one member of your Unit attended a National PTA convention as a registered delegate in the past three years (You may NOT count a member of the State Board of Managers unless the unit pays the registration fee)

INDIANA PTA OUTSTANDING UNIT

After earning the “Certificate of Excellence,” to be eligible for the “Indiana PTA Outstanding Unit,” you must complete the essay questions following the guidelines listed below. Guidelines for Essay Questions (Applications that do not follow ALL guidelines WILL NOT be considered!)

• Number and answer each question in the order presented
• Use 1” margins on all sides (Check your computer default margin settings)
• Type should be 12 point/pitch (typewriter/word processor/computer)
• Unit name must be typed on the top of each page
• For each question use no more than two sheets of 8 ½” x 11” plain white paper, single-sided, and doublespaced
• NO supplementary materials will be accepted. DO NOT send scrapbooks, booklets, photographs, articles,
  etc. The only supplementary materials accepted will be the documentation required for questions 4 and 5 under “Certificate of Excellence”
• Please leave all pages loose for copying (do not paperclip, staple, etc.)
• Please do not include binders, covers or colored paper
• Make a copy of the completed application for your records. Submitted materials will not be returned

ESSAY QUESTIONS

Goal of the Award: To recognize PTA Units whose collaborative efforts with parents, families, educators, and community members promote parent/family involvement with ongoing programs that encourage student success (Collaborative efforts means working with all of the aforementioned groups). Programs must have taken place between February 1, 2010 and January 31, 2011

• Select the standard(s) that your Council focused on for the year? State the goal(s) (desired outcome) for each standard chosen and describe the reasons for choosing the goal(s) (You may want to refer to PTA National Standards for Family-School Partnerships: An Implementation Guide for guidance in describing the goal(s)
  for each standard)
• Describe in detail one or two activities, programs, or policies your Council implemented to address the stated goal. What role did the PTA play? What role did the school and/or community play? (Please identify different activities, programs, or policies for each standard)
• Describe the measurable results of the activities, programs, or policies identifi ed in question #2
• What attitudes or behaviors changed as a result of your efforts? How did you measure results (e.g., surveys, observation, informal feedback, etc.)? Please report the number of students (ages 0–18) affected. Describe how this effort supported student achievement through family-school partnerships.
• What leadership training opportunities did you make available for your officers/committee chairs?
• How did your Unit promote PTA membership?