Florida PTA Awards Program

**All Awards applications for the 2016-2017 school year can be found here.**

Congratulations to our 2015-2016 award winners who were recognized at our July 2016 Leadership Convention

(with the exception of the Early Bird and Honorary Awards)

Florida PTA offers several awards/recognition to PTA/PTSA local units. Each award/recognition is set out below. If you need additional information contact: apply@floridapta.org. Why not apply for any or all awards?  YOU MUST APPLY FOR EACH AWARD SEPARATELY.

** Please note that awards with later deadlines, such as May 1st, may not be provided below as we are still collecting officer information from the Local Unit PTA/PTSAs!  If you are in need of an award that is not provided here, please contact us at apply@floridapta.org.

Unless noted, Awards will be presented to an Elementary, Secondary PTA/PTSA and a County Council when applicable.

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NOTE:  To apply for ANY and ALL awards, payment of membership dues must be sent monthly, as collected, to the state office, with the final membership dues payment no later than May 1st.  All membership cards must be accounted for.   In order to apply, dues must be paid and received in the state office in order to qualify.

The award deadline to complete the online applications is May 1, 2017.  Award Certificates and/or Award Winners will not be prepared/selected until mid-to-late May, 2017.  Award Certificates will be distributed to the County Council Presidents/Region Representatives to be distributed at Leadership Convention or county specific events.  Award winners are presented at Leadership Convention.  Thank you.  

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Membership Awards:  The following awards/certificates are awarded based solely on qualifying numbers and/or criteria.

The 500+ PTA Service Club: Nominate any person who has been a member of a local unit, a county council unit or a state PTA unit for at least 25 years.  20 honorees will be chosen; past Florida PTA Presidents will be automatically inducted without having to be nominated.

100% Faculty Membership Award – This includes principals, deans, teachers, librarians/media specialists, counselors, and all of the school based faculty and administrators of the school. Faculty membership dues must be paid to the state office before May 1st to qualify for this award.

Acorn Award – An Acorn Award Certificate will be given to the local PTA that has a majority of its faculty as members but, for some reason, cannot achieve 100%.

Celebrate Membership Award (f/k/a 100% Membership Award) – PTA membership equal to the number of families represented in the school, on day five of the new school year, can earn this certificate. These are the guidelines for determining 100% membership award if school cannot supply number of families with children involved:
75% of students for K-5 (6 year schools)
75% of students for K-8 (7-9 year schools)
80% of students for 3-4 year schools
85% of students for 2 year schools
95% of students for single grade centers

Community Membership Award – In order to bring into closer relations the school and community, i.e., places of worship, businesses, community leaders, etc., this award will be given to those PTAs that recruit twenty-five members from the community in addition to parents who also serve in community leadership positions.

Early Bird Award – An award will be given to each local PTA submitting an application and remittance form for state and national dues for 100% membership or any amount over last year’s membership:

• Golden Early Bird Award—Eligible for this award if you have 100% membership dues paid and received in the Florida PTA Office on or before October 1, 2016.
• Silver Early Bird Award—Eligible for this award if you have 100% membership dues paid and received in the Florida PTA Office on or before November 1, 2016.
• Bronze Early Bird Award—Eligible for this award if you have 100% membership dues paid and received in the Florida PTA Office on or before December 1, 2016.

Grandparent Silver/Gold Membership Award – PTAs that recruit ten to twenty-four members who are grandparents of students attending that particular school will receive a Grandparent Silver Membership Award. Those PTAs that recruit twenty-five or more grandparent members will receive the Grandparent Gold Membership Award.

History Walk of Fame – For $100 you can honor someone with a “Brick” inscribed with the name of someone special that will be added to the Walk of Fame at the Florida PTA State Office, in Orlando. (AVAILABLE ALL YEAR)

Honorary State Life Membership – An Honorary State Life Membership is given for meritorious and outstanding service on behalf of chil-dren and youth. For $75 and the Recipient will receive a Certificate, Pin and Wallet ID Card. (AVAILABLE ALL YEAR)

Membership Plus Award – will be given to one elementary and one secondary PTA/PTSA that has shown the highest numerical increase in individual memberships over the previous year. This is the only membership award that will be given with a cash prize of twenty-five dollars.
Certificates will be awarded to those local PTAs that achieve any of the following:
1. Increase its membership by at least 25% over the previous year.  (NO APPLICATION REQUIRED)
2. Has the highest percentage increase in membership over the previous year. (NO APPLICATION REQUIRED)
3. Has 1,000 or more members. (NO APPLICATION REQUIRED)
4. Has attained 100% membership for the last four years or more. (NO APPLICATION REQUIRED)

Our Founders Cared Award – Any local unit that has five past presidents from their unit that are members can apply for this award.

President’s Award of Honor – Florida PTA has established an award for presentation to individuals for outstanding service to children. This award was created as a means to honor the special people that have made PTA what it is today. Our President’s Award of Honor is for recognition of educators, volunteers, students, individuals and/or businesses who make a difference for children. Each special person honored will receive a certificate from Florida PTA and their name will be on display at the Florida PTA State Office in Orlando. For $30, each honoree will receive a certificate from Florida PTA and his/her name will be on display at the Florida PTA State Office. (The recipient must already have a Florida PTA Honorary Life Membership to be eligible.) The net proceeds raised will be divided between the Florida PTA Scholarship Fund and the Florida PTA Building Fund. (AVAILABLE ALL YEAR)

President’s Membership Award – will be presented to an elementary PTA and a secondary PTA that will have earned Local Unit Achievement Awards this year and show the highest numerical in-creases in individual memberships over the previous year. Membership must be reported and dues must be received in the state office before May 1 to qualify. (NO APPLICATION REQUIRED)

President’s Program Award – will be presented to an elementary PTA and a secondary PTA and county council for the most outstanding program. (Special Award is selected by the Awards Committee from Program Award Applications and presented during Florida PTA Annual Leadership/Convention.)

Spotlight on Men Award (F/K/A Supermen Award) – This award rewards those units who focus on ways to engage the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, mentors, business partners, etc. To qualify for this award, any local unit in good standing must increase their male membership by 25 persons.

Volunteer Award -This award, to recognize PTA volunteer activities, will be given to local PTA units who report PTA volunteer hours equal to twice the number of their school enrollment.

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Program Awards:  The following award applications will be judged by our Awards Committee and winners announced at our Leadership Convention in July.

Advocacy Award – This award is given to the PTA units that are promoting and supporting activities that Advocate for students; changing laws, processes or methods to better the lives of every child. These activities must encompass the mission and purpose of PTA.

ALL Children Are OUR Children President’s Program Award – This award is to recognize local units and councils for programs/events that best fulfill the mission of the Florida PTA President.  Her passion and focus is on meeting the needs of those families and children who may have fallen through the cracks.  Florida PTA wants to help provide solutions to problems such as students in foster care, families who are looking for stable housing, juveniles who find themselves in adult predicaments and programs.  Of course, we always want to provide the best education for all students so they can reach their full potential.  Examples may include a health fair where families can receive valuable information, a community resource fair where you bring in organizations that provide a variety of resources to assist families such as clothing closets, food pantries, parent resource rooms, and programs on how to find jobs or other programs/events that help families and children to live a better life.

Family and Community Involvement Award – (FOUND ON THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, FDOE WEBSITE) Highlighting Exemplary Programs in Florida Schools. (See your school district volunteer coordinator for application deadline) – CLICK HERE for FDOE Award Application

Friends of the Environment Award – This award is given for programs that support, promote and that are geared toward protecting the environment.

Literacy Award – This Award is given to PTA units that promote literacy among students, families and the community; support the Media Center with activities that help make students better readers, writers and thinkers; and advance the ideals of learning through the written word.

Local Unit Achievement Award – This award is given to PTA units that are successful in setting goals and fol-lowing through on the unity of action which can best be achieved by following basic procedures.

Local Unit Program Award – This award is to recognize good local unit and county council programs that may be duplicated as best practices. The program must be a minimum of thirty minutes and should be issue oriented.

Mentor-A-PTA Award – A local unit PTA must adopt another PTA. The PTA must provide a helping hand to the adopted PTA by any of the following means: Training, Leadership, or Financial Support. The purpose is to provide assistance to the adopted PTA in the implementation of the PTA Objects and Goals.

Outstanding Principal of the Year Award – This award is to recognize a school principal who is supportive, helpful, and personally involved in the PTA.

President’s Local Unit Achievement Award –  will be presented to an elementary PTA and secondary PTA for outstanding achievement. (Special Award is selected by the Awards Committee from Local Unit Achievement Award Applications and presented during Florida PTA Annual Leadership/Convention.)

Safety Award – Florida PTA believes there is a need to provide parents and communities with information on keeping children safe, all local units and councils are encouraged to offer effective safety programs and to apply for the outstanding Safety Achievement Award.

Spotlight on Men Award (F/K/A Supermen Award) – This award rewards those units who focus on ways to engage the fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, mentors, business partners, etc. To qualify for this award, any local unit in good standing must increase their male membership by 25 persons.

Thomas Newsletter Award – This Award will be given to a PTA unit that publishes an outstanding newsletter.

STUDENT AWARDS INFORMATION

Goals of the Award

• To generate student involvement in local units and county councils that do not currently have student involvement.
• To inspire local units and county councils that have student involvement; to improve and enhance their programs.
• To further the Florida PTA’s goal of increasing effective student involvement.

Eligibility

• Each secondary (middle school/junior high and high school) PTSA or county council PTSA in good standing (see Florida PTA Bylaws) may submit one application.
• Complete the entire application form.
• The application must be signed by the local unit/council president and a student representative.
• Be sure to type the nominee’s name at the top of each page of the application.
• Up to four 8-1/2 x 11 pages of additional information may be included. These may include photos, newsletters or other relevant materials.

PTSA Recognition Award – This award is given to encourage secondary local units and county councils to transition to a PTSA, and to have defined student representative positions, thus furthering student involvement. Deadline: May 1

Student Advocate Award – This award is given to a student on the Local Unit or County Council level who has made significant contributions through Leadership/Service. Deadline: May 1

Student Community Service Award – A PTA must submit an application for a particular group of students, five or more, who have participated in a community service project that they feel is worthy of notice. This group of students does not need to be affiliated directly with the school or the PTA unit applying on their behalf. Deadline: May 1

Student Involvement Award – The purpose of this award is to generate and increase student involvement in secondary local and county councils PTA units. Deadline: May 1