This is just a brief account of <<The PTA Handbook>> which was written in July 2007 and reprinted in September 2008 and January 2009 by the Committee on Home-School Co-operation (CHSC) as a suggested reference book for the management of a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). 

Chapter ONE - Inauguration of a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)

• The main purpose of setting up a Parent-Teacher Association is to promote Home-School Co-operation for bringing up the students.  A PTA generally comprises a Chairperson, vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary, Relation Secretary, Promotion Secretary etc.  In the PTA preparation stage, the school principal or vice principal will act as the convener and will invite interested parents to start the preparation work.  One or two teachers will normally be appointed to give assistance too.
  
• It is optional for a PTA to be established as an organization in accordance with either Societies Ordinance or Companies Ordinance.  Most of PTAs register as an organization or a limited company in order to increase its own independency and flexibility.
  
• he application form for registration under Societies Ordinance can be obtained in person from the Societies Offices, 12/F, Police Headquarters, 1 Arsenal Street, Wanchai or by fax at 2200 4327.  For procedural enquiries, one may contact the Societies Office at 2860-3573 direct for details.
  
• For registration under The Companies Ordinance, a PTA is required to engage an auditor and a solicitor to handle application procedures.

Chapter TWO - Operation

• After the inauguration of a PTA, it is necessary for both parents and teachers to work closely to enhance an effective PTA.  Both teachers and parents should develop a mutually trustful relationship with one another.  Parents should have an active participation in the activities and meetings organized by the school / PTA.  Also, it is important to draw a year plan with diversified activities to dig out parents’ potentials for future activities.

Chapter THREE - Insurance

• Education Bureau has launched a block insurance policy to aided and caput schools for public liability, employees’ compensation and group personal accident.  Please refer to the EDB Circular No. 010/2007 dated 30 August 2007 for details.  PTAs are strongly advised to get schools’ consent prior to the holding of any activity.

• To invest insurance policy for the protection of the participants in holding any activity is at the discretion of individual PTAs.  Also, PTAs must keep the insurance company informed immediately of any changes during the policy period.

Chapter FOUR - Finance

• PTAs are bona fide non-profit-making organizations.  Their income mainly comes from subscription from parent members, fees from activities, government subsidy and donation if any.  Therefore, it is important for each PTA to maintain an effective financial management system.  PTAs are advised to invite an auditor to provide an annual auditing service, if possible.

Chapter FIVE – Parent Manager

• The Education (Amendment) Ordinance 2004 was published in 2004 and came into operation in 2005.  It requires all aided schools to establish an incorporated management committee (IMC) to manage the school.  It aims at introducing an open and transparent participatory school governance framework in schools by including key stakeholders like parents in the IMC.  The Ordinance provides that there shall be at least one parent manager in the IMC.
  
• The election of parent managers should be conducted by the PTA recognised by the IMC.  The PTA constitution should provide for the election procedures of parent manager(s) and to ensure that the mechanism is fair and transparent.

Chapter SIX - Networking of Parent-Teacher Associations

• Every PTA is encouraged to maintain an effective network among its member parents, school teachers, community organizations and other governmental departments, if necessary.
  
• For the purpose of full-utilization of public resources, private district-based Federations of Parent-Teacher Associations (FPTAs) are formed to invite PTAs of the same district to join together for common interest.  Since the inauguration of the Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations of Hong Kong Eastern District in 1996, a total of 17 FPTAs in the territory have been formed (as at January 2009).  The FPTAs are registered in accordance either under The Companies Ordinance or Societies Ordinance.  They organize various functions like developing district-based liaison network among the PTAs, assisting and giving advice in the set up of PTAs, promoting parent education, giving opinions on education issues etc.