The Parent Teacher Association was founded in South Carolina in 1923. South Carolina counties are organized into 18 PTA districts. The state office is at 1826 Henderson Street in Columbia. Melissa R. Epps is executive director.  State officers for  2008- 2009 are:

• President Phil Clark of  Greenville
• President- Elect Sharyl  Richardson of Fort Mill
• Treasurer Jill Schneider  of Greenville
• Vice President for  Legislation Doug Griffin  of Sumter
• Vice President for  Membership Amy Brewer  of Greenville
• Vice President for  Programs Gail Hyatt of  Sumter
• National PTA  President- Elect Charles J.  Saylors of Taylors

Patricia A. Gates of Gadsden is president of District 6 which includes Fairfield and Richland counties.

The annual SCPTA Legislative Conference was held in October at C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy. After a series of workshops and a presentation by Dr. Jim Rex, SC Superintendent of Education, the delegates adopted a Legislative Platform for 2009 which includes:

• Amending to SC Constitution to replace minimally adequate education with high quality education

• Amending the No Child Left Behind Act to allow flexibility by school districts

• Supporting state- funded, universal four- year- old kindergarten

• Increasing the cigarette tax with revenue going toward smoking prevention programs in schools, and

• Increasing teacher salaries up to the national average.

The SCPTA Founders Day gathering will be held at Lower Richland High School February 7, 2009. Rutledge Dingle, principal of Sumter High School, will deliver the key note address.

The annual SCPTA Convention will be held at Wade Hampton High School, Greenville, April 25, 2009.