Scholarships and Grants

• $500-$1,000 Volunteer Service Scholarship — This scholarship recognizes graduating seniors for their volunteer service in schools and communities, allowing them to register for courses at accredited colleges, universities, trade or technical schools. Applicants must be PTA members graduating from a California high school between January 1 and June 30 of the current academic year.

General Eligibility – For the Continuing Education Scholarships, all successful applicants for a Continuing Education Scholarship meet the following criteria:

• Current member of PTA unit in good standing
• Specific criteria for the type of Continuing Education Scholarship applied for – Parent Volunteer, Credentialed Teachers and Counselors or School Nurses – as outlined on application form
• Scholarship used for advanced studies at accredited colleges, universities, trade or technical schools in California
  • Scholarship utilized during the period January 1 to December 31 with courses completed by December 31 of year following award of scholarship
  • Provide proof of enrollment and completion of coursework to California State PTA by June 1
• Completed application and reference forms with letters received by California State PTA by November 15

Selection – Each year, the California State PTA Scholarship and Grant Committee carefully reads and vets each application. All applicants are notified of their status in January.

Successful applicants who are awarded a California State PTA Continuing Education Scholarship receive a letter of congratulations along with a scholarship check.

Questions? – Please contact the California State PTA Scholarship and Grant Chairman at: grants@capta.org

• $500-$1,000 Volunteer Service Scholarship — This scholarship recognizes graduating seniors for their volunteer service in schools and communities, allowing them to register for courses at accredited colleges, universities, trade or technical schools. Applicants must be PTA members graduating from a California high school between January 1 and June 30 of the current academic year.
• $500 Dr. Ralph E. White Graduating Senior Scholarship – Honoring the volunteer and public-service legacy of Dr. Ralph E. White and his wife, Eleanor, this additional scholarship provides $500 each to two successful applicants of the Volunteer Service Scholarship who intend to pursue a career in a medical field.

Eligibility – For the Graduating High School Senior Scholarship, successful applicants meet the following criteria:

• PTA member graduating from a high school in California between January 1 and June 30 of the current academic year
• Current member of his/ her high school PTA which is in good standing
• Scholarship used during fall semester following high school graduation for studies at accredited colleges, universities, trade or technical schools
  • Enroll in courses accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Provide proof of enrollment and completion of coursework to California State PTA by June 1
• Completed application and reference forms with letters received by California State PTA by February 1

Selection – Each year, the California State PTA Scholarship and Grant Committee carefully reads and vets each scholarship application. All applicants are notified of their status in March.

Scholarship winners receive a letter of congratulations and recognition certificate from California State PTA along with a check.

Application Tips – Before submitting your scholarship application packet to California State PTA, please remember to check that it includes:

• Completed application form and packet submitted by February 1
• Copy of your current PTA membership card on 81/2″ x 11″ sheet of paper
• Descriptive essay (maximum 2 pages) outlining:
  • Your PTA responsibilities
  • Your career plans, goals, objective and any other information you feel would be valuable to the selection committee
  • All of your school service-related activities including any service you provide to others in your school
  • Your volunteer service in the community
• Two (2) completed reference forms and letters, written specifically for this application
  • First reference – Written by a community volunteer leader unrelated to you and who you volunteered with
  • Second reference – Written by a member of the high school faculty

Remember to ask that reference forms and letters be given to you in a sealed envelope for you to include in your scholarship application packet.

Dr. Ralph E. White Graduating Senior Scholarships – Each year, this program awards a scholarship for $500 to two (2), successful applicants of the Graduating High School Senior Scholarship who intend to pursue a career in a medical field.

Two students selected to receive a Graduating High School Senior Scholarship are awarded an additional $500 from the Dr. Ralph E. White Graduating Senior Scholarship Program.

APPLY HERE