Reach for the Stars Illinois PTA Membership Recognition Program

Since its launch, Reach for the Stars program has proven to be an effective way to honor PTAs, PTA Councils, and Regions that actively grow and support membership.

Illinois PTA membership recognition program balances rewarding immediate growth with encouraging consistent, long-term achievement, motivating PTAs to continuously engage, recruit, and grow their membership. It’s structured so that PTAs can start small, celebrate each milestone, and eventually display a legacy of success.

Eligibility
To earn these reward levels, a PTA must meet the following requirements:

Must be an active PTA for more than three fiscal years (so a baseline membership can be calculated—see below).

Must have met the minimum membership requirements in the Illinois PTA bylaws for the current and previous three fiscal years.

Must be a unit in good standing

which include the following requirement.

Register Officers in Givebacks (update any new officers)

Submit Membership Dues payments quarterly:

Registered & paid for all members no later than June1st.

Complete the following compliance submissions in Givebacks:

Audit

Insurance

Tax filing

*please review the PTA Local Units In Good Standing Checklist
Rewards
Recognition will awarded based on the level of membership growth a PTA has attained (more details on that below) and have met the eligibility requirements. The rewards are as follows:

Bronze Star: Digital awards identifying the PTA as a “Bronze Star PTA” sized for use on social media and websites, physical recognition certificate that can be displayed at school, and recognition on the Illinois PTA website.

Silver Star: Bronze Star rewards plus recognition in the Illinois PTA Convention Program*.

Gold Star: Silver Star rewards plus recognition during the Illinois PTA Convention Awards event*.

Platinum Star: Gold Star rewards* plus a vinyl recognition banner that can be displayed at the school or at PTA events with the year of recognition included. For units that earn the Platinum Star level for a second time, a sticker with the year will be provided that can be attached to the vinyl banner.

* Local units that have fulfilled all eligibility requirements and membership levels prior to the deadline established by Illinois PTA Convention Committee will receive recognition during the Illinois PTA Convention.
Earning Your Star Level
Starting your Journey to the Stars

The baseline membership number for each PTA that has not earned a reward level the previous year will be based on the PTA’s growth over the average membership for the three previous years.

Bronze Level – previous three-year average membership plus 1 member

Silver Level – previous three-year average membership plus 25% growth

Gold Level – previous three-year average membership plus 50% growth

Platinum Level – previous three-year average membership plus 75% growth

Continuing Levels

Once a unit has earned a reward level, their rewards in the following year are based on the previous year’s membership only (not the three-year average). Units with an increase in membership can rise up to three levels:

Membership Increase 10%-24% from previous year increase one reward level.

Membership Increase 25%-49% from previous year increase two reward levels.

Membership Increase 50%-74% from previous year increase three reward level.

The highest reward level remains Platinum Star, so a PTA at the Gold Star level that increases membership by 30% still only goes up one level to Platinum Star.

Units that see a decrease in membership from the previous year may drop one or more levels:

Membership decrease <5% from the previous year: maintain current reward level.

Membership decrease 5% to 10% from the previous year: go down one reward level.

Membership decrease 10% to 15% from the previous year: go down two reward levels.

Membership decrease 15% or more from the previous year: go down three reward levels.

Units that drop below the Bronze Star level will need to start their journey to the stars again.

For units that earn the Platinum Star level for a second time, a sticker with the year will be provided that can be attached to the vinyl banner. The vinyl banner will have space for ten different year stickers. A PTA unit will receive a new vinyl banner when they reach the Platinum level for an eleventh time (and 21^st time, etc.). PTAs will be able to display their Platinum Star status much like sports teams display their championships on banners.
PTA Councils & Regions