Why Does My PTA Need Insurance?

One of the biggest questions that most PTAs face today is “Why does my PTA need insurance?” That’s a great question and one that every PTA should ask itself as an organization. There are many misconceptions about insurance when it comes to PTAs. Did you know that you, as an individual member of the PTA or an officer of the PTA could be held personally liable for an accident that occurs at one of your events?  Personal Liability means that your personal assets could be at risk if you were sued because of something that happened at one of your PTA events. Are you willing to put your checking account, your savings account, possibly your 401(k) or even your assets at risk for your PTA? 

Insurance not only protects your PTA, but also protects you as an individual, especially when there is limited coverage through your homeowner’s insurance. When thinking about your personal insurance policies, you wouldn’t expect your Homeowners Insurance Policy to pay if you were in an automobile accident. Nor would you expect your Health Insurance Policy to pay if your home burned down.

Each one of your personal insurance policies does something totally and distinctively different. The same thing is true concerning PTA Insurance policies. Officers Liability insurance doesn’t cover your PTA against embezzlement, nor does your General Liability policy cover if your PTA’s fundraising t-shirts are stolen. There are five different insurance policies offered to PTAs that have totally different objectives.  Those policies are:

To learn more, visit AIM’s booth (#2006) in Orlando!

• PTAs are immune from liability because of their non-profit status
• The school’s insurance covers the PTA for all of its events.
• Liability protects the PTA from all risks.