Formerly the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the National Congress of Parents and Teachers is a private organization of parents, teachers, and school administrators, all dedicated to promoting the educational, social, and economic welfare of school-age children. The organization's specific concerns include development of reading skills, safety consciousness, emotional health, juvenile protection, and generally raising the quality of education. Founded in 1897 as the National Congress of Mothers, by 1980 it had a membership exceeding 600,000 in 290,000 units in all states. Its national headquarters is in Chicago.