Advocacy
“The necessity for securing adequate legislation was apparent from the start.” While studying how best to raise their own children, the association’s founders discovered that other children had serious unmet needs. They saw sickly children, insufficiently clad children, hungry children. And something had to be done about it. (Excerpted from History of the California Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc., 1900-1944, M.H. Strong, Editor.)
Decisions that affect our children, youth, and families are made every day by local, state, and national policymakers. In a democratic society, every citizen has the right and the responsibility to participate in shaping those decisions. The goal of advocacy within PTA is to help influence policymakers at the local, state, and national levels in the legislation that is developed.
As the oldest and largest advocacy organization in California, PTA is uniquely qualified to influence policymakers. By working collaboratively on issues, PTAs in California and throughout the nation can form a powerful force in securing adequate laws and public policy that are best for the care and protection of children and youth.
If you have any interest in truly understanding the education challenges that face California and you have a passion to make a difference, please consider completing the Ed100.org course which actually earns points for Canyon View and a chance to win $1000 each quarter. View the EdPrezi for a quick overview and consider becoming an advocate for CVPTA!
Resources
- California State PTA Advocacy, click here
- 2020-21 Monthly Advocacy Communicator from Fourth District PTA, click here
- CAPTA Monthly Advocacy Insider October Newsletter, click here
Presentations from the 2020 Sacramento Safari Trip (VERY INFORMATIVE & EYE-OPENING!)
Sac Safari will be VIRTUAL! www.sacsafari.org
An in-person advocacy conference covering the future of education in California
- Monday, March 7th at 9AM–1PM | Updates on Education Issues
- Monday, March 7th at 6PM–8PM | Networking and Keynote Speaker
- Tuesday, March 8th at 9AM–1PM | Updates on Legislation
- Friday, March 18th at 10AM–11:30AM | Wrap up & Summary of Visits
Confirmed Speakers
- Dr. Shirley Weber, California Secretary of State
- Michele McKay, Vice President, School Services of California
- Pete Callas, California Department of Education
- Edgar Zazueta, Association of California School Administrators
- California State PTA Leadership
- California State Legislators
REGISTER HERE BY MARCH 3rd
TAKE ACTION!
Every so often, PTA needs you to contact your legislative representatives to support critical funding for schools. Your action will help prevent layoffs, larger class sizes and the reduction or elimination of important programs and services for our students.
- Click here to send a message to your U.S. senators and representatives, and help ensure that robust education funding is included in the next COVID-19 relief package.
- Click here to see all of California State PTA’s (and National PTA’s) Action Alerts on our Take Action page.
Remember, when speaking to legislators, you can speak as a PTA representative or as a parent. If you want to speak as a PTA representative, you can speak to any position that PTA has officially taken at the State Level. However, you should always get approval from the exec board and association first. This helps to ensure you don't falsely represent the PTA. If you speak to a legislator as a parent, then you can absolutely discuss matters that are not officially PTA positions.
DO YOU KNOW HOW SCHOOLS GET FUNDED?
Visit Ed100.org for short 5-minute videos to get up to speed so you can feel confident in voicing your concerns and supporting funding opportunities that arise. Each quarter, $1,000 prize is randomly given away to one lucky school upon completion of the entire course. The more parents that participate, the greater chances of our school winning that money!
Contact: advocacy@mycvpta.org
A reminder about one of California PTA's important positions on...
Inclusiveness and Diversity
Adopted April 1991 – Reviewed and deemed relevant November 2017 – Membership Services Commission
The National Congress of Mothers, irrespective of creed, color or condition, stands for all parenthood, childhood, homehood.
Alice McLellan Birney, 1898, Cofounder of National PTA
Those words, true in 1898, are even truer today. PTAs everywhere must understand and embrace the uniqueness of all individuals, appreciating that each contributes a diversity of views, experiences, cultural heritage/traditions, skills/abilities, values and preferences. When PTAs respect differences yet acknowledge shared commonalities uniting their communities, and then develop meaningful priorities based upon their knowledge, they genuinely represent their communities. When PTAs represent their communities, they gain strength and effectiveness through increased volunteer and resource support.
Conversely, PTAs must recognize that prejudice exists based upon socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, language ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, and physical abilities. Such discrimination is hurtful, unfair, hostile and unwelcoming. When PTAs tolerate these acts, they repel members, lack representative leadership, and fail to serve all. Prejudice diminishes a PTA’s ability to advocate effectively for all children, youth and families.
Therefore, California State PTA believes that PTAs at every level must:
- Openly assess beliefs and practices to assure inclusiveness and guard against discrimination;
- Make every effort to create a PTA board and membership that is inclusive and reflective of its community;
- Encourage that all PTA activities at the school be planned by a committee which is representative of the population;
- Foster programs and practices that eliminate bias, prejudice and misunderstanding within their communities;
- Become acquainted with the leaders of the many diverse groups in the community and collaborate with them to increase parent, family and community involvement;
- Educate its leaders and members to the needs, cultural beliefs, traditions and family structures of the population they serve; and
- Propose change wherever discriminatory practices are perceived.
California State PTA values and appreciates diversity, which enriches and strengthens the structure of our society within our state and nation.
