Advocacy
Advocacy is one of the cornerstones of the PTA. As the largest volunteer child advocacy association in the nation, Parent Teacher Association (PTA) reminds our country of its obligations to children and provides parents and families with a powerful voice to speak on behalf of every child while providing the best tools for parents to help their children be successful students.
Every PTA unit in San Diego Unified Council of PTAs is asked to provide a representative to the Ninth District PTA Legislative Meetings. Presidents, you are invited to attend or better yet, appoint a Legislative Chair to your board to attend these meetings and report back to your PTA. Follow the Ninth District link on the sidebar to find out about what is going on in our area and how to get involved. The Ninth District is currently holding their meetings using webinars. This allows them to provide access to the community without leaving home.
Council Votes to Support Educational Parcel Tax
On Thursday, August 12th, our Council voted to support the Emergency Temporary Parcel Tax on the November 2, 2010 ballot. This ballot measure will be labeled Proposition J. Here’s the summary that will appear on the ballot:EMERGENCY TEACHER RETENTION/CLASSROOM EDUCATION MEASURE. To prevent Math, Science and English teacher layoffs, protect neighborhood schools from state budget cuts, prevent cuts to essential academic programs, job/college preparation, and preserve small classes, shall San Diego Unified School District levy a Temporary 5 Year Emergency annual tax that Sacramento can not take away of $98/single family home, and taxes on other types of parcels, exempting low income seniors, with independent audits and no one for administrators’ salaries?
The measure requires 2/3rds to pass.
Because of this vote, every PTA in San Diego Unified has the authority to advocate for the parcel tax.
Here are some ways you can advocate:
- Advocate to your PTA members at PTA meetings, in your eBlast, websites and PTA newsletters (as long as you’re not using District resources)
- A PTA may make a financial contribution to the parcel tax campaign (must be included in your budget and get approval by your members as always)
- Encourage your members to contribute financially to campaign
- Distribute yard signs, buttons and bumper stickers
- Recruit volunteers for the campaign – need people for phone banks, walk district, etc.
- Write Letters to the Editor to local newspapers explaining why your PTA supports the parcel tax – you can sign letter with your name and PTA title
- Speak at community meetings in support of parcel tax on behalf of PTA
- When advocating, do not use school district resources or be on school property during the school day.
- Do not spend more than five per cent of your PTA’s total expenditures for advocacy to comply with IRS guidelines for tax exempt organizations.
Example: If your unit generates $10,000 in gross receipts, you can contribute up to 5% of $10,000 which is $500 to the campaign. If you spend more than $1,000 to pass or defeat a ballot measure, your PTA must file a report with the State of California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). - Your PTA unit is not required to advocate for the parcel tax – you can remain neutral. However, a PTA can not take an opposing position to the position the Council has taken. That means PTAs in San Diego Unified can not officially oppose the parcel tax.
PTA To Join School Finance Lawsuit Against the State
On January 30, the Board of Managers approved California State PTA's participation as a plaintiff in a pending school finance lawsuit against the State of California. California State PTA will join the California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators as principal plaintiffs in this case. Because the case has not yet been officially filed, we are not able to release specific details. They will be forthcoming once the case is filed, most likely in the spring.