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.
Important Dates
February 21-23, 2010
Sacramento Safari – travel to Sacramento with Ninth District delegation to meet with local representatives
March 23, 2009
PTA Council joins the No Child Left Inside Coalition.
Legislative Informational Alert February 16, 2010
California State PTA prepares action plan
Three important initiatives lead the way for investing in children
Now is the time for action to help California's more than 9 million children. California State PTA is leading the call for
action with three important initiatives. We'll be telling you more about each of these in the coming days and weeks.
1. PTA Opposes Additional Cuts in Governor's Proposed Budget for 2010-2011
Soon you will receive materials for California State PTA's "9 Million Reasons To Speak Up" campaign, which will include a
fact sheet and action plan to assist PTA members in speaking up for the more than 9 million children in California who need
our voice to be heard in opposition to further cuts to education and critical children's services.
2. PTA SUPPORTS Qualifying the "Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act" for November 2010 Ballot
On January 30, the California State PTA officially endorsed the "Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act."
If qualified for the November 2010 ballot and approved by voters, the act would lower the threshold for passage of local school
funding measures to 55 percent (just like school bond measures), from the current two-thirds, provided certain conditions are met.
PTA members are being urged to sign the petition to qualify this measure for the ballot at
www.improvedschoolfunding.com and to
actively participate in gathering the approximately 1 million signatures that the measure needs to qualify by early April.
Click
here
for guidelines on PTA participation in this important process and how you can be part of it. Click
here to read our recent press
release on this initiative.
3. 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.
Local Parent, Student Group Receives National Honor for Advocacy Efforts
Recognized for saving $10.5M proposed budget cut to ensure children have transportation to, from school
CHICAGO (January 21, 2010) – National PTA® is honoring the advocacy efforts of Language Academy PTSA from San Diego with its Outstanding Advocacy Award.
The PTSA was chosen for their dedication, leadership and sustained effort to positively affect child related policy, regulation and legislation.
“This year’s recipients of the Outstanding Advocacy Awards truly represent what it means to take action for all children,” said Charles J. “Chuck” Saylors,
National PTA President. “In their long term commitment to education and children, we are proud to honor Language Academy PTSA for its tireless efforts to
advocate children.”
Language Academy PTSA is receiving an award for advocacy initiatives at the district level. The PTSA rallied students, parents and teachers after the
San Diego Unified School Board proposed to cut transportation funding for magnet schools—a reported $10.5 million line item cut. With school bus cuts
affecting 57% of their student body, Language Academy PTSA organized town hall meetings, media campaigns and protests to grab the attention of
school board members. The end result: the proposed cut was voted against and transportation funding was secured so that all students can continue
to be transported to school.
“Language Academy PTSA is excited to have received this prestigious honor. Our current leadership is relatively new to advocacy, and winning the
Outstanding Advocacy Award is both humbling and reassuring, not to mention motivating.” said Bey-Ling Sha, Language Academy PTSA President.
“With passion, organization, and unity, PTA members can accomplish anything they set their minds to. I hope this will encourage PTA’s to continue
in their advocacy efforts.”
Language Academy PTSA representatives will be recognized in Washington, DC, in March during National PTA’s Legislative Conference.
National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational
success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on
being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in
PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.
