Advocacy
PTA at its heart is an advocacy organization.
Recently on a phone call, National PTA President Anna King discussed advocacy and the importance of parents' decisions in their student's education.
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Please remember that advocacy is respectful. If you want to be heard and enact change, it needs to be done in a kind and respectful manner. We’ve seen many people on all sides struggling with the impact of this pandemic on their children. As we continue to move forward & towards more normalcy for all of us, let’s do everything we can to reunite our school communities and our families.
With ADVOCACY at the forefront of our organization, here are resources supporting the importance of parent involvement in schools, as well as contact information to assist you in advocating for your child through local representatives, state representatives & various agencies.
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The Power of Parents Research underscores the impact of parent involvement in schools. Power-of-Parents-Feb-2014.pdf (edsource.org)
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PARENTS' RIGHTS - Did you know that parents and caregivers have legal, guaranteed rights to school and student involvement?
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It’s true: These laws and rules were created and put into effect by families, teachers and concerned community members and groups like the PTA who want the best for our kids.
Parents' Rights - California State PTA (capta.org)
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Proposed Legislation from the CA Assembly & Senate (if you have concern or support of certain bills, here is where you can go to provide your feedback)
Legislator Contacts*
*Please note, if you are writing your legislators, you cannot use your PTA title or position on any statewide issue. You must write them as a parent from their district.
Contact the Governor
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You may contact Governor Gavin Newsom by mail at:
Mailing address:
Governor Gavin Newsom
1021 O Street, Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160
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Submit a comment online - https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/
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Any PTA district, council or unit may recommend action on legislation to the California State PTA Board of Managers. PTA districts, councils, and units are responsible for taking action on local issues originating in school districts, cities, regions, or counties.
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Laws enacted by local, state and national bodies are primary sources of public policy. Securing adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth is one of the purposes of the organization. Therefore, PTA maintains an active legislation program.
PTAs can and must participate actively in the process through which public policy decisions are made.
Legislative Chairman
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PTA is a child advocacy association. Its legislative mission is to speak on behalf of all children and youth at the local, state and federal levels. One of the Purposes of PTA is “to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.” PTA promotes and encourages legislative advocacy for the education and welfare of all children and youth.
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Role of PTA legislation
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As local officers of the largest grassroots child advocacy organization in the state, PTA legislative advocacy chairs are responsible for demonstrating leadership on children’s issues at the local level by educating PTA members, community members and elected officials about PTA’s issues of concern and legislative priorities and goals.
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The California State PTA takes positions on issues/legislation based on position statements in the California State PTA Toolkit, California State PTA convention resolutions, California State PTA Legislation Platform and National PTA positions and convention resolutions.
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The unit, council or district legislative chair provides PTA members with information about PTA positions on current legislation and issues.
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