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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. 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. 01 The Power of Parents Research underscores the impact of parent involvement in schools. Power-of-Parents-Feb-2014.pdf (edsource.org) 02 PARENTS' RIGHTS - Did you know that parents and caregivers have legal, guaranteed rights to school and student involvement? 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) 03 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) https://calegislation.lc.ca.gov/Advocates/ 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. Find your legislator here - https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/ Contact the Governor 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 Submit a comment online - https://www.gov.ca.gov/contact/ 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. 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 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. Role of PTA legislation 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. 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. The unit, council or district legislative chair provides PTA members with information about PTA positions on current legislation and issues. Advocacy Resources Advocacy Communicator PTAs Nonpartisan Policy OC Voting Information Election Campaigns & the role of PTA Sacramento Safari Current Legislation CAPTA Resolution Process How to Make a Study 1st VP of Advocacy Janelle Z. advocacy@svpta.org

Training Videos CAPTA Virtual Summer Leadership Academy President Videos: Part 1 & Part 2 Handouts: Part 1 & Part 2 Secretary Video Handout Treasurer Videos: Part 1 , Part 2 , & Part 3 Handouts: Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3 Parliamentarian Basics Video Handout Links for Parliamentarian Q & A PTA Super References Sheet Audits Video Handout Membership Basics Video Handout Legislation & Advocacy Video Handout 4th District Training Videos President Secretary General Financial Parliamentarian Auditor Membership Membresia (Spanish Membership) Reflections

On February 6, 2025, the school board made the difficult decision to close San Joaquin Elementary at the end of this school year. As students prepare to move to new schools in the fall, we want to ensure they have a positive and memorable send-off. Help Us Support San Joaquin Elementary Students! On February 6, 2025, the school board made the difficult decision to close San Joaquin Elementary at the end of this school year. As students prepare to move to new schools in the fall, we want to ensure they have a positive and memorable send-off. SVPTA is raising funds to help provide a special end-of-year celebration for San Joaquin students and to purchase t-shirts from their new schools for all 220 students. These efforts will help ease their transition and give them a sense of community as they begin this next chapter. Please consider donating to show your support for these students during this time of change. Every contribution makes a difference!

FAQS FINANCIAL *. INSURANCE * GENERAL * PROGRAMS & EVENTS Financial Financial Can we use Venmo or Zelle to accept payments? No. These types of apps are peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms which aren’t developed to serve groups, especially nonprofits like PTAs. A P2P platform’s primary role is exactly that — transactions between two individuals for personal means, like paying a friend back for dinner. Great for individuals, but not for PTAs. Can we use a debit card to pay bills? No, you can't use a debit card to pay bills, but you can use online payment systems. All expenses must be accounted for and reported in the monthly treasurer’s reports. An Authorization for Payment Via EFT/ACH/Bank Bill Pay Services form signed by two authorized check signers must be completed for all Electronic Funds Transfer/Bank Bill Pay Service A re we allowed to buy gifts with P TA money? PT A funds should not be used to purchase personal gifts, equipment for staff lounges and lunchrooms or for furnishings for principals’ offices. Personal gifts include gift cards and gifts for baby showers, Secretary’s Day, bereavements, weddings, or birthdays. If the membership determines that such items are necessary, the individual members can make personal donations to purchase the designated items. These donations should not be commingled with PTA funds. insurance Insurance Are we covered by our insurance? Insurance will cover all events as long as they meet our insurance guidelines (when in doubt, call or email AIM & verify). However, per my email with AIM, “ Your policy has a pandemic exclusion. There is no coverage for covid no matter where you have the event.” Meaning no coverage will be provided for COVID related issues. It is extremely important that we are following any COVID protocols/guidelines outlined by SVUSD. Will there be an online waivers/digital signing options for Parents through CAPTA? Or AIM? At this time, no, but stay tuned for more info. general General Who do I contact when questions come up? When asked questions you don’t know the answer, please bring them to the SVPTA President , & they will make sure to get the answers for you. SVPTA will also continue to help communicate information to the community. Please make sure & share our posts/messaging. Can PTA create resource lists for parents & distribute them (ex/babysitters, tutors, etc)? Neither the PTA or school sites should be collecting and/or recommending these kind of resources. This becomes an endorsement/promotion of such businesses, which neither SVUSD or PTA should be doing for many reasons, liability being one of them. There are current resources that are provided through SVUSD, including TLC & the community services group/catalog. Those resources can be shared. Regarding resources, parents can always start their own FB group. However, it should be separate from your PTA Facebook group/platforms. Can our PTA buy gift cards for our school staff members or volunteers? No. Giving a gift card is the same as giving someone cash. In addition, giving a volunteer cash or a cash equivalent like a gift card on behalf of the organization may cause them to be considered an employee or an independent contractor by government agencies. And the IRS considers cash gifts (including gift cards) as reportable income on the recipient’s tax filings. For these reasons, our policies and procedures expressly forbid giving gift cards purchased with PTA funds: “PTA funds cannot be used to purchase personal gifts for staff or volunteers, such as gift cards.” Can PTA get the word out about GoFundMe or Meal Trains for members in the community? Yes, the PTA may get the word out about any and all benefits/fundraisers being held for individuals or families in need or about local charities who are assisting those in need, regardless of who is organizing them. The PTA may also help with a fundraiser by advertising it and encouraging volunteers, but it cannot be an official PTA activity, and all money collected must go to the organization holding the fundraiser. Checks cannot be made out to PTA, and no deposits may be made to the PTA account on behalf of another organization or family in need. Programs & Events How do we get programs and events approved? Check out our step by step guide - https://www.svpta.org/presidents I have questions, who can I contact? Please contact our Programs Liaison . programs

Resources Conflict/Whistleblower Form Find up-to-date information on running your PTA For SVPTA Presidents Training Videos SVPTA Forms CAPTA & 4th District Resources Frequently Asked Questions Important Links Meeting Docs

Welcome to SVPTA's Special Education page! We support parents of children with IEPs, 504 plans, and those seeking additional help for their child. Our mission is to foster inclusion in PTA activities, school events, and classrooms, benefiting all students. Contact your child’s school PTA Special Education Liaison for resources and guidance, and join our monthly SVPTA parent meetups to connect and receive support. Find your child’s school Special Education Liaison here: 🗂️ Liaison Directory by school Join our active Facebook Group: 👍SVUSD Special Ed Parents GET CONNECTED! Mail 🗓️ Special Education Parent Calendar: Meet-ups, Trainings, and Events 🔗 Special Education Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meetings for SVUSD – All welcome! PROGRAMS/EVENTS Coffee 📘 IEP Parent Handbook 🔗 IEP vs. 504 Plan 🔗 Special Education Rights Manual 🔗 SVUSD Special Education Page 🔗 CAC Page - Special Ed Community Advisory Committee for SVUSD IMPORTANT RESOURCES Star SVPTA Special Education Liaison Kris S. specialed@svpta.org

Join Our Board SVPTA is looking to add a Financial Reviewer, Bilingual Liaison, Arts Advocacy and Diversity & Inclusion Advocate to our board. If you are interested in any of these positions, please fill out the inquiry form below. First Name Last Name Email SVPTA School(s) that your student(s) attend Which position(s) are you interested in? * Required Bilingual Liaison Diversity & Inclusion Advocate Arts Advocacy Finanicial Reviewer Send Thank you for your interest! We will be in touch will you soon.

SVPTA Event Photos 2019-20 Presidents & Principals Breakfast

Art Resources STATE SUPPORT ADVOCACY & EDUCATAION VISUAL ARTS PERFORMING ARTS LOCAL RESOURCES SVUSD FOR ARTS PTA SUPPORT California Department of Education : Pertaining to Arts, here is information on California Education Code, content standards, common core, grant funding, and the state superintendent education transformation plan. California Arts Council : As a state agency, the California Arts Council supports local arts infrastructure and programming statewide through grants, programs, and services. Create CA : We advocate for high quality arts education for all students by providing policy expertise and by mobilizing a statewide network of advocates and allied partners. Americans for the Arts : Our program aims to dismantle systemic racism through the arts and humanities. California for the Arts : We’re helping every Californian become an advocate for the arts – from raising awareness on why the arts are so important, to providing programs and services that make our state’s creative sector stronger than ever. NFHS Advocacy : Interscholastic performing arts advocacy for all. Arts for LA : We inform, engage, and mobilize people to advocate for access to the arts across all communities. National Art Education Association : Founded in 1947, the National Art Education Association is the leading professional membership organization exclusively for visual arts, design, and media arts education professionals. Advocacy for Performing Arts : Advocacy is about educating and informing elected officials, the public, and the media about the importance of the performing arts. It is up to us—performing artists, administrators and audience members—to explain the value of the performing arts to lawmakers. Performing Arts Alliance : PAA advocates at the federal level for policies that uniquely impact the nonprofit performing arts sector. LOCA Arts Education : Meet Orange County’s most fascinating visual artists and industry professionals! Enjoy slideshows, demonstrations, and conversations. OC Art Guide : The OC Art Guide based in Orange County, California lists art events - shows, exhibitions, workshops, tours, classes, and more. Festival of Arts classes : Pageant of the Masters sponsored art classes for youth. Kids ages 5 to 12 will enjoy art classes taught by professional artists in mixed-media, ceramics, sculpture & more. Segerstrom Center for the Arts: Segerstrom Center for the Arts is one of the nation’s most respected multi-disciplinary cultural institutions. It is Orange County’s largest non-profit arts organization. The Center remains committed to supporting artistic excellence and offering unsurpassed experiences to engage the community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring arts-based education and community engagement programs. Arts Teach : Segerstrom Center for the Arts has a long history of providing performances, workshops, and residencies that use the arts to address the needs of schools throughout Southern California. Museums : Comprehensive list off all 128 art museums that are located in California. STRATEGIC ARTS PLAN (2024-2029) : This refocused and redesigned document bridges our 2018-2023 Arts Education Plan, augmenting and expanding student access to arts education t hroughout SVUSD schools and programs. Throughout this process, our team analyzed the progress made from our previous plan and reflected on opportunities to maintain and/or expand our work towards a guaranteed and viable arts education for all Saddleback Valley Unified students. VAPA recap flyer: Share with your PTA/PTSO/Boosters/Admin/Faculty. SVPTA Arts Advocacy flyer : Share with your PTA/PTSO/Boosters/Admin/Faculty. K-12 STEAM Academy : Saddleback Valley Unified School District believes that students need to be proficient in making innovative connections across a variety of disciplines, particularly in areas related to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Ar t, Mathematics). SVUSD offers a STEAM K-12 Academy with cohesive pathways creating a smooth continuum of STEAM curriculum from kindergarten at Santiago STEAM Magnet to Serrano Intermediate, concluding at El Toro High School. This will prepare students for both college and 21st-century careers. JJ 5th District : PTA canopy over SVPTA for communications and training. CAPTA : PTA canopy over districts for methods and practices.

Reflections “I Belong” That’s the theme for the 2025-26 Reflections Art Program, which has been bringing the arts to life for more than 10 million students since 1969. California State PTA and its members, families and kids are on the forefront of this amazing program, which increases community awareness of the importance of arts in education. How to Run Reflections at Your School View 4th District Powerpoint Guide View 4th District Training Video Create your online entry form here. Sign in to the correct google account Replace "Template" with your School Name Remember to "Restore" the missing file folders. This will allow you to collect the art entries for every category. Powerpoint to Virtual Form Setup 2024 2023 Understanding the Reflections Virtual Form Video 2023 Virtual Judging Steps (optional) All school winners are due to SVPTA by November 4th and MUST be submitted electronically. Look for more info to come on how to submit your winners. If you have any questions, you can schedule a phone or zoom call with Reflections Chair, so she can walk you through the steps - reflections@svpta.org Reflections encourages students of all ages to: Unleash creative talents and be inspired Express themselves imaginatively in their artwork Experience the fun and joy of making art Tap into critical-thinking skills to create art inspired by the annual theme Receive positive recognition for their original works of art Click here to see the winners of the CAPTA 2024-2025 Reflections Art Program. All students attending PTA schools sponsoring the program are invited to participate and submit original artwork in one of six areas: Dance Choreography Literature Photography Film Production Music Composition Visual Arts Artworks are submitted first to school-level PTAs, where they are first recognized, celebrated and judged by five grade-level divisions, while a non-judged Special Artists division celebrates student artists with special needs. School PTAs then choose a selection of entries to be judged by local PTA units, which are then sent on to councils and then districts for consideration. The final artworks submitted to California State PTA by districts are then considered for Outstanding Interpretation, Awards of Excellence or Awards of Merit. Outstanding Interpretation and Award of Excellence entries then go on to represent California in the final National PTA judging round. Forms and Resources Participant Forms National PTA Reflection CAPTA Reflections Page Reflections Chair reflections@svpta.org

COVID-19 Info Links SVUSD SVUSD Return to School Flow Chart SVUSD Mask Guidance 2021-2022 SVUSD Reopening Plan COVID Dashboards OCHCA OCHCA Orders & Recommendations CDPH CDPH Guidance on Isolation and Quarantine CDPH Guidance for Schools K-12 CAPTA CAPTA COVID-19 Resources for PTA Leaders CAPTA COVID-19 Resources for Parents, Families & Educators Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19 FAQS Can PTA hold in-person activities? We CAN hold PTA events off campus or on campus after school hours (ex/outreach program/art club/etc), but limited on number of people that can attend (an RSVP system to confirm the number attending is highly recommended & you must work closely with your principal to ensure numbers meet SVUSD guidelines/protocols). Please work closely with your site administrator/principal on planning any events. Can we have PTA Programs on campus (art, STEAM lab, etc.)? We ARE allowed to have PROGRAMS on campus. However, the process for approval has changed. You must have site admin/principal approval first, then have it submitted to the district & reviewed by the SVUSD school board & approved in their meeting. This means things will take longer to get started. However, the purpose behind this is to keep our students safe. The board will be reviewing & ensuring that these outside programs are following the same SAFETY protocols as SVUSD. Are we covered by our insurance? Insurance will cover all events as long as they meet our insurance guidelines (when in doubt, call or email AIM & verify). However, per my email with AIM, “ Your policy has a pandemic exclusion. There is no coverage for covid no matter where you have the event.” Meaning no coverage will be provided for COVID related issues. It is extremely important that we are following any COVID protocols/guidelines outlined by SVUSD. Do PTA meetings have to be outside of school hours? Kids permitted? Yes, PTA meetings have to be outside of school hours if you want them to be held on campus. Outside of school hours, we CAN be on campus which is exciting. There cannot be children present at the meeting, however we PTAs can hire school site personnel during the meeting time to provide childcare in a separate room. They will adhere to all COVID protocols & safety measures for the children. One great takeaway from the past year, is that ZOOM is a great way to reach all families. Perhaps a good compromise is to have any late afternoon/evening meetings in person, while offering daytime meetings via ZOOM. I do think in person meetings have many benefits & it is important to have that connection in person at least some of the time. Will PTA volunteers be allowed on campus if approved by school administration? It is true that Visitors & Volunteers will be limited for the safety of our students. This does not mean there won’t be opportunities or needs throughout the year. Please work closely with your site administrator/principals to support these needs, while adhering to all safety protocols. Will PTA be permitted to make copies on campus? YES, volunteers can come on campus to make copies. Please have your volunteer make an appointment with the front office via email, prior to coming on campus. All Volunteers must wear masks at all times on campus. Events involving food? Does food have to be individually packaged? Can it be more buffet style? Ideally yes, food being individually packaged is preferred. However, if someone is masked/gloved & individually serving food, this is acceptable. Again, all must be approved by your site administrator/principal. During COVID-19 PTA can still... Spread positivity Advocate for our kids on many levels Keep parents informed as information gets shared with us. Please ask your school friends to join our SVPTA FB page https://www.facebook.com/SaddlebackValleyPTACouncil/ and Instagram @svptacouncil Ask parents to become PTA members & be a part of something BIGGER!!! Joining PTA gives you a voice, it connects you to resources for distance learning, mental health resources, it advocates important issues including Art, Special Education, Equity in Education & so much more!!! If your school needs a simple way for families to join virtually, use TOTEM which is CAPTA’s electronic membership platform.