| National PTA News 2009 - 2010 |
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PTA is… • A powerful voice for all children, • A relevant resource for families and communities, and • A strong advocate for the education and well-being of every child. |
CHICAGO (December 2, 2009) – National PTA is positioning itself as a key player at the front line of education reform. The association today announced a new three-year effort to mobilize parents to advance key education priorities, beginning with common core state standards—a voluntary, state-led, internationally benchmarked set of high academic standards in English language arts and mathematics. A $1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will help support the effort. Beginning in January 2010, National PTA will educate and train PTA members and parents about the common core state standards, focusing early outreach in four states: Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, and North Carolina. National PTA plans to engage additional states as this work moves forward in mid-2010. “Currently, there are disparities in the level of rigor because every state has a different set of standards. This reform effort will educate parents about the need for higher, clearer and fewer standards so that they know what their child should be learning in school and how they can support learning at home,” said Charles J. “Chuck” Saylors, National PTA President. “Parents should be able to rest assured that their child is up to par with their peers across the country and around the world no matter where they choose to raise their child.” For decades, National PTA has taken action for children. Through this effort, the association is taking another step toward education reform by addressing common core standards. It is National PTA’s fundamental belief that every child, regardless of zip code, deserves an equal education, and all teachers deserve a set of clear, high standards. “Education standards have historically been too vast and too vague to provide the focus required for students and teachers to achieve at high levels,” said Vicki L. Phillips, Director of Education, College-Ready, at the Gates Foundation. “National PTA and its five million members can be a leading voice in the common core standards movement, raising academic expectations nationwide and preparing all students for success beyond high school.” National PTA is committed to ensuring that all students graduate college- and career-ready. Earlier this year in June the association called for the creation of common core state standards and became an endorsing partner of the National Governors Association and Council of Chief State School Officers’ Common Core State Standards Initiative. In September, National PTA also offered its full support of the initiative’s draft college- and career-readiness standards. To date, 51 states and territories have joined the Common Core State Standards Initiative. The full K-12 standards are expected to be finalized in early 2010. “National PTA believes that there should be a level playing field among states, school districts and schools that will give all students the opportunity to be ready for their college and career. This effort will bring us one step closer to real education reform. It will ensure equity in education nationwide and will improve the level of rigor that will ultimately make the U.S. more competitive with other leading countries,” said Byron V. Garrett, National PTA’s Chief Executive Officer. About National PTA 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. |
PTA.org has the tools your local units need to build strong family-school partnerships! New downloadable tools—available at pta.org/family_school_partnerships.asp The Power of Partnerships, a guide to PTA’s process for building successful partnerships, in English and Spanish (a copy of the guide was also included with the October/November issue of Our Children magazine) PowerPoint presentations and handouts to help educate parents and other school stakeholders about the power of parent and community involvement and what they can do. The National Standards for Family-School Partnerships Assessment Guide to help local schools implement effective programs, practices, and policies to involve families and support student success. The PTA Report to the Community, a customizable template that equips PTAs to share their partnership successes Review the materials at www.pta.org/bsp and share them with your local units! |
| The grassroots advocacy system
that
helps secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and
youth. For more than a century, PTA has change the lives of children across our nation for the better—speaking with a unified voice on behalf of young people’s education, health, safety, and well-being. Times and issues may have changed, but advocating for children remains a critical responsibility of PTA members. We are concerned with the laws, policies, and conditions that affect children and their families, whether at the local, state, or federal level. That’s our role as advocates. PTA defines advocacy as the act of supporting and speaking on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community, and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children. As an individual, one of the most effective ways to become an advocate at the local level is by joining PTA Takes Action Network, a coalition of state and local PTA members who keep federal officials apprised of PTA’s legislative issues and priorities. If you’re ready to take action on federal issues of concern to PTA, then join the thousands of PTA advocates nationwide who are already making a difference in children’s lives through PTA Takes Action Network. What will I be asked to do if I join? 1. Respond to Action Alerts When there is an issue of high priority, PTA’s National Office of Programs and Public Policy sends network participants a legislative Action Alert. These alerts provide all the information you’ll need to effectively advance PTA’s position: - A description of the issue at hand and what is at stake - The message you are asked to relay - Talking points - Background information - PTA’s position - Whom to contact and how 2. Stay Informed of Legislative Issues Network participants will receive PTA’s legislative newsletter PTA Takes Action Update. Written each week Congress is in session, the newsletter reports on Federal legislation and regulation that PTA’s National Office of Programs and Public Policy is monitoring relating to PTA’s priority issues; - Formal actions taken by PTA on legislation and regulation; - Congressional White House, or national coalition meetings that PTA representatives attended; and - Recent reports and education statistics. PTA’s legislative positions are determined by the resolutions adopted at the annual convention or are adopted by the board of directors. The National PTA Legislative Program is the primary authority for action taken by PTA on federal legislation and regulations. Members of the network are expected to support and promote PTA legislative positions. |