One of the most important roles of California State PTA is to create and support laws that improve the lives of all California children.
ADVOCACY GOALS
PTA has a bold history of advocacy to protect children, youth, and families. Consistent with our organization’s commitment to democratic principles and human rights, California State PTA’s advocacy supports the adoption of legislation and implementation of policies that:
- Protect the rights of all children, youth, and families, regardless of background, status, or identity;
- Assure high-quality, inclusive, and equitable public education for all children and youth, including meaningful opportunities for all parents, guardians, and families to participate in local schools.
- Safeguard all children, youth, and families’ health, safety, and well-being; and
- Support measures that equip students, schools, and communities to address climate change.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AS A PTA ADVOCACY CHAIR
If you are the new advocacy chair or legislative officer for your PTA, thank you for taking this important position. PTA has a proud history of advocating for programs and legislation that help children be safe, healthy, and successful. Now, you are a part of that vital mission. You may wonder how to begin if you have never done this job before. The state legislative process is complex, and the issues can be confusing. There is a lot to learn. But California State PTA is here to make your job easy! See this section of the Toolkit to help you get started: Legislative Advocacy Chair – job description.
An invaluable resource is Ed100.org, a free online course on California education broken into brief lessons. They have a drawing to encourage your members to read and answer the quiz questions, with the possibility of winning prizes for your school.
FIND YOUR BALLOT
Tracking your California vote-by-mail ballot—when it is mailed, received, and counted—has never been easier. The California Secretary of State is now offering Where’s My Ballot?—a new way for voters to track and receive notifications on the status of their vote-by-mail ballot online. Powered by BallotTrax, Where’s My Ballot? lets voters know where their ballot is and its status every step of the way.
Sign up at Where’s My Ballot? to receive automatic email, SMS (text), or voice call notifications about your ballot.
Questions? Read Where’s My Ballot? Troubleshooting – Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) or visit the California Secretary of State’s website.
ADVOCACY, THE MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOU
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- California State PTA’s Position Statement: Media Literacy for Students and Families provides suggestions and authority for PTAs to take action.
- Department of Homeland Security flier: Media Literacy & Critical Thinking Online provides tools, resources, and curriculum from government agencies, Standford University, and American University
Amplifying the PTA voice is easy with the new Social Media Advocacy Chart. Tweet, post, or share anything in the green column. Think twice before sharing items from the yellow sections and do not share anything from a PTA account if it came from the red column.
Use social media to lift up PTA – you are an advocate, and we need your voice! Click the button below for our Social Media Advocacy Chart.