Written by Rebecca Hernandez, Resolutions Committee Chair 2023-25
Calling all PTA leaders! If you are interested in submitting a resolution this year, this is the time to begin.
Resolutions draw attention to issues of concern and call for action by PTA members, parents, schools, and communities. Resolutions are adopted by the membership at our Annual Meeting (Convention). These become PTA authorities, used to decide future PTA positions on legislation.
Preparing Your Resolution
Resolutions follow prescribed criteria, outlined in the document “California State PTA Resolutions Procedure Book.”
Proposed resolutions must
- Be in accordance with PTA purposes and policies,
- Be prepared according to criteria specified in the California State PTA Resolutions Procedure Book, and
- Follow National PTA guidelines if the resolution includes a “resolved” statement calling for it to be forwarded to National PTA.
Draft resolutions are submitted to the California State PTA Resolutions Committee in writing by a unit, council or district PTA or a state PTA commission or committee.
The deadline for filing a draft resolution is November 1st annually. Once a draft resolution is received by California State PTA, you will be assigned a mentor to help guide you through the process. Please note that mentorship takes place from November through the end of December annually.
When an adopted resolution includes a “resolve” to forward it to National PTA, the Resolutions Committee will have reviewed the submission to assure it meets national criteria. The Resolutions Chair works with the California State PTA President to submit the resolution to National PTA.
How Resolutions Inform PTA Actions
Resolutions are not laws, but many carry legislative intent. The Director of Legislation and the Legislation Team use adopted resolutions for authority and direction when advocating for state laws to benefit children and youth and when considering a California State PTA position on state ballot measures. Because resolutions are well researched and supported by credible documentation, they provide PTA advocates with strong rationale for PTA positions.
California State PTA commissions and committees with responsibility for implementing adopted resolutions do so in a variety of ways. They might:
- develop information and recommend materials and activities to inform community members about the resolution issue,
- prepare guidelines for local PTA activities and collaborate with allied agencies to address the issue,
- suggest strategies for working with school boards and community agencies, and/or
- recommend advocacy efforts to support the implementation of the resolution.
Ready to use your voice to make a difference? Share your voice by submitting a resolution on a particular issue that is impacting children, youth, and families. Visit our website at capta.org/resolutions for more information on how to get started.