February 20, 2026
California State PTA Legislative Advocacy Team
On February 17, 2026, California State PTA was proud to stand in support of the historic launch of the California Legislative Children’s Caucus at the State Capitol. The bipartisan and bicameral caucus — founded and chaired by Assemblymember Mia Bonta — unites more than 40 legislators from both chambers and both parties in a shared commitment to centering children in California policy.
As the oldest and largest child advocacy organization in the nation, California State PTA has spent 129 years uniting parents, educators, students, and community members in advocating for the well-being of every child. From preschool through community college, our nearly 3,200 local PTA and PTSA units — representing more than 550,000 members — share the caucus’s conviction that California’s children deserve nothing less than the full investment of this state’s resources and leadership.
California State PTA was honored to stand alongside Assemblymember Bonta and the inaugural members of the California Legislative Children’s Caucus. This is exactly the kind of sustained, cross-partisan commitment that children’s advocates have long called for. When legislators across party lines and both chambers unite around child-centered policy, California’s kids win. We have championed this work for 129 years, and we look forward to deepening our partnership with the caucus to translate that commitment into lasting results for every child in our state.
— Heather Ippolito, President, California State PTA
The caucus’s pillars — including children’s health, education, childcare access, foster youth, housing security, economic security, and youth justice — mirror the priorities California State PTA has advanced since 1897. With nearly 9 million children calling California home and more than 1.5 million living in poverty, the urgency of this work could not be clearer.
California State PTA is particularly encouraged by the caucus’s commitment to elevating youth voice. Our PTSA units — spanning elementary through community college — provide students with a direct platform for governance and advocacy. Through our Student Involvement Committee and our Student Advocacy Voices Webinar Series, we equip young Californians to engage with their legislators and make their perspectives heard in the policy process. We are proud to connect that student advocacy infrastructure directly to the work of this caucus.
From landmark legislation protecting children’s health to budget advocacy safeguarding Proposition 98 school funding, California State PTA brings a century of experience and a grassroots network that reaches into nearly every school community in the state. We stand ready to work alongside Assemblymember Bonta and every member of the California Legislative Children’s Caucus to ensure that every policy debate, every budget decision, and every legislative priority puts children first.
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