Our commissions and committees are charged with taking the lead on major issues affecting California children and youth.
ADVANCING THE WORK OF PTA
Chaired by biennially-elected vice presidents, California State PTA commissions and committees address internal priorities – convention, leadership, membership, programs and services, communications and finance – and external issues – community concerns, education, health and parent involvement – that are PTA priorities.
The commissions and their members reflect board direction, goals and policies in their focused work and oversight, which govern the day-to-day operations of the association. Their work is facilitated through special studies and cooperation with statewide allied groups, agencies and coalitions whose goals are similar to PTA’s. Each commission is responsible for providing leadership and education to unit, council and district PTAs to help implement the projects and activities that fall within its area of concern.
COMMISSIONS
Communications Commission – This commission is responsible for internal and external California State PTA publicity and communication. Responsibilities include news releases and news conferences, radio and TV appearances by California State PTA Board of Managers members, website maintenance and development, electronic communications, social media, design and publications. Responsibilities also involve concerns related to mass media and their effects on children, youth and families. Contact communications@capta.org.
Convention Commission – The Convention Commission is charged with supporting the California State PTA’s annual convention, which is both the required General meeting for our State Association and an opportunity for us to share trainings, programs and resources with our member units. Contact us at convention@capta.org.
Education Commission — The commission advocates for adequate public funds that are spent only for public schools and provides the knowledge and tools so that at the state, school district, and local levels PTAs actively participate in efforts to ensure every student has the same opportunity for an excellent education. Commissioners represent the California State PTA on many statewide committees and commissions. Contact education@capta.org.
Family Engagement Commission — The commission acknowledges and supports parents as the first teachers of their children and realizes the integral role parents play in the total development of the child. The commission helps parents and family caregivers strengthen their parenting skills and their parent/family involvement in children’s lives, recognizing the special needs of teenage parents. An increase in skills, knowledge and understanding is needed as children progress through stages of development. Vital to these efforts are the California State PTA parent involvement tools, such as the School Smarts Parent Engagement Program and the PTA National Standards for Family-School Partnerships Assessment Guide. The commission networks with agencies and groups whose primary focus is parent involvement, informs parents about criteria for quality child-care, promotes efforts to increase adult literacy and maintains a library of additional parent education materials. Contact familyengagement@capta.org.
Health & Community Concerns Commission — This commission deals with issues related to the support of the whole child within the home, school and community. Topics in this area address the health and welfare of children and their families such as bullying prevention; school and community safety; tobacco and substance abuse prevention; chronic absence and truancy; mental, personal and community-health issues; and homeless and foster youth. The commission supports collaborations among parents, schools, communities, institutions, agencies and organizations, which are essential to the health, well-being and academic success of California’s children and youth. Contact health@capta.org or communityconcerns@capta.org.
Leadership Services Commission — The Leadership Services Commission provides assistance, materials and resources to benefit the PTA leaders at all PTAs including financial requirements. Mentors from this commission offer individual guidance to district PTA leaders who strengthen and support the work of local PTA units – and councils where they exist. No question is silly and we’re all in this together! Contact leadership@capta.org. For financial questions, contact treasurer@capta.org.
Legislation Team – One of the most important roles of the California State PTA is to support laws that improve the lives of children. The Legislation Team meets with elected officials and policy makers, speaks at meetings of the legislature and carefully monitors proposed legislation on topics such as education funding and policy, community and school safety, juvenile justice, child-care and early education, children’s health and other issues affecting children and youth. Contact legislation@capta.org.
Membership Services Commission — The Membership Services Commission promotes the value of PTA in membership recruitment and retention strategies including marketing outreach and implementation of PTA programs such as National PTA Reflections Art Program, Founders Day, scholarships and grants, awards and more. Contact memberservices@capta.org.
Student State Board Members — Student representatives serve as commissioners on the California State PTA Board of Managers. Representatives are members of the Student Involvement Committee, assigned to a commission and included in the planning and presentation of student-involvement workshops. Involving youth on the California State PTA Board of Managers is part of California State PTA’s commitment to training those who will be tomorrow’s parents and community leaders. The district PTA president is the contact for information on appointing student representatives. (See “Involving Students” in the California State PTA Toolkit)
COMMITTEES
Audit Committee — The purpose of the committee is to liaison between the State office and the third-party audit firm reviewing our financials, and when provided, to review and present the audit report to the Board of Directors. Contact us at AuditCommittee@capta.org.
Bylaws/Policies and Procedures Committee — This committee, chaired by the state parliamentarian, reviews the State PTA Bylaws and the organization’s standing rules and exhibits for relevancy and practice each term. The committee prepares proposed amendments to the State PTA Bylaws and related rationale for consideration by the board of managers and delegates to the State annual convention. The committee also reviews the unit, council and district PTA standard bylaws and provides guidance on bylaws and parliamentary procedure to presidents, parliamentarians and members at all levels of PTA.
Diversity and Inclusion Committee — We believe your voice and mine together strengthens our community. California is one of the most diverse states in the country, and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee aims to assist PTA units, councils and districts with strategies to create a culture of diversity and inclusion and to ensure our PTA Executive Boards reflect the diversity of our members.
Legislation Action Committee — The Legislation Action Committee guides the work of the Legislation Team and is a broad-based group of PTA volunteers who study proposed legislation and determine California State PTA’s positions based on PTA convention resolutions and other PTA authority.
Reflections Committee — The Reflections program committee is PTA’s long-standing commitment to arts education. The Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life. This 50+ year-old program helps them explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.
Resolutions Committee — PTA Resolutions allow members to call attention to a problem and a need for action on a particular issue and are a major source of authority for the California State PTA. Members present and approve resolutions at the annual California State PTA Convention. The Resolutions Committee provides mentorship to the makers of PTA resolutions and reviews submissions to ensure that they meet requirements as defined in the California State PTA Resolutions Procedure Book before it is passed to the membership for approval.
Scholarships and Grants Committee — The Scholarships and Grants Committee supports local PTAs that supporting efforts that build and grow student achievement, parent engagement, and family involvement by awarding California State PTA grants in the areas of Cultural Arts, Healthy Lifestyles, Outreach Translation, and Parent Education. In addition, the committee provides California State PTA scholarships to school professions, PTA volunteers, and Graduating High School Seniors continuing their educational path.
School Smarts Committee — The School Smarts committee includes the president, president-elect, vice president for family engagement, managing director, and members of the Board of Managers. The committee is responsible for providing assistance with the planning, development and delivery of the School Smarts program as well as providing oversight of the program and collaborating with other commissions and committees to share information and promote the program.
Student Involvement Committee — The student involvement committee actively includes students in the work of the California State PTA. Student representatives serve with adult board members who work as a team to train youth to be future advocates, community leaders, and responsible adults.