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Your generous contribution to the California State PTA will help us continue to develop and deliver top quality programs and services in support of all children and families.

Taking Action Through California State PTA Resolutions

Posted on September 30, 2024 by CAPTA IT

Recently a PTA leader shared that she answers the question, “Why PTA?” by directing people to review PTA resolutions and position statements.

California State PTA resolutions and position statements provide our members with a united and powerful voice, backed by research. PTA leaders and members use that voice to influence policy change at the local, regional, and state level to improve the lives of children and youth in California.

Resolutions call attention to a problem and the need for action on a particular issue. If you do not see a resolution or position statement on an issue important to you or your community, please contact the Resolutions Committee at resolutions@capta.org for guidance.

A resolution may be initiated by an individual PTA member, but it must be submitted by an authorization vote of a PTA unit, council, or district in good standing. Fall work for resolution makers includes obtaining the authorizing vote, forming a committee, and notifying your council or district and the State Resolutions Committee by email that a resolution is under construction. A draft resolution must be submitted to resolutions@capta.org on or prior to 5:00 p.m. November 1st in order to be entered into the process for possible consideration at the California State PTA’s Convention.

Position statements also address key issues and concerns. They are adopted by the Board of Managers, following a researched study of an issue by our Board of Managers as they relate to our purpose and mission. Position statements then can help provide a basis for action on legislation and other California State PTA action.

For more information, please review the California State PTA Resolutions Procedure Book at bit.ly/capta-resolutions-book.

We look forward to your help in strengthening our voice for the children, youth and families of California.

Apply Now for our 2024-2025 PTA Program Grants & Scholarships

Posted on September 30, 2024 by CAPTA IT

California State PTA is pleased to offer the following grant & scholarship opportunities to you and your PTA. Your PTA must be in good standing at the time that you apply. The application deadline is October 15, 2024. Don’t miss out! Here’s a quick rundown.

PTA Program Grants

Is your PTA researching a new outreach program or expanding on a current success? Apply for California State PTA’s program grants. Available to unit, council, and district PTAs in good standing, these unique annual grants are geared to support local PTAs in developing programs and projects that include a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) component in four areas of major interest to our children and school communities. Check out this short video from National PTA to learn valuable tips on how to plan and implement programs with a lens for DEI.

Parent Education

You can develop and implement parent education programs and projects in such areas as health, child development, child abuse prevention, or parenting skills. Programs or projects must be sponsored by the PTA applying for the grant. Program grant ideas include parent resource centers, seminars and workshops, forums for parents of children with special needs, and information on preparing healthy meals.

Cultural Arts

You can develop and implement student-centered cultural arts programs which complement the California State PTA’s commitment to a quality arts education. The programs and projects should focus on expanding the students’ awareness and appreciation of the field of cultural arts and/or enriching and enhancing arts education programs and must be sponsored by the PTA applying for the grant. Program grant possibilities include performing arts assemblies, arts communications brochures, demonstrations, storytellers, read-a-thons, and docents.

Outreach Translation

This grant supports your goal to translate PTA written materials and interpret oral presentations in an effort to involve every member of the school community. Presentations or materials must be sponsored by the PTA applying for the grant. Program grant possibilities include translating written materials into other languages, providing translations at meetings and events, offering school community activities, enhancing partnerships, and engaging non-English-speaking families.

Healthy Lifestyles

You can develop, promote, and implement programs, projects, and activities that will improve the overall health of children and adults. Program grant possibilities include classes, health fairs, awareness events, walking/running programs, sun safety initiatives, and depression awareness efforts. Please refer to the AIM Insurance Guide for approved activities.

Your PTA must be in good standing for your application to be considered. For more information click here. Find more information and resources on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion here.

PTA Program Grants Application

Continuing Education Scholarships

Scholarship opportunities are available for school staff and PTA volunteers.

Credentialed teachers, counselors, nurses and school staff who have a minimum of three years of experience in a California public school are eligible to apply for the Continuing Education Scholarship for School Staff. You must be employed in a California public school during the preceding year and plan to continue working in a California public school.

PTA volunteers with at least three years of service are eligible to apply for a Continuing Education Scholarship. Your scholarship must be used for advanced studies at accredited California colleges, universities, trade and technical schools.

Continuing Education Scholarship Application

Graduating High School Senior Scholarship

2024 Graduating Seniors Scholarships: Application is now OPEN. Deadline to apply for Senior Scholarships is February 1, 2025.

Graduating High School Senior Scholarship Application

Start your 2024-2025 California State PTA Membership Journey

Posted on September 30, 2024 by CAPTA IT

Membership is PTA’s strength, and it is our voice. We want all of our local PTAs to have the tools needed to increase PTA membership. Whether you’re proceeding steadily or speeding towards your membership goals, we hope that you keep your goals aligned with the 2024-2025 California State PTA’s Membership Incentives and Challenges. Simply visit each Passport checkpoint to build a strong membership campaign for your PTA. Did you know that when you keep your membership goals aligned to our Membership Passport deadlines, your PTA will earn extra recognitions? All the challenges and incentives are available on the CAPTA website.

Download the 2024-2025 Membership Passport to share with your PTA leaders!

Visit the Leaders Site to learn more about the passport challenges.

Recognizing National Arts in Education Week (September 9-13)

Posted on September 10, 2024September 30, 2024 by CAPTA IT

PTAs across the nation celebrated National Arts Education Week from September 9-13th! Whether you are a student, educator, parent, or principal, you can still find a way to continue celebrating the arts in education.

According to the National Art Education Association, the arts are an essential part of a complete education – in the home, school, or community. Students of all ages benefit from artistic learning, innovative thinking, and creativity. Celebrating National Arts in Education Week is a way to recognize this impact and share the message with friends, family, and communities.

Arts education, including dance, music, theater, media arts, literature, design, and visual arts, is a core academic subject and an essential element of a complete and balanced education for all students.

Designated by Congress in 2010 through House Resolution 275, the celebration is designated to bring attention to the cause for elected officials and educational decision makers across the country and to support equitable access to the arts for all students.

National Arts in Education Week takes place annually during the week beginning with the second Sunday of September.

Apply Now for California State PTA’s 2024 Scholarships and Grants

Posted on August 19, 2024September 5, 2024 by CAPTA IT

Apply Now for California State PTA Scholarships and Grants!

The Scholarships & Grants Committee is excited to announce our 2024 Scholarship and Grant opportunities for your PTA unit, school staff, and parent volunteers!

We encourage all PTA units in good standing to apply for Program Grants, and all eligible school staff and volunteers to apply for Continuing Education Scholarships. Priority will be given to programs which emphasize diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

Continuing Education Scholarships: for school staff members, teachers, counselors, nurses and PTA volunteers.

Program Grants: for unit, council and district PTAs in good standing for programs and projects that benefit students and schools.

Cultural Arts Grant: for programs that promote arts education.
Outreach Translation Grant: for programs that promote language accessibility.
Healthy Lifestyles Grant: for programs that promote health and wellness.
Parent Education Grant: for programs that promote parent education.

How to Apply:

Visit capta.org/programs-events/scholarships for application forms and guidelines.
Attend our Scholarships & Grants Application Webinar on August 27th at 7 PM. You’ll learn tips and hacks to successfully apply for scholarships and program grants.
Watch this short video from National PTA that provides tips on how to plan and implement programs with a lens for DEI.
Submit your scholarship or grant application by 10/15/24.

How to Apply for our 2024 Scholarships & Grants Webinar

Check out the full webinar to learn more about our 2024 scholarships and grants opportunities.

Leadership Services Welcome

Posted on August 19, 2024August 21, 2024 by CAPTA IT

The first months as a new PTA leader may seem overwhelming, but California State PTA is here to help! A lot needs to be done to get things up and running. This list will help you figure out when and how to schedule meetings, create calendars, and perform other tasks that will ensure that your PTA gets off to a good start!

The president should set up a meeting with the school principal and call meetings of the board as soon as possible.
At the first board meeting, ratify appointed officers, fill any vacant positions, ratify committees and chairs, and make plans for the coming year.
Look for opportunities to bring new activities in while keeping tried-and-true popular programs. It is not too late to conduct a survey of needs for the entire school community. Use input from the survey for brainstorming session(s) with the board to establish your goals. Set realistic goals and prioritize programs over being a fundraising machine.
Set a calendar for the upcoming year, making sure it works with the school calendar, and provide materials to the school office to be included with any start of school mailings.
Meet with outgoing officers to understand your job and to collect materials belonging to your PTA.
Become familiar with the duties of each chair by reviewing the California State PTA Toolkit. Share job descriptions and materials as noted with the chairpersons.
Consider reviewing your PTA bylaws with the entire board, even if the bylaws are not due for renewal. The bylaws contain many job responsibilities and timelines/due dates. Reviewing them together gets everyone on the same page with the same expectations.
Encourage every board member to attend training. The Training Center on the CA State PTA Leaders Website is a great resource for this.
Prepare a preliminary budget and present it for adoption at your next association meeting.
Verify with the outgoing financial officers that the books have been closed and that the following documents were prepared: Annual Financial Report, Year-end Financial Review, documents organized for preparing tax filings.
Update signature cards for bank accounts, including changing the bank owner in TOTEM.
Make sure that your board roster is uploaded into MyPTEZ. Provide names and contact information for board members. Starting in 2024, you must provide at least an email and mailing address for your treasurer and secretary in addition to the full contact info for the president. If you do not have access to the roster system, contact your council or district to assist you.
Make sure each of your board members knows how to contact their counterpart at district (or council) to get questions answered.
Don’t forget to breathe! There is no such thing as a PTA emergency.

Welcome to the 2024-2025 School Year!

Posted on August 19, 2024August 19, 2024 by CAPTA IT

By Shereen Walter, California State PTA President

It’s that time again, time to welcome students and their families back to school for the year! How are you and your PTA board going to make the families in your community feel valued and welcome? Here are a few tips that may be helpful!

Create a welcoming meeting atmosphere: Assign an officer or two (or your entire PTA board) to greet newcomers at each meeting. Wear name tags so that everyone can get to know everyone’s name. To keep newcomers from feeling like outsiders, avoid using acronyms or jargon and explain the programs and events you put on at the school so everyone knows what they are. Have meeting attendees raise their hands to be called on to speak.. This keeps one or two members from dominating the discussion. Use a sign-in sheet so you know who attended. Follow up after the meeting to thank new families for coming and ask if they have any questions or would like to become involved.

Recruit everyone: Consider every interaction with a new family as a chance to talk about what your PTA does and to invite them to get involved. Set up simple ways for everyone to get involved. Offer volunteer opportunities with varying levels of commitment so that everyone can give of their time and energy in a way that works for them. Try an online volunteer sign-up or management system. Follow up after asking for input or help. Consider having a volunteer coordinator on your board.

Be available: Update your PTA website frequently. Make contact information for your PTA officers and committee chairs easy to find so members can reach out with questions or to get involved. Link your PTA info to the school website. Hang welcome signs and post notices about PTA events where they are easily seen.

Welcome new volunteers and fresh ideas: Use committee roles to allow volunteers to ease into learning about your PTA. Provide job descriptions where they can easily be found and read. Provide members a timeline of when new board members and committee chair people are selected so they know when these opportunities for involvement are available. Reach out to and encourage transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten parents and guardians to become involved in the PTA.

Build diversity: Listen to your community. Do not assume you know what they need from PTA. Survey families in their home language, if possible, to see what kinds of programs they are interested in and how PTA can support them. Include new voices in the planning and execution of events. Fresh feedback and input are a gift! Reach out for wide representation from your community. Ask people to invite their friends. Call new families to personally invite them to events or meetings. On forms and paperwork, remember to be inclusive in your language, ask for the names of parents, caregivers, or guardians. Bring meetings and interactions out into your community. Do not always expect families to come to you.

Use every day as your chance to make somebody feel welcome in your school’s PTA!

Kickstart Your School Year with Cheddar Up

Posted on August 19, 2024August 21, 2024 by CAPTA IT

From Our Sponsor: Cheddar Up

Getting ready for the school year can be a whirlwind, especially for PTA members juggling multiple tasks. Imagine if you could streamline all your activities, from payments to event management, with one simple tool. Enter Cheddar Up – the ultimate solution for PTAs to handle everything efficiently and effortlessly. Let’s dive into how Cheddar Up can transform your PTA experience this school year.

Simplifying Payments

Managing payments for various PTA activities can be a real headache. Collecting checks, tracking who’s paid, and keeping records straight is no small feat. Cheddar Up takes the stress out of the process by offering seamless online payment options. With just a few clicks, parents can register for events, fundraisers, and other activities.

The convenience of online payments means you no longer have to worry about misplaced checks or delayed payments. Plus, Cheddar Up’s tracking and reporting features ensure you stay on top of every transaction. Imagine how much time you’ll save by not manually updating spreadsheets or chasing down payments!

Effortless Event Management

Organizing PTA events often involves endless paperwork and coordination. From creating invitations to tracking RSVPs, it can be overwhelming. Cheddar Up simplifies this by providing customizable event pages and real-time attendee tracking.

With Cheddar Up, you can create an event page that includes all necessary details, registration forms, and payment options. Parents can sign up and pay online, reducing the need for manual tracking and paper forms.

Real-time attendee tracking lets you see who’s coming to your events at a glance. This feature is invaluable for planning resources, such as seating, food, and materials. Less manual work means fewer errors and more time to focus on making the event amazing.

Streamlining Sign-ups

Traditional sign-up sheets can be a hassle – they get lost, parents forget to sign up, and managing them is cumbersome. Cheddar Up’s digital sign-ups change the game. Parents can easily access sign-up forms online, and automatic reminders ensure they don’t forget their commitments.

Digital sign-ups offer unparalleled convenience for both parents and PTA organizers. Whether it’s for volunteer opportunities or classroom activities, you can set up forms that are accessible from any device. This makes it easy for parents to sign up at their convenience, leading to better participation rates.

Efficient Form Management

From permission slips to waivers, you can manage everything digitally. Customizable forms mean you can tailor each form to meet your specific needs, whether it’s for a school trip, fundraising campaign, or parent questionnaire. This means accurate information, neatly organized, and accessible whenever you need it.

Making the Transition Easy

Worried about switching to a new system? Cheddar Up’s transition guide has you covered. It offers step-by-step instructions and tips for training PTA members, ensuring a smooth changeover. The guide simplifies every aspect of the transition, so you can start enjoying the benefits without a hitch.

In addition, Cheddar Up offers customer support to help you through any challenges you might face during the transition. Check out the guide, follow the steps, and watch as your PTA becomes more organized and efficient.

Conclusion

Cheddar Up is your go-to tool for simplifying PTA tasks. With streamlined payments, effortless event management, digital sign-ups, and efficient form handling, your PTA can operate smoother than ever. Take the first step towards a more organized and stress-free school year with our FREE starter kit and see the difference Cheddar Up makes for your PTA!

Join the Free California State PTA Insurance Webinar 2024

Posted on August 19, 2024August 19, 2024 by CAPTA IT

California State PTA is excited to announce our annual Insurance Webinar, scheduled for Thursday, September 26, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This is an essential event for all PTA leaders, providing crucial information and updates on insurance policies, worker’s compensation, and best practices to ensure the safety and success of your PTA activities. And it is free!

Why Attend?

Understanding insurance and risk management is vital for every PTA leader. This webinar will cover:

Comprehensive Overview: Description of insurance policies available through the California State PTA.
Risk Management Strategies: Practical tips and guidelines to minimize risks during PTA events and activities.
Workers’ Compensation: Key information about worker’s compensation, including information about the Workers’ Compensation Annual Payroll Report.
Q&A Session: An opportunity to ask questions and get answers from experts in the field.

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is designed for all PTA leaders, including presidents, treasurers, secretaries, and committee chairs. Whether you are new to your role or a seasoned leader, the information presented will be invaluable in helping you navigate the complexities of insurance and risk management.

Date and Time:

Date: Thursday, September 26
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

How to Register:

Registering for the webinar is simple and quick and FREE. Click on the link below to secure your spot today!

REGISTER NOW

Possible Ways to Prepare in Advance:

Review the Information available on the California State PTA Insurance page. This page provides a wealth of resources and documentation that will be discussed during the webinar.
Incorporate the Webinar into Your Planning by putting the date, time, and registration link on your PTA board members’ calendar.
Spread the Word and encourage the entire leadership team in your PTA unit, council or district to register and attend. Together, you’ll create a shared understanding of your insurance coverage and how to protect your PTA’s assets and the safety of all participants in your programs and events.

For more details and updates, please keep an eye on the California State PTA Insurance page and our calendar. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us.

See you at the webinar!