Author: Ray Kinyon

Meet the Leadership Services Commission

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

The California State PTA Leadership Services Commission strengthens and extends the work of PTA in all arenas, and enhances the influence and public understanding of PTA, its purpose, and work. 

Commission  activities include: 

  • Opportunities for leadership development
  • Training for unit, council, and district PTAs 
  • Guidance  to unit, council, and district PTAs to help them in strengthening, organizing, reorganizing, or in rare cases disbanding their associations 

Supporting PTA Leaders throughout the state

The California State PTA Leadership Services Commission is composed of volunteers from across the state. The Commission works to provide local, regional and district leaders with the support they need. The commission focuses on ensuring good governance, leadership and teamwork skills, financial safeguards and transparency. The commissioners mentor districts and encourage practices which engage members, increase participation, are inclusive and welcome all families.  Leaders are trained in the use of parliamentary procedure to ensure all members have a fair opportunity to express their opinions at meetings. 

Some of our work includes: 

  • Training District and Council PTA leaders, and assisting PTA Districts in 25 regions across the state with their leadership trainings throughout the year
  • Communicating directly with PTA leaders statewide via the weekly Tuesday social media posts Leadership Tips and the monthly, live PTA Leadership Call  
  • Providing timely guidance via the California State PTA Blog and in PTA publications
  • Developing workshops and training opportunities for PTA leaders and members  at the California State PTA Annual Convention
  • Informing PTA leaders about federal and state reporting requirements
  • Mentoring District PTA leaders as they assist units and councils
  • Maintaining content on the California State PTA website including the California State PTA Toolkit, Finance, Job Descriptions and Forms sections, Leadership Development Presentations (LDPs) and more

Making it easy to run your PTA

The Leadership Services Commission keeps unit leaders informed of best practices to develop high-functioning PTAs. The annual Leaders Welcome Packet available on leaders.capta.org provide easy to understand guidance in a colorful format in English and Spanish. 

The packet is mailed to new leaders at the beginning of the term and serves as a valuable tool throughout the year. 

Commission members

The Leadership Services Commission consists of the Vice President for Leadership Services and other members of the California State PTA Board of Directors and Board of Managers. Commissioners are chosen for their vast experience and expertise with PTA positions and topics such as governance, finance, and bylaws and parliamentary procedure, and to ensure representation from throughout the state. 

Here to help

To help leaders accomplish the purposeful work of PTA, the commission will provide the tools, training and support to 

  • Adopt proven, nonprofit business practices
  • Expand diverse adult and student engagement 
  • Inspire volunteers and develop leaders
  • Increase parent education and family  engagement 
  • Advocate in support of children and families
  • Support students and staff in classrooms
  • Promote PTA beyond the schoolhouse doors with the entire community

The Leadership Services Commission enthusiastically welcomes ideas and best practices suggestions from officers, chairs, and members, to be shared with PTAs throughout California. While every PTA is unique, there are common experiences that unite us. When we know others have similar experiences, we can learn from their successes and challenges, and achieve so much more. Contact us today with your suggestions or questions at leadership@capta.org.

Congratulating California PTA/PTSAs Designated 2023-2025 Schools of Excellence

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by Communications Commission

Congratulations to the California State PTA/PTSA units at schools throughout our state who were designated 2023-2025 National PTA Schools of Excellence in recognition of their commitment to building an inclusive and welcoming school community where all families contribute to enriching the educational experience and overall well-being for all students.  

Adams Middle School PTSA Redondo Beach
Alameda Elementary PTA Downey
Barnard PTA San Diego
Beacon Park PTA Irvine
C.C. Carpenter Elementary PTA Downey
Chula Vista Hills Elementary PTA Chula Vista
Conrad L. Smith Elementary PTA San Luis Obispo
Delevan Drive Elementary PTA Los Angeles
Eastwood PTA La Mirada
Ed C. Lewis Elementary PTA Downey
Forest Park PTA Fremont
La Merced Academy PTA Montebello
McKinley PTA Burlingame
Mira Catalina Elementary School PTA Rancho Palos Verdes
Palmer Way PTA National City
Rio Vista Elementary PTA Anaheim
Riverview International Academy PTSA Lakeside
Sherman PTA San Francisco
Vallejo Mill PTA Fremont
Willow Glen Elementary PTA San Jose
Winifred Pifer PTA Paso Robles
Avocado Elementary PTA La Mesa
Alta Vista Elementary PTA Redondo Beach
Edna Batey Elementary School PTA Elk Grove

The National PTA School of Excellence recognition program supports partnerships between parents and school leaders. The goal is to open the lines of communication within school communities so they can think critically about student needs and make data-driven decisions that yield positive, long-term results. We are excited to acknowledge and celebrate the strong partnerships between local California PTA/PTSAs and schools that will enrich the educational experience and overall well-being of students in their school communities.The enrollment period for the 2024-2025 National PTA School of Excellence program will be open until October 15, 2024. Enrollment is now open for the coming school year. By enrolling in this program, your PTA and school administrators are making a year-long commitment to identifying and implementing an action plan for school improvement based on PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships and Transformative Family Engagement. Once enrolled, local PTAs will gain access to free tools to run their School of Excellence program. Local PTAs are encouraged to enroll early to start building their Excellence Teams and to familiarize themselves with the steps in the program process. Learn more: https://www.pta.org/home/programs/National-PTA-School-of-Excellence

California State PTA Education Commission and You

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

Quality public education is crucially important to individual families and the future of our society as a whole. California State PTA is committed to connecting families and schools by providing a range of information, resources and training to empower parents to actively participate at all levels of decision-making: from the school site to local school boards, to state and federal government bodies. When parents and families understand how the school system works, it makes education more effective and responsive for students. That’s why California State PTA has an Education Commission. 

 The California State PTA Education Commission — composed of volunteers from across the state — works to inform parents and families about issues impacting their child’s education. We also serve on several statewide education policy groups to weigh in on K-12 education initiatives. Some of our work includes:

  • Reviewing position statements and resolutions which provide a source of authority for PTA positions or action on legislation.
  • Serving as a member of California’s Education Coalition that brings together major statewide associations representing teachers, administrators, superintendents, and school employees who work together on state-budget and school-funding issues. 
  • Participating in quarterly Assessment Stakeholder groups.
  • Participating in the California State PTA Legislative Action Committee that monitors education legislation.
  • Attending the California State Board of Education (SBE) meetings to support laws and policies that improve the lives of all California children.
  • Developing workshops and training opportunities for PTA leaders and parents at the California State PTA Annual Convention, regional training, and other events. 
  • Attending conferences such as the K-12 Water cooler Conference, STEAM Symposium, and the EdTrust West Equity Conference to engage with leading experts in a variety of fields impacting education.

All of these efforts mean you have the reassurance that the parent voice — your voice — was part of the decision-making process at the highest level. It also means you have access to accurate, relevant, and trustworthy information that is readily available on the California State PTA website. 

The Education Commission consists of the Vice President and members of the California State PTA Board of Managers — all bringing a wealth of personal and professional backgrounds and experiences to the commission.

We are focused on providing current streamlined information, developing resources PTA units can use to inform their members, and sharing updates and news about crucial education issues in California including:

  • Learning Loss/Accelerated Learning
  • Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum
  • Equitable Access to Technology
  • Student Attendance
  • Teacher and Staff Shortages
  • Social-Emotional Learning (skills such as self-discipline, how to navigate social situations, how to empathize with others, etc.)
  • Student Mental Wellness in partnership with the Health & Community Concerns Commission

We invite you to share what education topics are on your mind and what you would like to know more about. Your comments and feedback are always welcome and appreciated. Feel free to reach out to education@capta.org.

New laws for California’s schools and youth

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by Legislation Commission

Many new laws were passed in 2023 that affect the lives of California’s children, youth, and families. Here are just some of them that were supported by California State PTA:

Recess guaranteed.  Schools must provide at least 30 minutes of free-play recess on regular school days that cannot be restricted by staff.  (SB 291 – Newman)

Worker rights for high schoolers.  Information must be provided to students on labor rights before they receive a work permit. (AB 800 – Ortega)

Info for families.  Schools must post their Local Control and Accountability Plan on the California School Dashboard to make it easier to find online.  (SB 609 – Caballero)

Teach climate science.  Science courses in grades 1-12 must include the causes and effects of climate change and methods to mitigate and adapt to climate change. (AB 285 – Rivas)

Cleaner transport.  New school buses must be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. (AB 579 – Ting)

Drug prevention and response.  Schools must have a protocol for responding to a student’s opioid overdose.  (SB 10 – Cortese)

School safety plans for all.  Plans must include disaster procedures and adaptations for pupils with disabilities.  (SB 323 – Portantino)

Equitable student discipline.  Suspension or expulsion of a student in grades 6 through 12 based on willful defiance is prohibited.  (SB 274 – Skinner)

No more book bans.  Public school students must be provided with accurate and inclusive instructional materials in social sciences; censorship and discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, or any other protected characteristics is prohibited.  (AB 1078 – Jackson)

Want to learn more?  See Carol Kocivar’s Ed100 blog discussing several more of California’s new laws.

Save the Date: California State PTA Convention 2024

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

Did you know that as president of your PTA, you and one other PTA officer from your school can be voting members at the annual meeting of the California State PTA?   Part of your leadership role is to attend the annual meeting known as convention. Voting members at convention are known as voting delegates.  Delegates at convention vote positions on important issues, bylaws, and other business. Your vote is the voice  of your school PTA in our State Association.  

 In addition to the annual meeting,  convention is a learning explosion. We provide you with the “how-to’s” of PTA and much more.  There are over 50 leader development workshops ranging from how to run an effective meeting to building partnerships with families,  administrators, and community leaders. We recognize talented students in the incredible PTA Reflections Arts program. There are table talks regarding education and community issues affecting all children.  We propose bylaw changes and vote on many topics.  Convention training will help you become a better prepared leader who will confidently speak up for all children and families in your community.

Now is the time to plan for the future of your school PTA. Please look at Article 5, Section 9 of  your bylaws for your association-specific information on who at your unit will attend, and remember, the cost of attending convention should be built into your budget each year.  

This year’s annual meeting/convention will be held in Ontario, California.  Please mark your calendar now for Friday May 3 – Sunday, May 5, 2024. More details will be provided soon.  We can’t wait to meet you at the 2024 California State PTA Convention.  See you there!

Unlock your child’s full summer potential with practical tips to prevent learning loss!

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

By California State PTA Education Commission

This summer you may be wondering how to make the most of your child’s time while still supporting their education. Learning loss can occur when students are away from school for a long break like summer. But don’t worry. With some planning and fun activities, you can turn summer into a chance for growth and learning. This article will give you practical ideas to prevent learning loss and keep young minds active during the break.

Let’s start with reading. Make it an exciting adventure for your child. Create a special reading list based on their interests and let them explore new genres and authors. You can even set up a mini-book club with their friends or siblings to talk about the books they read. Going to the local library regularly is not only fun but also helps them discover a wide range of books and connect with the community.

There are many cool educational games and apps available that can make learning super fun. From math puzzles to language learning games, these digital tools can help your child review and strengthen their academic skills while having a blast. Just make sure to keep an eye on their screen time and pick apps that match their age and learning needs.

Now, let’s dive into science. Summer is perfect for hands-on learning. Plan nature walks, visit botanical gardens, or try simple backyard experiments that teach cool scientific stuff. Exploring the great outdoors sparks curiosity and makes them appreciate nature and the environment.

Cooking is another exciting way to mix learning and everyday life. Involve your child in measuring ingredients, adjusting recipes, and calculating cooking times. It’s a great way to boost their math skills and promote healthy eating habits.

Next up is art. Encourage their creativity by providing art supplies and letting their imagination soar. Get an early start on this year’s PTA Reflections theme, “I am Hopeful Because…” Whether they love drawing, painting, or dancing, these activities are fantastic for developing fine motor skills and boosting their brain power.

Physical activity is not only fun but also essential for their development. It boosts brain function, improves concentration, memory, and cognitive abilities. Outdoor play and exercise are great stress busters and promote overall well-being. When they play with friends, they learn important social skills, teamwork, and cooperation. Encouraging physical activity early on sets the stage for a healthy and fit lifestyle.

Need more inspiration or some specific ideas and resources? Go to the California State PTA Resource Library and search for the category you’re interested in, such as Activities to do at Home, Arts, and ELA (English Language Arts) & Math. 

Remember, summer learning loss is a concern, but with your active involvement, you can turn this vacation time into a time of growth and exploration. Make learning enjoyable, relevant, and part of their daily life. You can create a complete summer learning plan that fights learning loss and prepares them for a smooth return to school in the fall. Embrace the summer as a time of growth and offer the support and encouragement your child needs to succeed both academically and personally. Happy summer learning!

Plan for a full year of advocacy!

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

As your PTA develops its plans for the 2023-24 school year, it’s important for education administrators and PTA leaders to nurture PTA advocacy efforts together.  

PTA leaders understand that speaking up for children – the essence of advocacy – is essential to ensure that every child has access to a quality education and the support they need to thrive.  California’s school principals and district superintendents benefit from having robust advocacy efforts supported in their schools because most know that strong family engagement improves education outcomes for students. Working together, parents, PTA leaders, teachers, and administrators can mobilize around actions that will improve the education, health, and well-being of all children and youth.

What’s meaningful to the members of your community?  Advocacy is different at each school.  Policymakers need to hear from their constituents about the impact of their policies.  That’s true at every level, from your local school and district, to city and county governments, to state and federal legislators. Also consider who doesn’t have a seat at the table:  Who are you NOT hearing from?  

Keep in mind that with PTA, you are never alone. Whether it’s grassroots efforts designed to give ordinary people a voice in the political process, or direct advocacy activities to communicate with policy decision makers,  you have an ally in PTA!  You have people who care about what YOU care about. 

California State PTA has policies, experts, tools, and resources to help you make a difference on the issues that concern you. A great place to start is the Advocacy section of the California State PTA website.  Now – at the start of the school year – is the time to engage your volunteer base and leverage your resources. You can amplify your collective voice effectively to benefit your community’s children, youth, and families.  

Start by selecting a PTA leader to head up the advocacy efforts of your PTA unit, council, or district. Make sure that their contact information is submitted to California State PTA so that they can be a part of state-level advocacy programs throughout the year.

Invest in the growth and development of your advocacy program by ensuring that your advocacy leaders and local team members can participate in California State PTA programs that support their efforts.  Examples include advance budgeting and planning to attend the California State PTA Legislation Conference (January 22-23, 2024, in Sacramento), training and workshops available at the California State PTA Convention  (May 3-5, 2024 in Ontario), and utilizing the various online resources and webinars designed to inform, educate, and empower advocates to take action that makes a difference.

Other ways that schools, school districts, and PTA leaders can work together to nurture advocacy efforts in support of common goals include:

Annual LCAP process – Encourage all members of your community to contribute to the development of your Local Control and Accountability Plan by offering multiple opportunities to collect input and listen to what families need from their public schools through local PTAs.  Having PTA host an event at each school can result in more meaningful suggestions coming from a broader cross-section of your community than limited electronic surveys allow.  PTA gatherings can also be helpful in determining the efficacy of LCAP implementations.  

Election Year 2024:  Promote voter engagement – The 2024 California State Primary Election, which will include the presidential primary, takes place early next year.  Promote civic engagement by holding a voter registration drive with a special emphasis on encouraging eligible high school seniors to participate.  Online pre-registration is now available for eligible 16- and 17-year-olds by visiting registertovote.ca.gov. California youth who pre-register to vote will have their registration become active once they turn 18 years old. Pre-registration does not change the voting age, which is 18. Instead, it allows eligible Californians ages 16 or 17 to complete the online voter registration form providing sufficient time and opportunity to get ready to vote.

All California active registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot for the March 5, 2024, California Primary Election.  The last day to register to vote is February 20, 2024.  You can check your voter status online at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov.

Ballot measures – If your school district is seeking funds through a ballot measure, California State PTA can offer guidance on how your local PTA can help to inform the public about the relevant issues concerning the measure, or even help secure the passage of a local school district facilities bond or local parcel tax election.

http://toolkit.capta.org/advocacy/election-campaigns/school-bonds-and-other-ballot-measure-campaigns/

Join us!

Both California State PTA and National PTA regularly engage in direct legislative advocacy efforts to effect policy changes that benefit all children.  One of the key ways that parents, teachers, principals, and administrators can contribute to strengthening our collective voice is to be sure to join PTA at the start of each school year.  We’re stronger together!

Use Your Meetings to Encourage PTA Participation

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

By the California State PTA Leadership Services Commission

As your local PTA starts to plan the year ahead, take some time to think about how to use meetings to both accomplish the business of the organization and engage members. 

The first question is how to get people to attend. PTA families come in all shapes and sizes. Two income families, single parent families, divorced/widowed parent families, adoptive families, foster families, grandparent-led families, LGBTQ+ families, families with special-needs children at home, small families, huge families, deployed families, the list goes on and on. They all have something in common, they are busy families!

Three Kinds of Meetings, Three Different Opportunities

General association meetings are the big and most inclusive meetings that ALL paid members should be encouraged to attend. This is where you present to members your budget, your financial review, and your end of the year financial report. You also elect the nominating committee and the next executive board at these meetings. 

Encouraging as many people as possible to attend general meetings helps to meet your required quorum and is part of being transparent as a board. Presenting a program at an association meeting is an effective way to encourage more members to participate. The program might involve a speaker, community forum, student panel or special activity. And it might focus on topics of interest to everyone on campus such as student learning, or health and wellness. 

When organizing programs for association meetings, remember to: 

  • Survey members for input on possible programs 
  • Plan and publicize programs in advance 
  • Keep the program schedule flexible to address an unexpected situation on campus 
  • Provide presentations on topics or activities that bring all types of families together

After the meeting, the board should assess the effectiveness of the program and decide if this will become a standard part of your PTA program from now on or if you need to re-evaluate what the needs of your community are. The California State PTA Leaders’ Website has more information about how to plan and run your association meetings.

Executive board meetings typically occur monthly. Members of the elected board, appointed officers such as the parliamentarian, your principal, a teacher rep, and committee chairs meet monthly to discuss what the committees have been working on, pay bills, assess the progress on your organizational goals, and make decisions for the good of the organization. The date of the meeting is usually the same day each month and is stated in the standing rules section of your bylaws. In some PTAs, these monthly board meetings are held prior to an informational program open to all families or prior to updates from the principal and PTA leaders. 

Committee meetings include members of the relevant committee who meet to discuss a specific program or fundraiser. They work out the details and bring their plans back to the executive board. These are usually very casual and easy to organize because there is a very small pool of people involved.  As this blog describes, committees are an effective strategy both for getting things done and involving members in small but important volunteer roles that can engage and excite them to continue with PTA.

Take a look at the Tips for Leaders section of the Leaders’ Website for more suggestions about both member engagement and effective meetings.

For new officers, bylaws are your best friend!

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

PTA bylaws are the foundation of the organization. What officers you will elect, when you will have your meetings, how many voting members must be in meetings – even meeting notice requirements and budget adoption requirements – are in the bylaws. Bylaws should be reviewed annually, and must be updated at least every five years, so the beginning of the year is a perfect time to start! As you review the bylaws, you may notice components that need to be updated. Don’t worry – that’s part of the process! 

A bylaws review committee, appointed by the president and chaired by the parliamentarian, is how the process begins. That committee examines the existing bylaws and the current bylaws template, and may recommend changes to the bylaws. When the executive board  approves the changes, a prepared submission will be forwarded to the Council or District that supports you and then they will pass it to us here at California State PTA. We call this the “PTA Channels”.  The California State PTA parliamentarian reviews the changes and signs the bylaws to be returned to the unit through channels. 

But you are not done yet!  The process  is complete only when the bylaws changes have been adopted by a 2/3 vote at a unit association meeting with 30 days’ notice. Plan wisely, because the process does take some time!

Need help with the steps? Council, District, and California State PTA leaders are here to help guide and support you every step of the way. Reach out to parliamentarian@capta.org if you need help getting in touch with the right leaders for help. 

Find out more about reviewing bylaws in the Toolkit: http://toolkit.capta.org/running-your-pta/bylaws/changing-bylaws/  In addition, you’ll find a wealth of information about bylaws on the California State PTA Leaders’ Website.

Stay tuned for more info on Parliamentary Procedures and Bylaws Tips in future issues of PTA Connects!

GET ON BOARD WITH TOTEM

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

If your PTA isn’t registered yet in the TOTEM electronic membership system, now is the time to get onboard!

You can set up the e-membership account from home – it’s easy, quick and free – all you need is the contact information for a few of your key officers (President, Treasurer, and Membership Chair) and your unit bank account information (so the membership dues can be deposited into your unit’s bank account).

Click here to learn more about TOTEM on the California State PTA website, then click here to get your PTA signed up. You can also contact emembership@capta.org if you have questions.