Author: Ray Kinyon

Electronic Membership Makes it Easy to Join PTA

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by Membership Services Commission

ELECTRONIC MEMBERSHIP WORKS!

A few years ago, at the request of our local leaders, California State PTA created the online membership system known as Totem. Since its unveiling, over 2,400 PTA units have joined Totem and over 250,000 electronic memberships have been successfully processed.

If your PTA hasn’t put membership online yet, learn how today at https://capta.org/pta-leaders/services/electronic-membership-system/ 

Totem Makes PTA Membership Easy 

A growing number of PTAs are enabling their members to join and renew their membership online. Electronic membership is a great addition to your membership toolbox. It gives you a fast, effective way to get your membership message out and an easy way to have people join.

In fact, even though last year was a horrible time for PTA membership, over 360 units actually INCREASED membership. Of those 360 units, over 70% of them were units that used the Totem electronic membership system.

Five  Ways To Promote Your Electronic Membership System

  • Be the first to use electronic membership to join your PTA – and share with the built-in social sharing links in your membership dashboard
  • Send the link to your board and get them all to set the example, and then have them share and tell their friends to join. This is a great opportunity for your board to understand the electronic membership system and to help spread the word around your community
  • Post the link on your PTA/PTSA website with a colorful button. Bright colors like yellow and orange are great to attract attention
  • Post the link on your social media telling people you joined, how easy it was to join, and ask others to join and spread the word. Use #JoinPTA and #PTA4Kids in all your social sharing.
  • Email your membership link to your whole school community including all your past PTA members. Ask your principal, ASB advisor, or another school official to include the link in the next all-school notice or newsletter

Resources for Getting Started with Totem and Keeping Membership Growing

Comprehensive information about Totem, along with instructions for getting started, is available at https://capta.org/pta-leaders/services/electronic-membership-system/

Check out the Communication Commission’s archives of Social Media Kits – including Membership Drive Graphic (in the August 2020 section) https://capta.org/socialmediakits-archive/#august

Standard #2: Communicating Effectively

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by Heather Ippolito, VP Family Engagement

In July we introduced the PTA National Standards for Family School Partnerships and Standard 1- Welcoming All Families on this blog.  Today we are going to share some tips and best practices for Standard 2: 

Communicating Effectively

The school, district, the PTA, and families need to engage in regular, two-way, meaningful communication about student learning and engagement opportunities.  This is one area that we hear complaints about regularly– parents feel like information is just pushed out to them– they are not being invited to participate in the conversation.  Parents want to be heard, to share their thoughts and opinions, and to feel included in what is happening at the school.  

Here are some tips for communicating more effectively with the families on your campus:

  • Use terms that your parents can understand– many families don’t understand educational jargon and abbreviations so try not to use them!
  • Get to know your families to discover how they like their communication– are they on specific social media platforms, do they prefer email, texts, phone calls, fliers, or a combination of things.  
  • Communication must be in a family’s home language.  There are lots of tools to help with this– from Google Translate for your website to using school staff as translators and interpreters.  Note:  Translators transpose writing into a different language and interpreters translate speaking into a different language. 
  • Family nights at the school site offer a chance for families, teachers, and administrators to interact and have meaningful conversations about curriculum and other issues that impact our children.  Use these events to build relationships so families feel able to turn to the school when they need help for their children.
  • Be consistent with your communication.  Post to your social media regularly and/or have a monthly newsletter.  Families like to know that they will be receiving information from the PTA and the school regularly.
  • Survey families to identify their issues and concerns, and plan with school officials for ways to respond to those.

If you see a great example of family engagement, we want to hear about it.  Take a moment to complete this simple form so that we can recognize units, councils, and districts that are doing amazing work in the area of family engagement!

CONQUERING ANXIETY AS WE ALL HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by Mary Perry, California State PTA Board of Managers

All over California, the back-to-school ritual has begun. This year, of course, that ritual is so different. For many students and families, it’s the first time in more than a year that in-person school has even happened.

We hear a multitude of opinions about how to keep schools safe. Governor Newsom issued an executive order calling for universal vaccinations and/or Covid testing at every school. We also have a minority of people agitating against taking safety precautions at all – no vaccines, no masking, no social distancing.

Does it all have you feeling anxious and confused?

There are some great resources available to help you and others in your PTA conquer that anxiety. 

Thankfully, the California Department of Education, the California Department of Public Health, and the U.S. Education Department are all providing solid, research-based information that can guide your actions. And in every case they have created resources directed to parents that are clear, relevant, and informative. We are trying to collect many of those resources on our California State PTA Covid 19 page, but frankly it’s hard to keep up with all that is happening. So in this blog I just want to give you the latest.

Get Vaccinated
The California Department of Education is going all in on encouraging every school staff member, every parent, and every student age 12 and older to get vaccinated. On August 11, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond hosted this Facebook Live session to do just that. [link: https://www.facebook.com/CAEducation/videos/980031342834502/ ]  The main advice: make a date to vaccinate!

Research on COVID and Kids
One of the most informative (and comforting) pieces of information I’ve seen is from the California Department of Public Health. Dr. Naomi Bardach is the lead for the CA Safe Schools for All project and website. (The parent page is also available here in Spanish.) She recently summarized research that is giving health experts confidence about schools reopening. Her key points:

  • Children get COVID19 less often and are less ill than adults
  •  Children most often get COVID19 from a household adult, even when attending school
  •  Schools can operate safely and successfully when key safety measures – such as masks — are in place

Dr. Bardach also explained why kids in general are less likely to get Covid-19 or to get a serious case if they do become infected. Our bodies have these ACE2 receptors, which act like doorways to let the virus into our cells. Adults have developed a lot of these receptors but children have fewer, and the younger a child is the fewer receptors or doorways they have. The virus just doesn’t have as many places where it can enter a child’s body.

Return to School Roadmap
The US Education Department has created a Return to School Roadmap, with a web-page specifically for parents. Their Parent Checklist provides straightforward advice on how parents can make sure their kids are safe as school reopens. The key items on that list include:

  • Make a plan for eligible children to get vaccinated
  • Talk to your school about health and safety protocols
  • If your child isn’t eligible yet for a vaccine, talk with them about strategies to keep them safe at school
  • Make a plan to access safe transportation to and from school
  • Talk to your child’s teacher about your child’s needs

A crucial concern for kids and adults is the impact that the pandemic has had on our mental health, sense of security, and trust in the future. Those social and emotional issues, and what we all can do to address them, will be the subject of another article soon.

Until then, get informed, stay calm, and make a date to vaccinate!

PTA Knows Family Engagement! Learn more about the School Smarts Program

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by School Smarts Committee

For nearly 125 years PTA has helped parents and caregivers make lasting connections to their school campus to benefit all children.  Over the last ten years our School Smarts family engagement program has helped over 10,000 parents understand the way the educational system works and how they can participate in it, make connections with staff and parents at their school sites, and shown them how to best support their child and their community.  

On August 24th from 10-11 a.m. our School Smarts Program Manager, Bianca De La Torre, will give a tour of the program for interested administrators, school districts and PTA leaders.  Come hear about how the program can increase family engagement on your campus and how this program can directly support student success. 

PTA Leaders – Invite your school principal to learn more about this amazing program and how families at your school can benefit from it. Join us on August 24th from 10-11 a.m.  Register here. 

Getting Inspired About Reflections

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by Reflections Committee

Reflections Image

Want to be inspired? Just spend some time looking at the dance routines, films, visual artwork, written poems and stories, and photographs California students created as part of the 2020-21 PTA Reflections program.

Thousands of California students from kindergarten to high school participated in Reflections last year. In PTAs throughout the state, their work, based on the theme “I Matter Because…” was displayed and celebrated. 

I matter because I am me.
Standing tall fearlessly.
Knocking down boundaries.
Adding to the diversity.

From the poem “Equity, Equality, Discord and Disunity”
by National PTA Reflections Award of Excellence winner
Amira Olin, Walter Reed Middle School


In April, California State PTA announced which of those students won awards and would have their work forwarded to the National PTA competition. You’ll find their submissions here. There were 13 California students honored in the national competition.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT REFLECTIONS

How do I sign my child up for the Reflections competition?

Reflections is a PTA program that local school PTA units sponsor. Ask your PTA leaders if your school has a program. If your PTA doesn’t currently do Reflections, you could be the one to get it started. This information for local leaders will give you the information (in English and Spanish). It’s a great way to get your school community involved with PTA and with the arts.

Where do I learn more about how Reflections works?

You’ll find everything you need in the Reflections Section of the CA State PTA website. A great place to start is with our description of how the program works and what it takes to make it work.

What is this year’s theme?

This year’s theme is “I Will Change the World By…” 

You’ll find a wealth of resources, including fliers and other promotional materials, to help you publicize your local Reflections program here.

Getting kids started on their projects, based on this year’s theme, is a great way to get them inspired as the new school year begins.

Involving Students Strengthens Your PTA

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

By Membership Services Commission 

Adding student members to your association and having students serve on your executive board is great for them and great for your PTA.  

PTA was established to be a powerful voice for all children. Having student and youth involvement in your PTA, or on your PTA board, brings an important and different perspective to your organization. It also helps students learn to speak for themselves in a safe, supportive environment. Who better to speak for students than students? 

Can students become PTA members? Yes!

Per the California State PTA Toolkit, “Any individual who subscribes to the purposes and basic policies of PTA becomes a member upon payment of dues.”  This includes students. Many of our units decide to become PTSAs to stress this focus on students. 

Go to the Involving Students section of the PTA toolkit for more tips on how to successfully engage students as active PTA members and leaders.

Student leaders suggest points to share

The student representatives on our California State PTA Board of Managers tell their fellow students about these advantages to joining PTA: 

  • Gain leadership experience you’ll use for the rest of your life
  • You have a voice in how your school can serve and affect you
  • Receive access to scholarships
  • Enjoy lots of member benefits and discounts
  • Share your ideas and let your voice be heard
  • Positively impact your community through service (most schools require community service hours in order to graduate)
  • Make a difference for your generation and the generations to come

When reaching out to students, be sure to stress the ways PTA membership helps students. This website section has more ideas for what to say.

PTA’s Director of Legislation Quoted in Hi-Desert Star

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

Shereen Walter, California State PTA’s Director of Legislation, was quoted in this article about The California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act of 2020 that appeared in the Yucca Valley Hi-Desert Star yesterday.

“’Our schools have been desperately underfunded for years. With the governor’s proposed cuts to education of $15 billion, this initiative is needed now, more than ever, to ensure our schools have the resources they need in order to provide the education our children deserve,’ Shereen Walter, director of legislation for the California State PTA, said in an email Tuesday.”

Officially known as The California Schools and Local Communities Funding Act of 2020 and informally called the “split roll” initiative, it would modify 1978’s Proposition 13 initiative if passed. It will raise funds by reassessing and taxing certain commercial properties at current market value. It will appear on the November 2020 ballot.

Click here to read more about the initiative on CAPTA’s website – you’ll find a summary of the initiative, a link to the full text, and the fiscal impact report document. The campaign is also seeking volunteers to help get the initiative passed. Click here to volunteer.

Lea Darrah Testifies at CA State Assembly Hearing on School Closures

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

Yesterday, Lea Darrah, California State PTA VP for Education, testified at a hearing of Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance. The topic of the hearing was how to mitigate learning loss during the COVID-19 school closures.

Darrah was part of a panel that also included representatives from the California State Board of Education, Policy Analysis for California Education, the California Department of Finance, San Lorenzo Unified School District, the Association of California School Administrators, the California Teachers Association, Elk Grove School District, and EdTrust West.

“While districts are doing their best to provide distance learning, we know there are gaps in the system in which students may not have access to adequate technology devices, internet access or a quiet place to learn,” Darrah said during the hearing. “We support educators and believe they need and deserve professional development for distance learning. I think more than ever we realize the value of our teachers in California.”

“Furthermore, students with additional needs such as English learners, students with IEPs, 504s or special education students need additional support and services to succeed in this new learning environment,” she continued. “We have heard from parents who are concerned about ensuring their students stay at grade level and do not experience learning losses.”

“Most of all, our students and families need to feel safe and secure to face the challenges that this current pandemic requires of us. And it is my sincere hope that the legislature makes the decisions to invest in safety, mental health, educational services and social services to protect our most valued assets in the state, our children.”

Lea and other members of California State PTA leadership team will continue to advocate to get teachers, parents and families the resources and support they need to make it through this uncertain and challenging period of distance learning and school closures.

To see video footage of the hearing, click here. Darrah’s testimony starts at 2:36.

To read a text version of Darrah’s testimony, click here.

California State PTA and Carol Kocivar Honored at 2020 National PTA Legislative Conference

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

California State PTA was recognized with the Outstanding State Advocacy Award at the 2020 National PTA Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. last month, for our efforts in raising awareness about healthier school start times and securing the passage of SB 328, the Late School Start bill. The legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Newsom in October 2019, requires that middle schools in California start no earlier than 8:00 a.m., and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

Carol Kocivar, CAPTA’s former president and current legislative advocate, was also honored individually. She received the 2020 Shirley Igo Advocate of the Year Award, which is presented to an individual PTA member who, through their leadership and advocacy efforts, affected federal policy priorities within PTA’s annual Public Policy Agenda. Carol’s advocacy includes work on increasing investments in quality public education, school infrastructure, public school choice and charter accountability, as well as safe and supportive school environments.

While they were in Washington, our delegation of 14 from California also met with the offices of Senators Feinstein and Harris, as well as the offices of a number of our Congressional representatives. Our talking points focused on the inclusion of schools in any federal infrastructure legislation as well as the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act. Click here for a copy of the National PTA talking points for the conference.

Director of Legislation Shereen Walter and California State PTA President Celia Jaffe also presented a standing-room-only workshop on effective grassroots advocacy techniques as one of the Spotlight presentations being highlighted at the conference.