Author: Ray Kinyon

Local PTAs Successfully Advocate For School Facilities Improvements

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by California State PTA Legislative Advocate Beth Graves-Meyerhoff

Many PTAs coordinate programs and opportunities for their members to advocate directly with their local elected officials. Palos Verdes Peninsula Council of PTAs invited students, teachers and parents to meet with Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi and a representative from State Senator Ben Allen’s office for an afternoon last spring called Capitol Comes to Town. 

The civic engagement event provided about 80 students an engaging learning opportunity with guest speakers. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School student, Linus Yeh said, “Capitol Comes to Town was a great opportunity to meet like-minded people, learn about democracy, and simulate it at the same time.”

Assemblymember Muratsuchi said, “I had the opportunity to speak with students and parents about my experiences as a state representative and was extremely impressed with the students’ legislative ideas and questions. Events like these are a healthy reminder of why I continue to make K-12 education one of my top legislative priorities.” 

After learning about how bills become laws, the students met in small groups to brainstorm their top needs and ideas for legislation. The majority of student legislative priorities focused on improvements for their aging schools, particularly the school bathrooms, many of which had not been remodeled since the schools were built in the 1950s. 

Assemblymember Muratsuchi listened carefully to the students’ concerns about minimal privacy (broken locks and deteriorating partitions), lack of soap supplies and dismal and dark aesthetics.  The Assemblymember worked to include a budget request for facilities upgrades into AB 178 and SB 178 which was voted on in June, 2022.

On August 19, 2022, students joined PTA members and district staff to receive $500,000 in state funds, based on the actions Muratsuchi took on AB 178, to significantly improve the aging school facilities with a focus on the restrooms. 

Palos Verdes High School student Sophia Kwon said, “I never would have guessed that attending Capitol Comes to Town and speaking about issues that affect our schools would make such a direct impact on our campus facilities funding. It was incredibly empowering to realize that we as students have a voice and the power to make a difference. Thank you Assemblymember Muratsuchi for not only listening but also advocating on our behalf!” 

“I heard the students loud and clear, and I was able to secure state funding to help fix this problem. Thank you, students, for speaking up and thank you PTA for your advocacy!” said Assemblymember Muratsuchi.

PTAs Can Help to Get Out the Vote!

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by California State PTA

Get Out the Vote!

Many PTAs coordinate voter registration campaigns as part of their advocacy programs to engage PTA families and students. Along with the adult advocacy California State PTA undertakes, we have long encouraged students’ civic engagement and citizenship education more generally. PTAs may obtain voter registration cards and have them available at PTA events or host separate voter registration coffees, socials or other events. 

To obtain voter registration cards and to learn how to conduct a voter registration drive go to the California Secretary of State website 

PTAs may also share links to California’s online voter application in newsletters and other social media platforms. The application is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese.

REMEMBER! October 24 is the last day to register to vote for the November 8, 2022, general election. To check your voter registration status visit MyVoterStatus

Mock Elections Generate Real Election Excitement For Students

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by California State PTA

While many middle and high school students may not yet be able to vote officially, they can participate in mock elections. Many PTAs offer mock elections as a student program to teach students about the elections process, the electoral college, and upcoming ballot initiatives. After learning about the issues, students can vote with a simple ballot or using scantrons like real voters do. 

Some PTAs and schools opt to participate in the statewide Student Mock Election to share their election results. During the 2022 California Student Mock Election, students will be able to cast their vote for Governor of California, United States Senator, and ballot measures that have been placed on the November 8, 2022, General Election ballot.

After coordinating a mock election program, be sure to share what students were taught and the results of the mock election to your community. 

Click here for more information about the California Student Mock Election:

  • September 19, 2022, is the last day to register and receive a Student Mock Election Supply Kit in the mail, if requested. 
  • Schools that register after September 19 will receive instructions allowing them to download and print Student Mock Election materials from the California Secretary of State’s website. 

October 5, 2022, is the last day to register for the 2022 California Student Mock Election.

Knowing your family’s rights helps to protect them

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by California State PTA Family Engagement Commission Consultant, Kathleen Fay

Family Engagement September 2022 Banner

Decades of research back up what we know and value: Family involvement is the real key to our kids’ success. California State PTA wants to make sure you know your family’s rights. 

At a minimum, schooling is a government service children are entitled to and a legal obligation for every family. At the optimum, schooling is a partnership, with educators and families working together to motivate students to learn and succeed. That’s where PTAs come in. Our collective commitment to family school partnerships, and our experience, can make the difference in how well families and schools work together.

That’s why it’s helpful for PTA leaders to know something about what California law sets up as expectations for how schools and families ought to partner effectively. The start of school is a great time for everyone to review those rules and renew their commitment to working together for kids.

To realize the many benefits of effective family-school partnerships, schools must embrace families as equal partners and recognize that parents and adult caregivers are experts on their children and communities. Outlined here are some fundamental rights that adult caregivers have in California to ensure no parent is left behind.

Parents’ rights

California law acknowledges and protects the rights of parents (family members, adult caregivers) to participate in their children’s education. The California State Legislature declared that “all participants in the education process benefit when schools genuinely welcome, encourage and guide families into establishing equal partnerships with schools to support pupil learning.”

These rights are spelled out in Education Code sections 51100-51102; parents/guardians have the right to…

  • meet with their child’s teacher(s) or principal,
  • volunteer at the school/classroom [Note: conditions may be impacted by the pandemic],
  • be notified of student absences,
  • receive their child’s standardized test results,
  • have a safe environment for their child that is supportive of learning,
  • examine curriculum materials,
  • be informed of their child’s progress,
  • have access to the school records of their child and question their accuracy,
  • receive information concerning the academic performance standards, proficiencies, or skills their child is expected to accomplish,
  • be informed in advance about school rules, including disciplinary rules and procedures, attendance policies, dress codes, and procedures for visiting the school,
  • receive information about psychological testing and deny permission for testing,
  • participate in parent advisory committees, school site councils, or site-based management leadership teams,
  • be informed of the appropriate school personnel to contact if problems arise, and
  • observe classrooms in which their child is enrolled or, for school selection or transfer purposes, to request a particular school for their child and receive a response from the school district.

Time off for parents to engage in kids’ schools

The Family-School Partnership Act encourages parents and caregivers to get involved in children’s school activities by providing rights to time off work. If you work in a business with 25 employees or more at the same location, you have the legal right to request and take off up to 40 hours per year to participate in school- or preschool-sponsored activities like classroom volunteering, back-to-school events, and field trips. Hours off are provided through vacation usage, personal leave, compensated time off, or unpaid time.

The public has a role in local funding decisions

Your school district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) outlines goals, action plans, and resources to improve student outcomes. The LCAP must specifically address the needs of low performing student groups as well as those of English language learners, students in poverty, and foster youth. Overall, it identifies a school district’s priorities as evidenced through funding for those priorities.

The LCAP is reviewed and updated each year – a process that necessitates transparency and collaboration with the community. Local stakeholders (including students, parents, teachers, principals, administrators, school personnel, and bargaining units) possess valuable perspectives and insights about school district programs and services. Effective district planning will incorporate these perspectives and insights to identify potential goals and actions to be included in the LCAP. In addition to consultations with stakeholders and advisory committees, districts must give members of the public the opportunity to submit written comments, and to conduct both a public hearing for input and a public meeting for adoption of their LCAP.

Learn, Share, Grow: Ideas for Creating Successful Family Events

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by California State PTA Family Engagement Commission

Family Engagement Friday August 2022

Creating family-oriented events, and making sure every family feels welcome, is a great way to strengthen the engagement of families with school and their kids’ education. 

More than  100 participants from across the state shared their best family engagement tips, tricks, and ideas at the 2022 California State PTA Convention, during a workshop called “Learn, Share, Grow.”  

Here are some top ideas about events your PTA can bring to your school:

Remember to approve all events with your membership and check with your school, and the PTA insurance guide before you start planning. 

Seasonal events:

  • Fall Festival– Have game booths run by grade levels or invite community partners to join the fun and create their own game booths.  Sell carnival type foods (hot dogs, tamales, pizza, etc.) or invite food trucks.  Ask for parent volunteers to work short shifts (30 minutes to one hour) so that they volunteer AND explore the event with their family.  Some PTAs utilize a volunteer swap so volunteers from one school volunteer at another school and vice versa.
  • Boo Grams/ Valo-grams/ Candy Grams– Create a simple card that students, parents, teachers can fill out for the recipient.  Purchase candy, flowers or toys in bulk then attach the cards to the items and deliver them to classrooms on a specified day.  This low-cost activity allows for families, students and teachers to show appreciation for each other in a fun way.
  • Trunk or Treat– Ask for families or staff to decorate their vehicle trunks in creative ways.  They can either use Halloween decor or select a theme (Pinterest has some great ideas for this) to make their trunks a showplace.  Students then walk from car to car and trick or treat.  Make sure you have enough candy by asking for donations of candy from the entire school and/or community partners.  You can extend this activity by having food, music, and allowing students to wear costumes if you so choose.
  • Winter Holiday shop – Give the students a space to purchase gifts for their families at a reduced cost or have them make crafts or art projects that can be used as family gifts.

General family fun:

  • Movie Nights– Whether you do this on your playground as an outdoor event or in your multi-purpose room- families greatly enjoy this!  Be sure that you obtain a license to show the movie, so you are not in violation of copyright.  This event can be free or low-cost. You can provide popcorn or snacks, families can purchase them for a small fee, or they can bring their own treats from home.  If you want to take it to the next level you can have a “drive-in” where students create their own cars to sit in out of cardboard boxes.  This would add a fun arts component to the night!
  • Book Fair– Many schools have a book fair at some time during the year.  One way to turn it into a bigger family event is to have it in the evening and ask  teachers or volunteers to read some of the books that can be purchased.  You can also have a table full of books teachers are requesting for their classrooms or that the library would like for families to purchase.  You can also time Family Literacy Night to coincide with your book fair so that families can purchase books as part of that event.
  • Muffins in the Morning– After morning drop-off invite families to join your PTA for muffins in the morning.  Have coffee and some pastries, highlight upcoming events and the benefits of joining PTA, or invite a special guest to speak to families.  These kinds of opportunities give families a chance to get to know each other and feel more comfortable with the PTA and volunteering. You can simplify with just coffee and juice and include a chat with the principal if available.  
  • Family Campfire– This event can either be around a real fire at a local park or beach or you can create your own “fire” with flashlights and colored tissue paper.  Whether you are using a real or fake fire, the concept remains the same– let’s get families outside to enjoy some time in nature.  Tell campfire stories, sing songs, go on a flashlight hike to see what insects or animals you can find.  You can end the night giving everyone a s’mores kit to make once they get home- filled with graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate. 
  • Glow Night– Head on over to the dollar store or bulk catalog shop and purchase glow sticks, glow necklaces and rings.  Make posters using neon paint and put some black lights around.  Encourage families to wear neon or white clothes so that they glow too!  Have music and games to complete the event. 
  • Family Art Night–  The arts are a great way to have the entire family participate in activities.  Grandparents, siblings, or aunts/uncles or a favorite neighbor or caregiver- everyone can do art!  Some PTAs have partnered with local ceramics studios or paint-night shops for this event while others have simply purchased simple supplies like paper, brushes and paint or construction paper and scissors.   Many PTAs also use this as the kick-off for their Reflections program by adding a table explaining the rules of the program to families.
  • Touch a Truck Event– This event is an outstanding way to partner with businesses in your community as well as local emergency agencies.  Invite various vehicles including dump trucks, construction vehicles, a city bus, garbage truck, police, fire, tree climber, etc. to park at your school and allow students and families to get up-close and personal with these cool forms of transportation.  This can be a ticketed event or free- but it’s a well-loved event for elementary school families. Be sure to follow PTA procedures and clear this with the principal ahead of time.
  • Western Roundup– Families come to campus in their western best to learn some line dancing and show off their best country dancing.  Line dancing not interesting to your community? What other types of group dancing would be?  Learn and do together activities are a wonderful way to include families who might not regularly attend events. 
  • Family Picnic- Invite families to bring a picnic dinner and a blanket to your school’s playground for this event.  Have some music playing, allow children to play on the yard, and maybe invite a food truck or two for dessert or shaved ice to cool off.  Families love a  free event and the chance to get to know their student’s friends. 
  • Board Game Night– Families bring their favorite games to school and teach them to other families.  Make sure to have some decks of cards on hand too– there are lots of games you can play using cards. 
  • Talent Show– Ask students or families to create their own acts for your show.  Singing, dancing, magic tricks, playing an instrument, telling jokes– families have so many talents to share.  Many schools have a theme for their talent show, but it’s not necessary.  Sell tickets and/or concessions or have a free community event depending on your PTAs goals.  Talent shows can be very simple or more elaborate, but the most important thing is to have fun. 

We want to share your great family engagement ideas with other PTAs across California.  Please take a moment to fill out this simple form and share your family events with us.

BigFuture: Offering Scholarships for All

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

Sponsored by College Board

College Board Scholarship Winner
Lin from New Utrecht High School in New York

High school students are heading back to classrooms for a new school year, and it’s never too early for families to start thinking about life after high school.  Exploring careers and planning for college can feel overwhelming and complicated.  How do you find the school that’s right for you?   How do you start researching careers or identifying majors?  How do you find scholarships and other financial aid?  BigFuture from College Board simplifies the process and offers scholarships that reward students for taking key steps to plan for college, pay for college, and explore careers.  

Informed by students and educators, BigFuture is a free online guide that helps all students plan a productive and successful path after high school.  Students who complete specific steps on their personalized BigFuture dashboard automatically earn entries into drawings for $500 and $40,000 BigFuture Scholarships.  Meet our class of 2023 winners here.

“This scholarship means everything to me and my family,” said Christopher, a $40,000 BigFuture Scholarship winner from Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy in Gilroy, CA. “Prior to receiving the scholarship, my parents were struggling to find a way in which my college education would be paid for. Receiving this scholarship took a huge burden off of me and my family’s shoulders.”

The sooner students complete one or more of the following steps, and the more steps they take, the more scholarship entries they’ll earn. 

  1. Build a College List: Students search for colleges and add six or more to their list.
  2. Practice for the SAT: Students use Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy to get ready for test day.
  3. Explore Scholarships: Students explore a list of scholarships personalized for them based on their background, achievements, and future plans.
  4. Strengthen Their College List: Students make sure their list has a mix of reach, match, and safety schools.
  5. Complete the FAFSA: Students complete the free government form to apply for financial aid.
  6. Apply to Colleges: Students apply to at least two colleges they want to attend.

All students in the class of 2023 are now eligible to win $500 and $40,000 scholarships that they can use at two- or four-year institutions.  Each month BigFuture will award two $40,000 scholarships and hundreds of $500 scholarships.  Since 2019, more than $15 million in scholarships have been awarded to students who use BigFuture.  At least half of the scholarships will be awarded to students whose families earn less than $60,000 a year.  There are no essays, test-score, citizenship status, family income, or minimum GPA requirements.  

A California student you know could be the next winner! Students can head to bigfuturescholarships.org to begin college planning steps and earn a chance at scholarships. 

California State PTA is a nonprofit and non-commercial volunteer organization and does not endorse any product, publication, or business associated with sponsorship partners.

Explaining the “WHY” for Family Engagement

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

By California State PTA Vice President for Family Engagement, Heather Ippolito, and California State PTA Family Engagement Consultant, Kathleen Fay

Family Engagement Friday August 2022

Experienced PTA leaders know that effective family engagement is key to student success. Yet, it can be challenging to briefly explain the importance of this idea to those unfamiliar with the concept.                

We’re sharing a menu of suggestions so you can create your own family engagement elevator speech*. Select from each section and customize it to make an authentic summary for you. Then share it in LCAP meetings, school board meetings, advocacy days, etc., and spread the message about why family engagement is so meaningful!

___________

* Reflects the idea that it should be possible to deliver the summary in the time of an elevator ride, or between 30 seconds and two minutes.

Part 1- Family Engagement Facts (select 1 or 2). Here are a few family engagement facts to begin your elevator speech:

  • Families who are engaged and offer a home environment that encourages learning are a bigger factor in student achievement than parental income, educational level, or cultural background.
  • Family engagement is the concept of schools and families partnering to support children’s learning and development. 
  • Effective family–school partnerships offer a high return on investment that has been proven to benefit students, parents, teachers, and schools.
  • Family engagement is equity work at its core, serving as a powerful lever for addressing inequities in schools and communities.  It assures that educators embrace families as equal partners and are recognized as experts on their children and communities.
  • Strong family engagement practices bridge the gap between home and school to help families access information and resources to support their children’s learning and advocate for their needs.
  • Families possess a wealth of knowledge that should be drawn on to support students’ learning and development, helping educators to learn about each child’s learning styles, strengths, interests, and values.
  • Well-informed, engaged parents make a difference in student success in school and beyond.  A home environment that encourages learning is a bigger factor in student achievement than a parent’s income, education level, or cultural background.  Decades of research indicate that students with involved parents are more likely to attend school regularly, perform better in school, develop better social skills, and go on to post-secondary education.
  • Collaborative family and community engagement practices acknowledge that families are the greatest strengths in their children’s lives, that families have the right to be involved in their children’s education, that adult caregivers have expertise about what’s right for kids, and ensure that those directly impacted by decisions have meaningful decision-making power.  Practices, systems, and structures are set up to recognize adult caregivers as full partners in education.
  • PTA focuses on transformative family engagement because it represents a shared effort of families, schools, and community partners to advance programs, practices, and policies that promote children’s learning and empower every parent to make their child’s potential a reality.

Part 2- Tell your personal story (select 1). A personal connection to family engagement will make your elevator speech much more persuasive.  Here are a few examples to get you thinking of your own story:

  • As a parent, I remember how excited my daughter was to see me on campus.  She loved that I knew her friends, that her teachers knew my name, and that I was asked to serve on committees or chaperone classroom events.  
  • Our PTA family engagement events, including our family art night, have helped families to feel welcomed on our campus.  The number of smiles we see during these events makes all the hard work of planning worth it!
  • When I moved into our new school, my child and I were so nervous, but seeing the smiling face of the PTA volunteer made us feel at ease.  They explained to us about upcoming family events and shared with me the different volunteer opportunities I could participate in.  That short interaction made all the difference in our day.  

Part 3- The Ask (select 1).  Finish up by inviting the person to learn more and get involved.  Here are some examples of how to welcome others: 

  • Join us at the Welcome Tea to see how engaged our parent community is in our school.
  • I hope to see you next week when we’ll be allowing families to offer their feedback on the proposed bell schedule changes.
  • You’re welcome to participate in our next forum, where we’ll learn more about how parents can more effectively advocate on behalf of their children.
  • If you want to hear some ideas about what parents can do to build/support/oppose [this matter], we’ll be getting together [day/time/place] and would appreciate your input.
  • As a school board member, I think you’d be pleased to observe this partnership.  We’d love to see you at our Meet the Administrators event so you can show your support for our school community.
  • Improving our school’s family engagement practices would offer so many benefits to students that I think it’s worth our time to consider bringing School Smarts to our campus.
  • I’m sure your kids would love to see you here with us when they hold their science fair.  It’ll be fun for everyone!

To show that you are open to continuing the conversation, we recommend sharing your contact information so they can get in touch with you with any follow-up questions or suggestions.  Now THAT’S being PTA-friendly!

National 988 Crisis Hotline is Now Up and Running

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by California State PTA Health and Community Concerns Commission

A new nationwide hotline phone number, 988, will provide 24/7 free and confidential emotional support to those struggling with a mental health crisis. Promoted as an alternative to 911, 988 is specifically for people experiencing mental health emergencies.

Federal legislation established the 988 hotline.  It also mandated the development of a strategy to provide specialized services for LGBTQ youth. Research shows these youth are more than four times more likely to contemplate suicide than their heterosexual peers. Officials say they hope the new shorter phone number will be easier for Americans to remember, allowing more people in crisis, including LGBTQ youth, in particular, to get the help they need.

Those experiencing a mental health crisis can call or text the three-digit number ― 988 ― to access the all-hours free and confidential emotional support hotline. Previously, those seeking support would have to call 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK). That number will remain in effect.

“When people call, text, or chat 988, they will connect to trained counselors that are part of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network,” the network’s website says. “These trained counselors will listen, provide support, and connect callers to resources if necessary.”

If you or someone you know needs help, dial 988 or call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also get support via text by visiting suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of resources.

Summer Break Learning and Activities for Families

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by California State PTA Family Engagement Commission

California PTA leaders’ top recommendations for summer break learning activities and adventures you can discover together with your child.

Check out the Resource Library–  The California State PTA’s Resource Library is full of activities you can do while school is out.  There are online activities you can use during computer time, suggestions for local museums and events across the state, as well as activities you can do in your home or around your neighborhood. 

Read– Choose a book to read together as a family and have lots of options for the kids to read on their own. Visit your library often, not only do they have books to check out but they often have summer programming for children of all ages from preschool to high school.  

Having a family audiobook to make the hours speed by when traveling or for use at home to quell squabbles (because everyone is immediately silent when the book is turned on)!  Their family favorites are the Children of the Lamp series, Harry Potter, and anything by Gordon Korman. Most libraries offer Overdrive or Libby, apps which allow you to download an audiobook to your device with your library card.

Visit California Historical Landmarks– Do you know that there are over 1,000 historical landmarks across our state?  Take a look and see what sites there are close to your home.  Many of the sites were free to visit, but they all helped us to learn more about the diverse history of our state.”

Bake/Cook– Summer is a great chance to spend some time in the kitchen making treats, lunches, or dinners for the family.  Once your child finds some favorite recipes to make, they can help you during busy weeks by making the family dinner or packing lunches for the entire family.  Remember that recipes are a great way to combine science and math skills– in a fun and tasty way!

Walk– Take time for family walks during the cooler early morning hours or in the evening.  Not only is it good exercise, but it is time to explore the world around you.  As you walk, try some of these activities:

  • look for interesting plants or trees
  • do a photo scavenger hunt (you can find some fun, free ones online)
  • try to find things in every color of the rainbow
  • leave notes for your neighbors written and/or drawn by your family
  • count the number of cars, dogs, or other items you see

Our Family Engagement Fridays are taking a hiatus during the summer months of June and July. You can always reach us at: familyengagement@capta.org.  We hope that you also take some time to rest, recharge, and spend time with your family. 

How you can have a voice in developing your school district’s LCAP

Posted on by Ray Kinyon

by Kathleen Fay, California State PTA Family Engagement Commission Consultant

At this time of year, California school districts  can demonstrate their commitment to family engagement in their Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAP).  National PTA Standards for Family-School Partnerships include two principles that have particular relevance during the spring season of the LCAP when districts are making their final decisions about their budgets and priorities. 

Do you know if these family engagement standards, from National PTA Standards for Family-School Partnerships Assessment Guide, are being met as part of your district’s LCAP process?

  • Principal 4 = Families are empowered to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success.
  • Principle 3 – Families and school staff are equal partners in decisions that affect children and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs.

As part of their local accountability work, school districts have to report on  Priority #3: Parent Involvement, which requires school districts to seek parent input in making decisions for their schools and to promote family participation in education programs for all students.  But the way a district chooses to seek that input varies widely depending on how district leaders choose to handle it.  For example, some districts encourage families to come to open public input sessions held at each school site, while others (sadly) do little more than send parents a survey to rank their satisfaction with a shortlist of pre-selected issues.  

One of the most impactful ways families and caregivers  can offer input into the LCAP process is to participate in their school district’s Parent Advisory Committee, which provides advice to the governing board and superintendent regarding the development of the LCAP.  If school district enrollment includes at least 15 percent English learners and at least 50 pupils who are English learners, there should also be an English learner parent advisory committee established for the district.  You can ask your school principal how to sign up to participate.

What issues should you consider when offering your input?  What’s important to your family that the school should be doing better?  PTA and Ed100 have created an LCAP Checklist to help you think through what’s important.  It gives you the background you need and questions to ask.  PTA leaders can share it to get people engaged and use it as a tool to organize a public input session for your unit.  Here’s the link:  LCAP CHECKLIST

Other ways PTA leaders can support parent involvement in the LCAP process:

  • Find and download your district’s LCAP, then share it for easy access by parents.
  • Invite your school/district administrator to be a guest speaker at a PTA meeting or special forum held to explain the contents of your LCAP and suggest avenues for parent input.
  • Offer a presentation to review and then openly discuss what the California School Dashboard reveals about your school’s strengths, challenges, and areas in need of improvement.
  • Organize at least one open input session for your unit so that your school community’s recommendations can be collected, documented, and submitted to the LCAP Advisory Committee for further consideration.
  • Create a better climate for family-school partnerships by working through PTA’s Standards for Family-School Partnerships Assessment Guide.  Summary and full guide available in English and Spanish at:  https://capta.org/resource/family-school-partnerships/.  
  • Work with your district to create a family-friendly summary of your LCAP that uses graphics and plain language to clarify who is being helped and how (student populations targeted and resources devoted to them).

The LCAP is a key tool for making certain that schools and districts are held accountable to the community for the education of its children.  Make sure that your PTA supports an engaged parent community to guide policy and make decisions that improve your school.  Remember, it begins with Local Control!

Brief Overview: Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)

The LCAP uses a state-provided template as a tool to help districts set goals, plan actions, and leverage resources to meet those goals to improve student outcomes.  Essentially, the LCAP is the document that spells out how the district plans to spend its limited resources to achieve what’s important.

The LCAP is adopted to be effective for three years and is updated each year as part of your district’s annual budget process (due each June).  LCAPs must explicitly address the needs of consistently low-performing student groups as well as low-performing schools within the district.  Meeting the needs of English language learners, students in poverty, and foster youth have a particularly high priority, established by state requirements.  As a parent, you have a right to contribute your input in this process.  

Want to know what’s in your LCAP?  School districts are required to post their LCAPs online to publicly disclose how they spend education funds.  But while some districts post a clear link to it on their homepage, others make it hard to find, so you may have to do some searching.  

Make your voice heard when your school district considers key decisions about its future through the development of its LCAP! For additional information about the LCAP process and ways for parents to get involved, go to https://capta.org/focus-areas/lcfflcap/