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Four Big Upgrades to California’s Public Schools

California’s K-12 public schools are undergoing an ambitious remodeling project, with a focus on ensuring all students, no matter who they are or what their circumstance, graduate high school ready to succeed in higher education, careers, and in life.

All of these changes work together locally to give parents, students, educators and communities more of a say in the ways education funding is spent in their school district, how priorities are set, and the strategies used to meet the unique needs of all students.

Upgrades include:

  1. High Learning Standards for All Students
  2. Student-Centered Funding
  3. Locally-Created Plans for Your District
  4. Measuring Local Progress.

Download the flier in English or Spanish.

PTA Strengthens Position on Firearms and Assault Weapons to Protect All Children

Media Contacts:


SACRAMENTO –  In the wake of recent school shootings, California State PTA, the largest child advocacy association, unanimously adopted a revised position statement on Firearms and Assault Weapons. View the revised position statement.

“For more than a century, California State PTA has advocated for safer schools. Gun violence is a public-health crisis that affects us all – most of all, our children and youth. And, it’s preventable,” said California State PTA President Dianna MacDonald. “California State PTA supports state and federal legislation that protects all of our children and youth from gun violence.”

The position statement reaffirms and strengthens the association’s stance on firearms including minimum age requirements to purchase guns, prohibiting the sale and possession of assault weapons defined as automatic and semi-automatic weapons, and incorporates language from the National PTA position that the safest schools are gun free.

“Our members have been reaching out and asking California State PTA to act,” said California State PTA Vice President for Health & Community Concerns Shereen Walter. “Our action to strengthen our position statement sends a clear message — the most effective day-to-day school climate is gun free.”

California State PTA will be addressing gun violence, school safety and mental health issues with federal lawmakers in Washington D.C. on March 13-15 during the 2018 National PTA Legislation Conference. The association is also rallying members to make their voices heard by “calling out” their federal lawmakers on March 14 and demanding an end to gun violence. View the call to action alert.

POSITION STATEMENT

Firearms and Assault Weapons

  • Adopted July 1990
  • Reviewed and Deemed Relevant May 2016 – Community Concerns Commission
  • Revised February 2018 – Board of Managers

California State PTA has a long history and proud tradition of supporting legislation and programs for the safety and protection of children, youth, and families. School safety is a critical priority for all parents, educators, students and community members. We must make every attempt to reduce violence, especially incidents that involve firearms.

California State PTA recognizes the importance of a safe learning environment in attaining the highest level of student learning and achievement. California State PTA believes the most effective day-to-day school climate to be gun-free, but defers to local collaborative decision- making to allow for the presence of law enforcement deployed in community-oriented policing.

California State PTA supports state and federal legislation and restrictions that protect children and youth from gun violence and would:

  • Require a firearm licensure procedure that includes a minimum 3 day waiting period and background check to screen out illegal firearm purchasers such as convicted felons and drug-related offenders;
  • Require a firearm licensing procedure that includes proof of passing a state- certified course in appropriate firearms use and safe handling practice;
  • Restrict internet gun sales, including kits that can be used to make/modify guns;
  • Enforce federal and state minimum age requirements for gun purchases;
  • Require safety devices, including childproof trigger locks, on all firearms offered for sale, delivery or transfer;
  • Prohibit sale and possession of assault weapons for non-military/non-law enforcement use and require a registration process for those persons who now legally own such firearms;
  • Prohibit for non-military/non-law enforcement purposes, the manufacture, importation, possession, sale or resale of accessories and ammunition designed for assault weapons;
  • Ban the manufacture, sale or possession of “junk guns”/Saturday night specials;
  • Ban armor-piercing ammunition;
  • Control the illegal possession of firearms and other lethal weapons on school campuses;
  • Support state and federal funding initiatives for research into the causes and effects of gun violence.

California State PTA believes we must enact legislation that will reduce gun violence and help protect children and youth. California State PTA further supports:

  • Education programs that stress the importance of firearm safety and awareness, including the risks of unsecured firearms in the home, and the use and availability of firearm safety devices, including trigger locks;
  • Education programs to inform parents and community members about the harm and injury gun violence inflicts on children and youth;
  • Public awareness campaigns regarding the importance of legislation for the safety and protection of the public, especially children and youth.

Update as of March 6, 2018

Fringe news outlets have recently published stories incorrectly stating California State PTA’s positions on gun-violence prevention efforts and student demonstrations. California PTA is not organizing any marches or student walkouts.

Gun violence is a public-health crisis that affects us all – most of all, our children and youth. And, it’s preventable. California State PTA will be addressing gun violence, school safety and mental health issues with federal lawmakers in Washington D.C. on March 13-15 during the 2018 National PTA Legislation Conference. We are also asking for your help to “call out” your federal legislators to demand stronger gun-violence prevention legislation. View the action alert.

California State PTA supports the rights of students to express themselves on campus through organized demonstrations, but believes that care must be taken to ensure the orderly operation of the school is not disrupted and the physical safety of students is not threatened. Leaving during school hours to attend an off-campus demonstration places the student outside the safety zone of the school and unnecessarily jeopardizes that school’s education funding. We are aware of several student demonstrations scheduled in the coming days and weeks and have provided guidance for local PTAs that wish to support student voices. View guidance information.

How to Keep Kids Learning During Winter Break

The winter holiday break is a fun-filled time for you and your family to unwind and spend quality time together, but it will be over before you know it! Children’s school success begins at home, and even the simplest steps can mean a big difference for your child’s future. To keep your child’s skills sharp and ensure a smooth transition to going back to school, Scholastic offers tips to keep kids learning:

  • Read for pleasure. Whether your child is in the mood for holiday favorites like The Night Before Christmas or their favorite series, winter break is the perfect chance to stash the schoolbooks and have fun reading.
  • Cook up a lesson. Ask your child for help in the kitchen to whip up some treats. Using measurements is good math practice, especially in fractions!
  • Write thank-you notes. Whether your child is writing notes to gift-givers, teachers or neighbors, this is a great way to practice penmanship, spelling and grammar – plus, it teaches gratitude.
  • Let kids help with online shopping. Need a last minute gift? Help your child shop online with you to help them work on computer and research skills.
  • Maintain reasonable bedtimes. With no school to wake up early for, it’s tempting to let your child become a night owl. A few days before school starts again, ease back into the regular schedule.
  • Have a family game night. Chances are many of your family’s favorite card and board games reinforce skills like reading, counting and drawing. Gather your family to play games you don’t have time for on school nights.
  • Make the most of car rides. Turn the drive to or from holiday gatherings into a fun opportunity to learn. You can look for license plates from different states, count the number of red or green cars you see or play license plate bingo!

Read more ways to keep skills sharp during winter break at www.scholastic.com, and learn how to support learning at home at www.capta.org/supporting-learning-at-home.

California State PTA Responds to Release of New School Dashboard

December 6, 2017

Media Contacts:

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Education (CDE) released a new online school accountability resource that shows how local schools are performing based on different indicators at the state and local level. California State PTA Vice President for Education, Mary Perry, released the following statement:

“The School Dashboard will let parents and educators dig deeper into how their school is doing in a variety of different areas and at multiple levels. This is a great asset for California families to further invest in their children’s education.

“California State PTA has long supported the use of multiple measures for state accountability. We are in agreement with the concept underlying California’s new system – that educating students is complex work and that many different things affect their success. A single number ranking can be deceptive in its simplicity.

“The new Dashboard, by contrast, should open up conversations about the progress and performance of our students, our schools and our school districts. It can help parents, community members and school employees identify the important questions to ask and compel district leaders to address those questions honestly and openly.

“In the spirit of continuous improvement, California State PTA will continue to work with other organizations, the California Department of Education and the State Board to make the Dashboard an increasingly effective tool for measuring school success.”

Visit the California School Dashboard at www.caschooldashboard.org.

LEARN MORE

Membership Toolbox for PTA Leaders

Looking for new ideas to increase PTA membership at your school? How about ways to engage students or teachers in PTA? Check out the Membership Toolbox resources:

Tips for Helping Children Cope with Recent Wildfires

California State PTA offers tips for helping children cope with the recent wildfires throughout the state:

  • Reassure: Your children need to know that they will be safe and that things will get better.
  • Spend More Time with Your Children: Your children need comfort and reassurance. Spending time with you and experiencing affection such as hugs and special time together are important.
  • Keep an Open Dialogue: Listen to your child’s fears and concerns and provide accurate, age appropriate information.
  • Maintain Routines: Try to keep a regular schedule for meals and bedtime. Routines are comforting and help provide a sense of normalcy for your child.
  • Limit Media Exposure: News coverage of the disasters can cause anxiety and fear and be damaging to young children, causing them to relive the disaster.
  • Model Healthy Ways of Coping: Your children will look to you for how they should feel and react. Try to remain calm and reassuring

AID FOR FAMILIES

Learn more about direct aid at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. More information on the federal Individual Disaster Assistance program is available online.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA, operates a 24-hour, 7 days a week, toll-free Disaster Distress Helpline providing access to counselors at the closest crisis center in their nationwide network at (800) 985-5990. There, staff provide immediate, confidential (multilingual) counseling, referrals and other needed support services.

Many of the surrounding areas are facing air quality issues.  CDC has a fact sheet on the hazards of smoke from fire and precautions that should be taken.  Access the fact sheet here.

MORE RESOURCES

Here are some additional resources on how to help your children cope in the aftermath of a natural disaster: