SACRAMENTO, June 11, 2020 – During California State PTA’s Statewide Association Meeting taking place June 9-11, delegates from across the state voted to adopt a resolution that expands our members’ commitment to advocate for better mental health education for students, more mental health services in schools, and additional state funding for mental health and wellness programs for children and youth.

“Studies show that 21% of children ages 9 to 17 have a diagnosable mental or addictive disorder that causes impairment, but 79% of those children do not receive mental health care,” said Celia Jaffe, President of California State PTA. “The majority of young people who do receive mental health treatment do so at school. As an organization that advocates for the health and wellbeing of children and youth, PTA will be further empowered to fight for children to receive the mental health services they clearly need, and to ensure that schools are funded to supply these services.”

The mental health services resolution commits California State PTA to support and promote:

• Age-appropriate social-emotional learning and mental health education for all students;
• Mental health wellness and social emotional learning policies, including staff training, in schools;
• Legislation to revise the California State Education Code to require school counselors at all levels of education;
• Strategies to achieve the ACA-recommended 250:1 student-to-counselor ratio; and
• Legislation, regulations and other measures at all levels of government to allocate funds that are sufficient to address mental health issues.

“My nephew’s suicide, a result of mental illness, has devastated me and my family,” said Keri Lynn Baert of Trabuco Hills High School PTSA in Mission Viejo, the PTA that sponsored the resolution. “I wrote this resolution to do something to prevent another family from suffering the way mine has. This resolution will commit PTA to advocate for more funding, and to urge the State of California to make the mental health of our children a higher priority.”

SACRAMENTO, June 10, 2020 – During California State PTA’s Statewide Association Meeting taking place June 9-11, delegates from across the state voted to adopt a resolution to advocate for regulation of e-cigarettes and other “vaping” products, treatment for youth addicted to nicotine, and education of the public on the health effects of vaping.

These products have been marketed to young people by manufacturers despite the adverse effects on their health. The rate of vaping has skyrocketed. More than 25% of high school students nationally reported using e-cigarettes in 2019.

“Vaping is the new smoking, and millions of young people are becoming addicted to nicotine through the use of e-cigarettes and the marketing of these products specifically to them,” said Celia Jaffe, President of California State PTA. “PTA is committed to the well-being of children and families, and our members felt that the issue of vaping was important to address.

“For many years, we actively promoted anti-tobacco education and legislation, and we are happy to see that smoking is at an all-time low among young people,” Jaffe added. “We hope that through our efforts we can help achieve a similar reduction in e-cigarette use.”

The anti-vaping resolution commits California State PTA to educate members of its school communities about the ill health effects and addictive nature of e-cigarettes, and to support legislation, regulations and actions at all levels that:

• Prohibit the use of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco products in public places and other places where youth may be exposed;
• Prohibit the sale, marketing and distribution of flavored tobacco products and e-cigarettes, including components, accessories, and tobacco product flavor enhancers, to protect the public, especially youth;
• Provide in schools and elsewhere, screening, counseling, intervention, and support, by trained health professionals, for young people who may use or are using products containing nicotine; and
• Encourage the education of PTA members of school and wider communities about the ill health effects and addictive nature of nicotine.

“We created this resolution because children and parents in our community are suffering,” said Jade Chao, President of Palo Alto Council of PTAs. “A mom I know has a son who is hopelessly addicted to vaping. She sheds a silent tear when sending him not to summer camp, but to a rehab clinic. Vaping products are designed to entice and ensnare a whole generation, and we are working to protect that generation – protect their lungs, their developing brains, and their emotional well-being.”

The following press release was issued on May 28 by the Education Coalition, of which California State PTA is a member:

Educators, Classified Personnel, Parents & Administrators Call for June Solution to the Budget Shortfall to Ensure Schools Safely Open This Fall

Group Says Schools Cannot Physically Reopen Safely with Funding Level Proposed in the May Revision

SACRAMENTO – Today, the Education Coalition, comprised of the nine statewide K-12 education associations that work closely to advocate for the six million students in California’s public schools and colleges, urged California’s lawmakers to adopt a funding solution to the COVID-19-related budget crisis in the June budget. The group said that without adequate funding, schools cannot open on time safely.

Under the Governor’s proposed budget, a 10% cut ($6.5 billion) to the Local Control Funding Formula equates to:

• Cutting $1,230 per student, or
• Cutting $21,667 per classroom, or
• Increasing class sizes by 19%, or
• Laying off more than 57,600 teachers, or
• Laying off more than 125,000 education support professionals. 

The group announced that preparing each classroom, library, gym, lunchroom, and school bus for the safe return of students, teachers, and staff will require significant resources and planning. Without adequate funding, this will not be feasible, even after public health officials provide guidance and clearance, given the additional staff needed and associated increased costs.

“Deep budget cuts to public education will stand in the way of preparing our schools for the safe return of students and educators and further prolong the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said E. Toby Boyd, President of California Teachers Association (CTA). “Schools and colleges cannot reopen safely with the funding level proposed in the revised budget plan. We urge the governor and the legislature to prioritize equity in our public schools by rejecting cuts and addressing this funding crisis now so schools can prepare to reopen safely in the fall. Our students, parents, teachers, school employees, administrators, and supporters are looking to you to join us in making our students’ safety and well-being the number one priority.”

“We are here today to speak as one voice to unequivocally say to our elected leaders in Sacramento – Our schools cannot safely reopen with the proposed cuts to public education,” said Jeff Freitas, President of the California Federation of Teachers (CFT).

“To open schools safely, California schools need more money, not less,” said Celia Jaffe, President of the California State PTA. “We have to make sure the budget reflects how the state values the health, welfare and safety of our children.”

“County Superintendents of Schools annually review and approve the budget of every school district in the state, so we know that school districts are under enormous financial stress right now,” said Peter Birdsall, Executive Director of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA). “County Superintendents are working with school districts to ensure that when schools reopen, students and staff can return to a safe environment.  With the need for blended learning, social distancing and enhanced cleaning, fewer resources will create a tremendous challenge to effectively meeting this goal.”

“The May Revision budget proposal will prevent many schools from opening safely as expenses for COVID-19 response have exacerbated the already precarious financial situation of public schools,” said Vernon M. Billy, CEO of California Schools Boards Association (CSBA). “The Governor’s May Revise is simply not realistic. It’s equivalent to asking a Tesla owner to drive their electric car from Sacramento to Los Angeles and back on a single charge. It’s not realistic. In February – before the pandemic – we conducted a survey of school districts’ financial conditions which found that 77 percent of school districts were already deficit spending and more than a third were contemplating layoffs. We are asking the Legislature and Governor for a realistic budget that funds our schools appropriately and allows us to provide students with an education in a safe and supportive environment during this pandemic.”

“Classified school staff have been serving on the front lines of this crisis since day one and the need for their essential work will only increase as we identify the additional measures needed to address the real health and safety needs of our students and communities,” said Ben Valdepeña, President of the California School Employees Association (CSEA). “The governor’s initial budget proposal falls short of meeting those needs, but we look forward to working with him and the Legislature in developing a solution that does.”

“These trying times require shared leadership and support, and we urge our state leaders to stand with us, with our students, and with our hard-working administrators, educators, and child nutrition and custodial staff because, without them, our economy and our future are at stake,” said Molly McGee Hewitt, CEO and Executive Director for the California Association of School Business Officials.

“This pandemic has exposed stark inequities in our schools. As we recover, we must also rebuild schools that ensure every child can learn in a safe and supportive environment – no matter the color of their skin, their abilities, where they live or where they came from,” said Max Arias, Executive Director of SEIU Local 99. “This will require funding to ensure every school is sanitized and disinfected daily, families in need continue to receive meals, and all children have access to the technology and remote learning support they need to succeed.”

The group is also calling on the administration and the legislature to identify and agree on alternate revenue sources, in addition to supporting the suspension of tax credits, to ensure K-12 schools can provide quality and safe educational environments for California’s six million students.

To watch a recording of the press conference, click here and use the password 7l=.p4Uf 

The Education Coalition, working together to support and improve California’s public schools:
Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) representing more than 17,000 school administrators, California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) representing more than 23,000 school business officials, California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) representing all 58 county superintendents throughout California, California Federation of Teachers (CFT-AFL-CIO) representing nearly 120,000 education employees, California School Boards Association (CSBA) representing nearly 1,000 K-12 school districts and county offices of education throughout California, California School Employees Association (CSEA) representing more than 250,000 classified school employees, California State PTA representing 700,000 parents, teachers and students in California, California Teachers Association (CTA) representing over 310,000 educators, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) representing more than 50,000 school employees in California.

May 21 announcement from the California Department of Education:

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced a new collaborative online campaign, “Advance SEL in California,” to engage educators, school leaders, and families in a wider conversation about how to advance, elevate, and spur action on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in California.

The initiative will first gather large-scale input through a forum called WikiWisdom, a virtual resource where educators, school leaders, and families can collaborate, interact with peers, and share best SEL practices to support students dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and over the long term. This 2.5 week-long forum launched on Monday May 18, 2020, and has already seen participation from hundreds of California educators. Following the conclusion of the WikiWisdom Forum, the campaign will hold three virtual convenings in July with education stakeholders from around the state to deepen the discussion on the status of SEL in California. Lastly, the project will culminate in a report on the status of Social and Emotional Learning in California, with recommendations for how teachers, school leaders, and families across the state can address the social and emotional needs of students both in response to COVID-19 and over the long term.

“The social and emotional well-being of our students has always been important. Now more than ever, it needs to be an integral aspect of distance learning practices,” said Thurmond. “This campaign will allow educators to not only share their current strategies, but participate in conversations that will impact social and emotional learning decisions moving forward.“

Joining the State Superintendent to promote this partnership are First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond.

“Prioritizing the social and emotional well-being of our kids has perhaps never been more important,” said Siebel Newsom. “That’s why I am proud to partner on ‘Advance SEL in California,’ and to help our teachers, school leaders, and families get the tools they need to support our kids in reaching their full potential.”

“Children who have strong life skills—self-awareness, confidence, empathy, problem-solving abilities, resiliency—are more able to cope with challenges and to learn more,” said Darling-Hammond. “So as we work to mitigate learning loss and address trauma triggered by the pandemic, it makes sense to focus on reinforcing those life skills through social-emotional learning. That’s why I am pleased to lend my support to this important campaign.”

The SEL WikiWisdom Forum was created by WikiWisdom and is sponsored by Beyond Differences, a student-led nonprofit organization that inspires middle school students to end social isolation and make schools more welcoming for everyone, and Education First, a mission-driven strategy and policy organization with unique and deep expertise in education improvement and Social and Emotional Learning, with funding from the Marin Community Foundation.

This work builds upon the California Department of Education’s (CDE) commitment to helping educators learn more about SEL and how to infuse social and emotional supports into every child’s school experience. The CDE convened a group of experts from different sectors of the education system to advise on the best ways to support SEL implementation. The team developed Social and Emotional Learning Guiding Principles and a Social and Emotional Learning Resource Guide. To learn more about this work, visit the CDE SEL web page.

For more information and to participate in the Social Emotional Learning Forum, send an email to AdvanceSELinCA@education-first.com.

Click here to read the original press release on the CDE website.

Colleen Hervey, President of Ninth District PTA, co-hosted a tele-town hall discussion on May 7 alongside California State Assembly Member Tasha Boerner Horvath, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, a local educator, and a youth psychiatrist. The four offered participants their expertise on the state’s education system, provided guidance on how to further the learning process in the midst of a pandemic, and answered questions from listeners.

Assembly Member Boerner Horvath is a home-grown PTA leader — not only is she a former Reflections Program chair and VP of programs at her children’s school, but she was also the featured speaker at the Ninth District’s Annual Meeting Founders Day Breakfast.

To listen to a recording of the Town Hall or download a copy, please click here. You can also see a list of upcoming town halls at this link.

This tele-meeting was part of a weekly series intended to provide Californians with a forum to express their concerns and learn about the virus, as well as any resources and services available.

May 1 announcement from the California Department of Education:

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced today that his Closing the Digital Divide Task Force is asking the leaders of major internet service providers to provide free guest access to all of California’s students. Executives from these companies will be asked to speak to their commitment to the state’s most vulnerable students and families at the next task force meeting on Monday, May 4 at 4 p.m., which will be streamed live online.

Superintendent Thurmond created the task force, co-chaired by Senator Connie M. Leyva (D-Chino), to help close the technological gaps that put millions of students—including those living in remote, rural areas and students living in poverty—at a further academic disadvantage. Executives from all major service providers, including AT&T, Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox Communications, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon, have been invited to the meeting, which will be livestreamed on the CDE Facebook page.

“California has already come together and stepped up in a big way to provide donations of hotspots, laptops, and other devices to help students access distance learning. But without reliable internet access, too many students are missing out on a high-quality and meaningful education and the ability to connect to their teachers,” said Thurmond. “Going forward, we need to focus on efforts to improve internet access in order to close opportunity and achievement gaps for all California’s students—not just during this public health crisis, but once and for all.”

The Closing the Digital Divide Task Force is working to help facilitate donations, create more publicity, and cast a bigger spotlight on those who can help. Additional task force members include Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), Assemblymember Autumn Burke (D-Inglewood), Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles), and Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa).

During its first meeting on April 20, the task force heard from cross-sector partners about ways they are working together to strengthen distance learning efforts and close technology gaps for millions of students. The task force also received an update on the CDE’s partnership with the California Public Utilities Commission to distribute a total of $30 million to support internet connectivity as well as updates from Google and Amazon about their donations of thousands of devices and hotspots for students. Thurmond and task force members will continue to meet and use the information and feedback gathered to create a formal plan for closing the digital divide, including timelines, budgetary considerations, and necessary legislative action steps.

The CDE has also partnered with the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation (CDE Foundation), the private nonprofit partner of the CDE since 2011, to create the California Bridging the Digital Divide Fund. The fund is a joint effort of the Governor’s Office, State Board of Education, CDE, and CDE Foundation. Individual donations may be made at the CBDD Fund page, and corporate and institutional donors may contact Mary Nicely at mnicely@cde.ca.gov.

To read this press release on the CDE website, click here.

California State PTA is excited to announce the launch of its new online Resource Library. It is our hope that it can function as a no-cost tool to support the learning needs of all children and families as we navigate a new learning environment.

This powerful new tool offers PTA members, families and educators a wealth of vetted resources to support learning, including activities that children can do at home while schools are physically closed. Additionally, parents can access articles and videos that can inform and empower them as they advocate for a full curriculum and educational equity.

The materials found in the PTA Resource Library cover a broad range of subject matter areas, including many specifically aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), whose implementation California State PTA has long supported. This is particularly relevant today, on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

“California State PTA is proud to offer this important tool as a resource for our members, especially at this challenging time when distance learning is the new normal,” said Celia Jaffe, President of California State PTA. “Having access to such a library can benefit parents, children and educators by offering resources and activities that support learning across the full curriculum, including STEM/STEAM, the arts and more.”

The Resource Library can be found at http://www.capta.org/resource-library, and is accessible to the public. Users can search the contents by keyword and sort results by age, topic or type.

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About California State PTA: California State PTA connects families, schools and communities. We are part of the foundation of our public-education system and a trusted messenger to millions of members, parents, families, educators and allied agencies throughout the state. PTA is the nation’s largest volunteer-led child-advocacy association working to drive improvements in the education, health and well-being of all children and families. For more information: www.capta.org.