SACRAMENTO – JULY 17, 2020 – California State PTA has released the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s press conference today, in which he made important announcements and laid out clear guidelines for when schools could safely reopen for in-person instruction.

“The health and safety of children, families and school staff are of paramount importance at this time,” said Celia Jaffe, President of California State PTA. “We appreciate Governor Newsom’s efforts today in laying out clear guidelines for when schools could safely reopen for in-person instruction. Provisions for regular testing, contact tracing, and use of masks are important in inhibiting the spread of the virus. Science should guide us as a state, and our children and families need to prepare for the school year ahead with clear guidance. We feel the Governor is providing that in his message today,” she added.

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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.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Heather Ippolito
Vice President for Communications
communications@capta.org

Ignacio Barragan
Assistant Executive Director
ibarragan@capta.org
916.440.1985

California State PTA joins National PTA in supporting yesterday’s Supreme Court decision which blocks the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. National PTA participated with the National Education Association in the filing of an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in support of the DACA program.

Immigrants have immeasurably enriched our culture and economy, and are an essential part of the fabric of California. As a state with a large number of immigrant families, California is impacted heavily by this decision, which allows thousands of children and young people to once again focus on the future, free from stress and uncertainty.

California State PTA is committed to ensuring that all children – regardless of immigration status – are able to flourish in school, receive the healthcare they need, and live in safe and secure circumstances.

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DECLARACIÓN DE LA PTA DEL ESTADO DE CALIFORNIA EN APOYO SOBRE DE LA DECISIÓN DE DACA DE LA CORTE SUPREMA

La PTA del Estado de California se une a la PTA Nacional para apoyar la decisión de la Corte Suprema de ayer que bloquea la derogación del programa de Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia (DACA). La PTA nacional, junto con la Asociación Nacional de Educación, presentó un escrito de amicus ante la Corte en apoyo del programa DACA.

Los inmigrantes han enriquecido enormemente nuestra cultura y economía, y son una parte esencial del tejido de California. Como estado con una gran cantidad de familias inmigrantes, California se ve fuertemente afectada por esta decisión, la cual permite a miles de niños y jóvenes concentrarse una vez más en el futuro, libres de estrés e incertidumbre.

La PTA del Estado de California se compromete a garantizar que todos los niños, independientemente de su estado migratorio, puedan prosperar en la escuela, recibir la atención médica que necesitan, y vivir en circunstancias seguras.

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.