By the Legislative Advocacy Team
School board elections directly shape the educational experience of every student in your district. School board members wield significant authority over policies affecting students daily. They hire and evaluate superintendents, approve budgets that determine class sizes and program availability, set educational priorities, review the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), and establish policies on everything from curriculum adoption to school safety measures.
Despite this enormous impact on children’s lives, school board races frequently lack the visibility of higher-profile elections, leaving voters with limited information about candidates’ qualifications and positions. Local PTAs and PTSAs are uniquely positioned to fill this information gap.
While PTA never supports or opposes a candidate for public/political office, it does take positions on issues that affect children and youth. As organizations dedicated to supporting student success, PTAs have both the responsibility and opportunity to share as much factual, objective information as possible during election campaigns to help voters make informed choices.
Candidate forums provide an ideal platform for this vital civic service.
- PTAs bring unique credibility to the candidate forum process. Parents and community members trust PTAs as genuine advocates for children without hidden political agendas. This trust, combined with PTAs’ deep knowledge of local education issues, positions PTAs as natural conveners for meaningful discussions with candidates.
- Hosting candidate forums aligns perfectly with PTA’s mission to promote civic engagement and informed participation in democracy. These events demonstrate PTA values in action while providing practical benefits to the entire school community. Forums create opportunities for parents to ask direct questions about issues they care most about, from academic programs and special education services to school safety and technology initiatives.
- The forum format levels the playing field for all candidates, giving each equal time and opportunity to present their qualifications and vision. This structured approach enables voters to evaluate candidates based on their substance rather than campaign messaging or name recognition. For incumbent board members, forums provide opportunities for accountability, where they must explain their past decisions and future plans to the families they serve.
- Local media often cover well-organized candidate forums, amplifying their reach beyond attendees to inform the broader community. Many PTAs partner with local cable stations or livestream forums online, making them accessible to families who cannot attend in person. This expanded reach maximizes the educational impact of PTA’s investment in organizing these events.
Organizing successful forums requires careful planning, but it is entirely achievable for local PTAs. Comprehensive resources are readily available, including detailed guidelines for maintaining nonpartisan neutrality while maximizing educational value:
- California State PTA’s Toolkit: Local Candidates Forum provides essential information about the PTA’s role in election activities.
- California State PTA’s Toolkit: Organizing a Local Candidates Forum offers a comprehensive planning checklist from committee formation through event execution.
- National PTA: A comprehensive guide in partnership with Nonprofit VOTE, includes media guidance and 501(c)(3) compliance.
- California State PTA Guidance: A handout addressing PTA and Elections, provides guidance for PTAs and PTA leaders.
By hosting candidate forums, local PTAs fulfill their highest calling as advocates for children while strengthening democratic participation in their communities.