Advocacy

PTA National Legislative Conference

Each winter, PTA holds its three-day National Legislative Conference in Washington DC. Through workshops, panel discussions, and guest speakers, PTA members learn about the federal legislative process and specific policy issues and laws PTA seeks to influence. On the last day of the conference, advocates take to Capitol Hill to meet with legislators and advocate for PTA public policy priorities. Among the sessions previous offered are the following:

• Washington 101: Legislative Process and PTA Issues
• Parental Involvement and the Reauthorization of the law known as No Child Left Behind
• Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act
• Advocacy Leadership: Building Coalitions and Forming Partnerships
• The Economy, the Budget, and Kids
• Special Education and the Law

Announcement of national advocacy awards, including the Shirley Igo Advocate of the Year Award, PTA Outstanding Advocacy Awards, and the Congressional Voice of Children Awards occurs at the National Legislative Conference during the Advocacy Award Luncheon.

The 2010 PTA National Legislative Conference will be held March 9 through 11. Information will be available at PTA.org/conferences_and_events.asp.

PTA Public Policy Agenda

PTA has a long and successful history of influencing public policy on behalf of children and education. Some of PTA’s major victories in the public policy arena include the establishment of universal kindergarten, federal child labor laws, a children’s bureau of the U.S. Public Health Service, the federal school lunch program, the juvenile justice system, and mandatory immunizations.

PTA accomplishes its national advocacy goals by developing an annual public policy agenda. PTA develops this agenda based on the following criteria:

• Timeliness of issue (is it being considered before Congress and the Administration)
• Opportunities for PTA to provide leadership and expertise to Congress
• Alignment to mission and resolutions
• Ability to achieve a meaningful policy change that will produce positive results for children and their families

The 2009 PTA Public Policy Agenda focuses on three key priorities: parent engagement in education; opportunity and equity for all children; and child health. PTA is working with Congress on the following legislation, which address PTA’s key priorities:

• Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorization (renewal). PTA looks forward to having the opportunity to strengthen parent involvement and engagement provisions of ESEA-NCLB.
• Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) reauthorization. PTA will advocate for a change to JJDPA that will protect youth from being jailed for truancy or exposed to the rigors of prison while awaiting trial.
• Child Nutrition and Women Infant Children (WIC) Act reauthorization. PTA will advocate to improve child health and wellness through reauthorization of this law.

To learn more about PTA’s federal legislative priorities, please visit PTA.org/public_policy_agenda.asp.

PTA Takes Action Network

PTA’s advocacy network provides you with benefits and tools to make your voice heard with federal, state, and local lawmakers, as well as the media. This free service provides the following to help keep you informed and ready to act:

• PTA Takes Action Updates—A monthly e-newsletter that keeps you informed on what’s happening on Capitol Hill regarding legislative issues affecting families, schools, and communities.
• PTA Takes Action Alerts—E-mail advocacy alerts that highlight actions you can take to influence important legislation impacting children and connect you to your members of Congress.

To sign up for the PTA Takes Action Network, please visit PTA.org/advocacy.

Downloadable tools available from PTA Takes Action include the following:

• PTA Takes Action online advocacy toolkit —From writing to your legislators to scheduling Capitol Hill visits, PTA’s online toolkit provides you with step-by-step directions and examples that will help you make your voice heard among policy makers and the media. The toolkit includes:
     —How a Bill Becomes a Law
     —How to Conduct a Hill Visit
     —Federal Budget and Appropriations Process
     —Writing and E-mailing Your Member of Congress
• PTA policy issue eference cards (PTA.org/issuecards)—Download, print, and and share these cards, which highlight National PTA’s key messages and positions organized under the following broad categories: education, ESEA-NCLB funding, and child nutrition and wellness.