ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Feb. 2, 2015) — The following statement can be attributed to National PTA President Otha Thornton:

“Today, President Barack Obama presented to Congress his proposal for the Fiscal Year 2016 budget.  National PTA applauds President Obama for prioritizing education and proposing key investments in early learning as well as programs that address the needs of our nation’s most vulnerable children. The association commends the President’s continued commitment to improving opportunity for every child and ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education.

“National PTA is pleased to see President Obama’s proposal to end damaging spending cuts known as sequestration and his call for an increase of $3.6 billion for federal education spending. In particular, National PTA praises President Obama for dedicating an additional $1 billion in funding for Title I programs, which provide assistance to schools with high percentages of children from low-income families and include some funds for family engagement efforts. Additionally, the association commends the President’s proposed increase for special education and efforts to assist English language learners to ensure children receive quality instruction from teachers and support personnel.

“National PTA is also pleased to see President Obama continue to emphasize the importance of early childhood education by proposing investments to expand access to high-quality child care and high-quality preschool as well as increase the duration of Head Start programs to full-day, full-year, which research shows lead to better outcomes for children.

“Since our founding, National PTA has championed the importance of equal opportunity and access to a high-quality education for every child, regardless of his or her economic status, gender, religion, prior academic achievement, disability or behavioral history. National PTA believes that greater financial support is essential for schools and districts to be able to provide a quality education to every child. Insufficient federal resources have been allocated in recent years to serve all students and families in need of elementary and secondary education programs, and as a result, achievement gaps are widening.

“National PTA will continue to advocate for every child to have the opportunity to grow and achieve through education. Furthermore, the association will continue to call for dedicated funding for family engagement in education to promote educational equity and opportunity for all children. Research clearly shows that meaningful family-school partnerships are vital to the implementation of successful education reform.

“Education is an essential investment in our children, families, communities and nation. As the oldest and largest child advocacy association in the country, National PTA remains committed to working with the Administration and Congress to ensure investments are made to provide every child a world class education and enable him or her to reach his or her full potential.”

For more information about the education priorities in the Fiscal Year 2016 budget proposal, visit the U.S. Department of Education's budget webpage.  

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health and welfare of children and youth.