2022 Letters to Policymakers

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Amplify Our Collective Message to Congress

National PTA regularly communicates with members of Congress and in the Administration about issues impacting children, families and schools. National PTA also joins with other education, civic, civil rights and advocacy organizations to amplify our collective messages to Congress and the Administration.

National Issues Impacting Children, Families and Schools

Click on the PDFs below to read the latest letters to policymakers from National PTA.


Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2023

January 9, 2023 - National PTA shares highlights from the enacted FY23 federal omnibus appropriations package, which included several of PTA’s top funding priorities thanks in large part to PTA advocates in 2022.
December 1, 2022 - National PTA calls on Congress to include federal investments in key programs that serve our nation’s children & families within the year-end omnibus appropriations package.
November 29, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging funding for Title IV-A, the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
November 18, 2022 - National PTA urges the inclusion of federal child nutrition provisions in the end-of-year omnibus FY23 appropriations package.
November 18, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging Congressional leadership to take immediate action to expand our nation’s behavioral health crisis response system within FY23 omnibus funding package.
November 14, 2022 - National PTA joins letter calling for federal investment in community violence intervention initiatives to reduce community violence and support family and community safety.
September 30, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging the maximum increase possible in funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
June 29, 2022 - National PTA submits federal funding requests for the Fiscal Year 2023 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.
May 20, 2022 - Led by National PTA, 68 state and national organizations request $20 million for the Statewide Family Engagement Center grant program in the FY23 education appropriations bill.
April 28, 2022 - National PTA joins letter requesting funding to conduct public health research into firearm morbidity and mortality prevention.
April 28, 2022 - National PTA joins letter calling for funding to address the severe shortages of school-based mental health professionals (e.g. school psychologists, school counselors, and school social workers).
April 26, 2022 - National PTA joins nearly 100 national, state, and local organizations, in letter urging Congress to fund Title IV Part A of The Every Student Succeeds Act.
April 25, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging Congress to provide the maximum increase possible in funding for IDEA.
April 25, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging Congress to invest in programs that prevent and address childhood trauma.
April 25, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging Congress to adopt the highest proposed levels for the federal investment in programs that support infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families.
April 25, 2022 - National PTA joins letter requesting funding for community violence intervention initiatives through the DOJ and the CDC Injury Prevention Division.
April 25, 2022 - National PTA joins letter calling for at least $250 million for a new Community Violence Intervention Initiative at the CDC.
April 22, 2022 - National PTA joins letter requesting funding to support education programs serving foster youth.
April 21, 2022 - National PTA joins letter calling for funding to support mental health professionals and trauma-informed practices in our nation’s schools.
April 21, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging Congress to invest in retaining and recruiting teachers, principals, and other school leaders, as well as improving their practice by providing $3 billion for ESSA Title II programs.


Child Nutrition

November 18, 2022 - National PTA urges the inclusion of federal child nutrition provisions in the end-of-year omnibus FY23 appropriations package.
October 20, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging Congress to strengthen access to healthy nutrition for children and families by expanding community eligibility in the upcoming Senate version of Child Nutrition Reauthorization.
April 14, 2022 - National PTA joins letter in support of including an extension of the child nutrition waivers through the 2022-23 school year.
March 24, 2022 - National PTA submits comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on their transitional standards for milk, whole grains, and sodium in child nutrition programs.
March 9, 2022 - National PTA joins coalition of anti-hunger, education, child advocacy, nutrition, and public health organizations, and industry calling on Congress to extend child nutrition waivers.
February 4, 2022 - National PTA joins 39 state PTAs and nearly 2,000 other organizations urging Congress to ensure that child nutrition programs can continue to operate through child nutrition waivers.
January 26, 2022 - National PTA joins letter supporting bipartisan Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act (H.R. 5526/S. 2930).
January 25, 2022 - National PTA joins letter to ensure that the federal child nutrition programs continue to operate and provide healthy snacks and meals to students.


Elementary and Secondary Education

October 19, 2022 - National PTA submits recommendations to Congress to strengthen family-school partnerships and invest in meaningful family engagement.
September 22, 2022 - National PTA joins letter calling for a federal response to the growing threat of cybersecurity and ransomware attacks on K-12 schools.
September 21, 2022 - National PTA joins comments urging reporting, transparency, and accountability for the DC School Choice Incentive Program.
September 12, 2022 - National PTA joins comments calling for the enforcement of Title IX and nondiscrimination in federally funded education programs and activities.
September 1, 2022 - National PTA submits comments on the U.S. Department of Education's proposed rule implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex.
May 23, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging Congress to require voucher schools provide civil rights protections and reject attempts to divert taxpayer dollars away from public schools towards the D.C. voucher program.
April 21, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging Congress to invest in retaining and recruiting teachers, principals, and other school leaders, as well as improving their practice by providing $3 billion for ESSA Title II programs.
February 15, 2022 - National PTA joins statement urging legislators across the country to reject any measures that promote discrimination and directly harm LGBTQ+ youth.
February 11, 2022 - National PTA joins comments to the U.S. Department of Education on improving the collection of civil rights data and ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality education.
February 9, 2022 - National PTA joins coalition letter calling for investment in Title IV-A of the Every Student Succeeds Act to help close opportunity & resource gaps.
January 25, 2022 - National PTA submits comments to the U.S. Department of Education on implementation of the Statewide Family Engagement Center program.
January 15, 2022 - National PTA submits comments to the U.S. Department of Education on the impact of COVID-19 on 2021-2022 accountability systems required under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).


Federal Investments in Education

March 9, 2022 - National PTA joins coalition statement expressing gratitude for increases to Title IV-A of ESSA in the FY22 appropriations package.
February 14, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging swift passage of FY22 appropriations bills providing urgently needed funding that impacts children with disabilities and their families.
February 9, 2022 - National PTA joins coalition letter calling for investment in Title IV-A of the Every Student Succeeds Act to help close opportunity & resource gaps.
January 31, 2022 - National PTA joins letter calling upon Congress to fund education programs that support children with disabilities in their FY22 appropriations package.


Gun Safety and Violence Prevention 

December 12, 2022 - K-12 organizations, led by National PTA, submit letter urging Congress to pass legislation reinstating a strengthened federal assault weapons ban and prohibiting older youth from purchasing military-style weapons.
July 27, 2022 - K-12 organizations, led by National PTA, submit statement urging the U.S. Senate to protect students & families by reinstating a strengthened federal assault weapons ban.
July 27, 2022 - K-12 organizations, led by National PTA, submit statement urging the U.S. House of Representatives to protect students & families by reinstating a strengthened federal assault weapons ban.
July 27, 2022 - National PTA submits letter to Senate Judiciary Committee to restore a federal assault weapons ban and pass legislation prohibiting older youth from purchasing military-style weapons.
July 27, 2022 - National PTA submits letter to House Judiciary Committee in support of the Assault Weapons Ban (H.R. 1808) and related legislation such as the Raise the Age Act (H.R. 3015).
June 14, 2022 - National PTA & 42 State PTAs call on Congress to immediately advance common sense gun law reform.
June 8, 2022 – National PTA joins k-12 community letter urging Congress to swiftly pass legislation that will address the senseless epidemic of gun violence in this country.
June 6, 2022 – National PTA joins letter and USA Today ad calling for action on gun violence prevention
April 28, 2022 - National PTA joins letter requesting funding to conduct public health research into firearm morbidity and mortality prevention.
April 25, 2022 - National PTA joins letter requesting funding for community violence intervention initiatives through the DOJ and the CDC Injury Prevention Division.
April 25, 2022 - National PTA joins letter calling for at least $250 million for a new Community Violence Intervention Initiative at the CDC.
February 28, 2022 - National PTA submits comments on violence prevention and addressing adverse childhood experiences to the U.S. Department of Education.


Health and Safety

November 22, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging Congress to include measures to address childhood trauma in legislation aimed at solving the mental health crisis.
June 22, 2022 - National PTA joins letter encouraging Congress to prioritize access to primary prevention of mental health challenges for all young people across a full continuum of support.
June 8, 2022 - National PTA joins letter recommending provisions from the bipartisan Resilience, Investment, Support, and Expansion (RISE) from Trauma Act be included in mental health legislation.
April 29, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging cosponsorship of the the Protecting Our Students in Schools Act.
April 28, 2022 - National PTA joins letter calling for funding to address the severe shortages of school-based mental health professionals (e.g. school psychologists, school counselors, and school social workers).
April 21, 2022 - National PTA joins letter calling for funding to support mental health professionals and trauma-informed practices in our nation’s schools.
March 16, 2022 - National PTA submits letter to the House Education & Labor Committee in support of the School Shooting and Safety Act (H.R. 5428).
January 26, 2022 - National PTA joins letter supporting bipartisan Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act (H.R. 5526/S. 2930).
January 15, 2022 - National PTA submits comments to the U.S. Department of Education on the impact of COVID-19 on 2021-2022 accountability systems required under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).
January 14, 2022 - National PTA joins letter supporting bipartisan S.1543, the Suicide Training and Awareness Nationally Delivered for Universal Prevention (STANDUP Act).


Special Education

April 25, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging Congress to adopt the highest proposed levels for the federal investment in programs that support infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their families.
April 25, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging Congress to provide the maximum increase possible in funding for IDEA.
February 14, 2022 - National PTA joins letter urging swift passage of FY22 appropriations bills providing urgently needed funding that impacts children with disabilities and their families.
January 31, 2022 - National PTA joins letter calling upon Congress to fund education programs that support children with disabilities in their FY22 appropriations package.