Advocacy

The definition of "advocacy" is to "urge action".

PTA is a child advocacy association. Its legislative mission is to speak on behalf of all children and youth at the local, state and federal levels. One of the purposes of PTA is “to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.” PTA promotes and encourages legislative advocacy for the education and welfare of all children and youth.

 

Guidelines

Per the California State PTA:

• PTA is non-partisan and never endorses or opposes a candidate for public office.

• PTA does take positions on issues that affect children and youth.

To maintain the PTA tax exempt 501 3(C) status however, it is critical that Units carry out their advocacy activities within the guidelines established by the National and State PTA as well as those set forth by our local school district.

PTA participates in the legislative process by:

• Encouraging citizens to vote

• Providing information

• Advocating for the PTA positions

PTAs must recognize the distinction between information pieces vs. advocacy pieces to ensure the guidelines are followed.

Advocacy urges action and is persuasive.

Information is even-handed, dispassionate and factual.

Advocacy pieces are allowed to be distributed:

• At PTA meetings if a facilities use permit has been obtained

• If it is on the sidewalk (not on school property)

• If it is included on a PTA/ website

• If it is included on PTA/PTSA List Serve

• If it is mailed home

Advocacy pieces MUST NOT be sent home directly with children. SAMPLE: "The California State PTA urges you to vote NO on Proposition 41 & 42" is considered advocacy and may not be sent home with children.

Anything sent home with children must be approved by the school Principal.

 

For Legislative Advocates

• Job Description for Legislative Advocacy Chairman

• Advocacy Section of CAPTA Toolkit

• Fourth District Advocacy Page

• California State PTA Advocacy Page

• Ed100 is a free online resource with great information about education in California

• Dealing with Elections and Political Content and PTA

• Social Media and Advocacy

• The Fourth District's Advocacy Communicator

• PTA Resolutions

 

Fact Sheet

• Capistrano Unified Council of PTSAs is the governing body of the PTA units within the Capistrano Unified School District.

• There are 53 schools in the school district and 48 PTA units serving 49,000 students.

• Our PTA membership is 12,000 parents, teachers, and community members who are very interested in the quality of education in our schools. We are one of the largest PTA councils in the state of California.

• Our PTA units raise funds to support valuable programs at our schools, that can no longer be funded by our school district, such as art, music, and technology.

• Our PTA units also provide information to our parents and communities about the education system and in particular, our legislative actions that impact our childrens schools.

• The Legislative Action Team is a council-level organization with senior representative from 43 schools in our school district.

• The Legislative Action Team meets monthly to review legislative news, to take advocacy stands on issues and to promote activism on the part of parents and community members on key issues. Legislation Representative meetings are held monthly during the school year at the at the CUSD Education Center.

• The Legislative Action Team is also a recommendation body for the school district on issues such as budgeting.

• The advocacy agenda for the Legislative Action Team is determined on an annual basis and includes advocacy statements directed at the federal, state and local levels of school governance.

• Once a year, the Legislative Action Team travels to Sacramento to visit with key legislators and to learn more about the pending education issues. The team members then report back to their parent groups on what we have learned from the trip.

• The Legislative Action Team is a knowledgeable and credible source of information for the parents and community members in our schools.

General Information About Communication Related to Advocacy

What PTAs can communicate only through an independent communication system (not CUSD) and other guidelines:

• If a PTA has an independent communication system with their members, such as Constant Contact or a stand alone website, that PTA can support Props 3 & 40 and encourage members to vote FOR them. You do not have to do this. You can remain neutral or not write about them, but since PTA has taken a stand, you cannot use PTA to speak AGAINST these props.

• PTAs are not allowed to support candidates.

• CUSD is also not allowed to support political positions, which includes candidates and propositions.

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