Advocacy

Advocacy is what makes PTA unique. As leaders, your work and contributions are an important part of PTA’s legacy of advocacy that has held strong for more than a century.

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.

As part of the California State PTA, the Santa Monica Malibu Council of PTAs is a key member of the oldest, largest advocacy organization in the state. Every year, our local, regional, statewide and national governments make decisions that affect our children. Through our Legislative Advocacy committee, we take an active role in helping lawmakers make their decisions on laws that impact the education and welfare of children and families, in Santa Monica, Malibu and beyond.

We work directly with local parents, the 33rd District PTA, California State PTA, National PTA, and local, regional, and state elected officials to help propose and enact legislation for the good of families and children.

Role of PTA in Legislation

As local officers of the largest grassroots child advocacy organization in the state, PTA legislative advocacy chairs are responsible for demonstrating leadership on children’s issues at the local level by educating PTA members, community members and elected officials about PTA’s issues of concern and legislative priorities and goals.

California State PTA takes positions on issues/legislation based on position statements in the California State PTA Toolkit, California State PTA resolutions, California State PTA Legislation Platform and National PTA positions and resolutions.

The unit, council or district legislative chair provides PTA members with information about PTA positions on current legislation and issues.

California State PTA

California State PTA connects families, schools and communities. CAPTA is part of the foundation of our public education system and a trusted messenger to millions of members, parents, families, educators and allied agencies throughout the state. PTA is the nation’s largest volunteer-led child-advocacy association working to drive improvements in the education, health and well-being of all children and families.

The CAPTA mission is to POSITIVELY IMPACT the lives of ALL CHILDREN & FAMILIES

CAPTA Advocacy Goals: 

• Advocate to achieve justice for all children, youth and families to have their essential needs met.
• Advocate for shared power and belonging for all children, youth and families to address the impacts of systemic and institutionalized injustice.
• Advocate for a full and culturally responsive curriculum to meet the diverse needs of our student population.
• Elevate the student voice to create an inclusive, positive and supportive school climate.
• Promote physical and mental wellness beginning in early childhood.
• Advocate for stable and sustainable public school resources to bring California within the top 10 states in per-pupil funding.
• You have the power to shape the future for the children, youth, and families of your community by being an advocate.