October 19, 2022 – Santa Monica Malibu PTA has released the following letter in response to the recent letter PTA and Politics, published in Santa Monica Daily Press:
Recently, in a Letter to the Editor, it was erroneously stated that “Parent Teacher Associations are meant to be apolitical,” We appreciate this opportunity to educate our community about the history and mission of the National Parent Teacher Association, and of our local Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs, made up of our elected Executive Board, and the Presidents elected by each association, the community of PTA members, at each school site.
PTA is the largest volunteer children’s advocacy group in the nation; National PTA, California State PTA (CAPTA), and the Santa Monica-Malibu Council of PTAs (SMMPTA) have long histories of effective political engagement. National PTA has established programs and called for legislation that improves our children’s lives—
- the creation of kindergarten classes
- child labor laws
- mandatory immunizations for preventable diseases
- juvenile justice system reform
- public health service
- hot and healthy lunch programs
- arts in education
- school safety
In recent history, advocacy efforts by the California State PTA led to later school times with the signing of Bill SB 328, which was sponsored by CAPTA.
SMMPTA is non-partisan, which means that it does not endorse candidates. However, PTA Councils and Units may take positions on state and local measures. SMMPTA follows National PTA’s standard procedures if interested in making a study of an issue or ballot measure. Because many of our parents have children or youth who have benefited from Dual Enrollment, Concurrent Enrollment or regular courses at SMC, or grandparents who have attended Emeritus College, there was interest in having a committee prepare a study.
Measure SMC fits within the Purposes of PTA and CAPTA’s legislation platform and affects the well-being of children and youth. “PTA Authorities” (including PTA’s legislative platform; CAPTA resolutions; position statements adopted by CAPTA’s Board of Managers; National PTA positions and resolutions; and previous PTA action on the same issue) would be documented, providing a lens through which the Measure would be studied, and information on all sides of the issue would be included.
The study committee led by our Legislation team worked independently and spent a great many hours to make sure SMMPTA officers and Presidents understood the Measure, the supporting California State PTA Authorities, and the potential value or impact to our communities, and to the children, youth and families. Study committee members came in fresh, with no pre-conceived biases. The study committee was open to their findings leading to a recommendation of “Support”, “Oppose”, or “Take No Position”.
In contradiction of the disinformation spread through that recent Letter to the Editor, the committee had no interaction with School Board members during the study, nor has SMMPTA spent any money lobbying in support of Measure SMC. No advertising was purchased. These assertions are demonstrably incorrect and do a disservice to SMMPTA, our students, our district, and its leadership.
Based upon SMMPTA’s study of Measure SMC, (together with the strength of the relevant organizational authorities listed above), and with our longstanding advocacy centered around the education and wellbeing of children and youth from cradle to career in mind, SMMPTA’s officers and unit presidents voted unanimously to support Measure SMC. As California PTA (CAPTA) Board of Managers supported California Proposition 28, the Arts and Music K-12 Education Funding Initiative, SMMPTA also voted to support Proposition 28. Following CAPTA’s lead, to protect the health of California kids, SMMPTA voted to support California Proposition 31, Flavored Tobacco Products Ban Referendum. All three measures are on the ballot of California’s statewide election on November 8.
In addition, SMMPTA and the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica Education Fund once again co-hosted a Candidates Forum for SMMUSD Board of Education on Wednesday, October 19th, as we have done many times in the past, to support the Santa Monica-Malibu communities in informed decision-making.
SMMPTA strives to be a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. To learn more about the history and impact of PTA’s advocacy efforts for children and families, please utilize these links:
- The History of the National PTA: https://www.pta.org/home/About-National-Parent-Teacher-Association/Mission-Values/National-PTA-History
- CAPTA Advocacy for Children and Families: https://www.pta.org/home/About-National-Parent-Teacher-Association/Mission-Values/National-PTA-History
- CAPTA Current Legislation: https://capta.org/focus-areas/advocacy/current-legislation/
- Thirty-Third Advocacy for Children and Families: https://www.33rdpta.org/advocacy/
- SMMPTA Advocacy: https://smmpta.org/advocacy/
- SMMPTA Measure SMC Study: https://smmpta.org/2022/measure-smc/
- SMMPTA Candidate Forum: https://smmpta.org/2022/watch-now-smmusd-board-of-education-candidate-forum/
Thank you,
Erika Bell
President, Santa Monica Malibu Council of PTAs
Patti Braun
VP Organization, Santa Monica Malibu Council of PTAs
Danielle Litak
Legislation Chair, Santa Monica Malibu Council of PTAs
