Legislative
Texas PTA Legislative News and Events
Texas PTA is a noncommercial, nonsectarian-nonpartisan organization that promotes the welfare of children and youth. Texas PTA does not endorse any candidate or political party.
The actions of legislative bodies can have a profound effect on the education and well-being of children, and Texas PTA serves as the voice for Texas children in many legislative endeavors. Texas PTA supports legislation that improves health, well-being and educational opportunities for every child. Successful implementation of our legislative positions is characterized by people working together to assure wise legislative decisions through knowledge of the process and an understanding of the issues.
Legislative Priorities
| Legislative Priority |
|---|
| Accountability |
| Arts In Education |
| Environmental |
| Healthy Lifestyles |
| State Board of Education (SBOE) |
| Safe Schools |
| School Finance |
| Vouchers |
For more information on Texas PTA programs, please visit our Programs page.
Contact the Texas PTA Legislative Action Committee
Join the Texas PTA Legislative Action Team
Stay informed with News Briefs and important information by joining the Legislative Action Team. Send your request to join along with your name and e-mail address to communications@txpta.org. You may “opt out” or forward these e-mails once you have signed up.
For more information on how to become a child advocate, organizing a candidate’s forum, or any other legislative committee information, download our Legislative Action Chairman’s Guide.
Additional Resources
Every Chance, Every Texan - Web site that provides vital information to ensure the success of our children and the economic future of our state. It provides tools and resources that can help members identify potential careers and learn about many options to pay for college, including scholarships, grants and student loans.
Kids’ House - Teaches kids grades 1-8 about Texas Government
ASCD The Whole Child - ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) is an educational leadership organization dedicated to advancing best practices and policies for the success of each learner.
Federal Legislation
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) provides the major source of federal funding to improve states’ juvenile justice systems and sets federal standards for the protection and rehabilitation of youth involved in the juvenile justice system. On March 24, 2009, Congress introduced JJDPA (S. 678), but with Congress’ focus on other legislative matters, such as health care reform, JJDPA has been sitting in the wings of U.S. Senate Committee on Judiciary.
To sign up to receive National PTA Legislative Alerts or for more information, visit PTA Takes Action Center.
Education Week Online Article ”PTA Launches Campaign Backing Common Standards”
State Laws on Family Engagement in Education
PTA Takes Action Challenge
Over the next few months, Congress will be drafting legislation that affects the education, health, and well-being of children—and parents must be heard. To ensure all parents have a voice, National PTA has launched the PTA Takes Action Challenge.
To increase PTA’s voice on Capitol Hill, we challenge all PTA members to join the PTA Takes Action Network and respond to every action alert by reaching out to their members of Congress. The state with the highest increase in number of PTA Takes Action Network members and response rates to action alerts between now and May 15, 2010, will be named the National PTA Takes Action Challenge Champion and recognized at the National PTA Convention in Memphis, Tennessee, June 10–13, 2010.
The Local Leader Toolkit explains the challenge criteria:
- Local Leader Toolkit: intended for Local PTA leaders, this toolkit is to encourage them to take the challenge.
