"Our children may be small, but they are mighty.
They are capable of so much and they surprise us each day.
It is our responsibility to make sure bills that pass work in their best interest."
Texas PTA Volunteer President, Suzi Kennon, on the importance of advocacy.
Each year, Texas PTA accepts applications for our Child Advocate Awards program to recognize local PTAs, council PTAs, and students who help to truly enhance public education.
The awards program honors local PTAs, council PTAs, and students with two awards:
- Outstanding Advocates for Children (OAC)
- Be the Voice (BTV)
More information about the next application period will be provided soon.
Award Eligibility for Local PTAs:
Local PTAs that meet criteria described below can apply to receive the Outstanding Advocates for Children (OAC) or Be the Voice (BTV) awards. These awards are largely based on the honor system of reporting actual work completed by your local PTA. However, submitting materials and/or documentation substantiating the advocacy work completed will strengthen your PTA’s chances of being recognized.
Outstanding Advocates for Children (OAC)
Eligibility: Must have completed at least four out of six Building Awareness activities, and at least six out of eight Engagement activities.
Be the Voice (BTV)
Eligibility: Must have completed at least three out of six Building Awareness activities, and at least four out of eight Engagement activities.
Building Awareness – Educate and communicate Texas PTA legislative issues via social media, newsletters, programs, and other avenues to PTA members and the community at large.
- Share advocacy updates and information from Texas PTA and how to sign up for the Under the Dome newsletter.
- Share Texas PTA advocacy alerts to membership.
- Host programs or family events - pick a legislative priority topic and build a community event around that issue (for example: invite guest speaker, discuss topics, and have a related activity).
- Collaborate with other local PTAs.
- If appropriate, seek community partners and other association relationships to elevate your work.
- Other
Engagement with Elected Officials – Relationships facilitate change.
- Write letters or postcards to share your concerns or support regarding Texas PTA legislative issues.
- Make phone calls to elected officials in response to Texas PTA Legislative Alerts.
- Meet with legislator or legislative staffer to discuss Texas PTA legislative priorities. The meeting can be done as part of Texas PTA Rally Day schedule. Collaboration with other local PTAs is encouraged.
- Give legislators school tours to meet students, parents, counselors, teachers, and administrative staff. Discuss how PTA legislative issues impact your campus and community.
- Attend Texas PTA Rally Day.
- Attend other forums pertaining to public education, child health, and child safety that align with Texas PTA’s goals.
- Other community engagement (examples include meeting with city council members regarding sidewalks and/or crosswalks to make walking and biking to school safer).
Award Eligibility for Council PTAs:
Council PTAs that meet criteria described below can apply to receive the Outstanding Advocates for Children (OAC) or Be the Voice (BTV) awards. These awards are largely based on the honor system of reporting actual work completed by your council PTA. However, submitting materials and/or documentation substantiating the advocacy work completed will strengthen your PTA’s chances of being recognized.
Outstanding Advocates for Children (OAC)
Eligibility: Must have completed at least four out of seven Building Awareness activities, and at least three out of five Engagement activities, and Rally Day attendance during legislative year.
Be the Voice (BTV)
Eligibility: Must have completed at least three out of seven Building Awareness activities, and at least two out of five Engagement activities.
Building Awareness – Educate and communicate Texas PTA legislative issues via social media, newsletters, programs, and other avenues to PTA members and the community at large.
- Share advocacy updates and information from Texas PTA.
- Share Texas PTA advocacy alerts asking membership to engage.
- Pick a legislative priority issue or issues and build a community event around it (for example: invite guest speaker, discuss, and have a related activity).
- Host advocacy education for local PTAs, including issues and advocacy techniques such as how to communicate with legislators (in-person meetings, phone calls, letters, or postcards).
- Initiate voter education program to include where and when to vote, identifying where public education, child health, and health safety issues are prominent on ballot.
- Promote Civic Engagement (example: Model Civic Engagement).
- Seek community partners and other association relationships to promote PTA’s mission if appropriate (example: Ask city council and/or mayor to make a declaration supporting PTA’s mission like Love Keller ISD Day).
- Other
Engagement with Elected Officials – Relationships facilitate change
- Sponsor school board trustee candidate forum.
- Sponsor legislative candidate forum or online questionnaire (suggest questions be taken from the list formulated by Texas PTA Advocacy Committee; see Keller ISD Council as an example).
- Promote and attend Texas PTA Rally Day during legislative session.
- Meet with all state legislators representing school district.
- Other
Award Eligibility for Students:
Students who are PTA members and meet criteria described below can apply to receive the Outstanding Advocates for Children (OAC) or Be the Voice (BTV) awards. These awards are largely based on the honor system of reporting actual work completed by students. However, submitting materials and/or documentation substantiating the advocacy work completed will strengthen a student’s chances of being recognized.
Outstanding Advocates for Children (OAC)
Eligibility: Must have completed at least two out of five Engagement activities.
Be the Voice (BTV)
Eligibility: Must have completed at least one out of five Engagement activities.
Civic Engagement – Students who are involved and active with civic engagement at an early age are the pillars of Texas’ future.
- Sponsor voter registration drive.
- Host voter education program to include where and when to vote, identifying where public education, and child health and safety issues are prominent on ballot.
- Host a program or campaign about a Texas PTA legislative priority issue (youth vaping, cyberbullying, school funding, etc.) for PTA membership and the community at large (example: invite guest speaker, hold discussion, and have a related activity).
- Meet with legislators representing student’s school community.
- Create an online candidate questionnaire regarding PTA legislative priorities (collaboration with Council PTA or Local PTA encouraged).
- Other