Advocacy or Legislative Vice President

Advocating for your child is the one type of involvement which predicts success across race, class, and gender

 

UTAH PTA Advocacy Program

The mission and purpose of PTA state that a primary focus of PTA is “make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children,” “to speak on behalf of children and youth,” and to "secure adequate laws for [their] care and protection..." Advocacy work for children and youth must be a unified effort of local members with council, region, and Utah PTA officers.

Each member of PTA has an important place in PTA advocacy. Utah PTA and National PTA Resolutions are the corner pieces of our work as part of the Utah PTA Public Policy Program, the primary authority for public policy action and statements by Utah PTA on state and local legislation and administrative policies and regulation. The Utah PTA Board of Directors and Legislative Action Committee form the framework.

Each region, council, and local PTA has a important part of advocating for all children.

The following pages provide suggestions and explanations on how to advocate for the children in your school. Your part must reflect your members, yet it must be similar enough to mesh together with other PTAs within the Utah PTA framework.

A change can be initiated when Utah PTA or National PTA recognizes a need and rallies the local PTAs and members to bring about statewide changes to benefit our children. Any member, with the support of their local PTA, can begin the process by submitting resolutions for adoption at the annual PTA convention.

 

Utah PTA Positions

All Utah PTA positions are based upon the Utah Public Policy Program which consists of National and Utah PTA Mission Statement and Values, the National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions, the Utah PTA Legislative Policy, the Utah PTA Legislative Priorities, and the National and Utah PTA Position Statements. Utah PTA Legislative Priorities are determined yearly and voted upon by the membership at the Utah PTA Advocacy Conference. Resolutions are adopted by the members during the business meetings at the annual Advocacy Conference in the fall or the Utah PTA Leadership Convention in the spring.

Other organizations and lobbyists speak for business, the elderly, teachers, higher education, etc. PTA considers and works only for what is in the best interest of all children. With our diverse membership, individuals may be asked to advocate for issues or positions with which they personally disagree. If a person feels he cannot support a PTA position, he may remain silent. It is inappropriate to express a differing position as a PTA representative.

 

Just getting started?

Create an advocacy plan for your school using transformative family engagement!
A shared effort of families, schools, and community leaders to advance programs, practices, and policies to engage families and communities to make every child’s potential a reality.

  1. Identify a Legislative/Advocacy Vice President for your Board
  2. Meet with your administration and discuss ways to support your School Improvement Plan
  3. Sign up for State and Federal PTA Action Alerts 
  4. Attend Utah PTA Advocacy Conference & PTA Day at the Capitol
  5. Develop relationships with the decision makers in your area - teachers, principals, mayor, city council members, local and state school board members, state and federal legislators 

Just a few things to remember about advocating for Utah PTA

  1. PTA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association and we must follow certain laws governing 501(c)(3)s.
  2. 501(c)3) organizations are "... prohibited from intervening in a political campaign for or against any candidate for an elective public office."  Source: IRS instructions for Schedule A, IRS Form 990
  3. During an election year, if one candidate is invited to a PTA event or meeting, then ALL candidates MUST be invited. This also includes a candidate asking to come to an event or meeting. If one comes then ALL candidates must be aware and invited.
  4. Non-profit organizations may involve themselves in issues of public policy such as holding educational meetings, preparing and distributing educational materials, or otherwise considering public policy issues in an educational manner without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status. https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/lobbying
  5. Non-profit organizations may take positions on public policy issues.
Related Pages
Duties of local, council, region, and state, and national Legislative and Advocacy Vice Presidents
Before your PTA executive committee prepares an annual budget, submit a proposed budget to carry out legislative activities for your PTA. List the needs and requested amount and give the list to your president and treasurer.
PTA Guide to the Legislative Process, How a Bill Becomes a Law, an explanation of legislative bills, and using the internet for legislative advocacy. Working with Policy Makers, Developing/Sustaining Relations With a Legislator.
National PTA is an IRS 501(c)(3) organization and enjoys a tax-exempt public charity status. As permissible under federal tax laws, PTA members may engage in legislative activities on behalf of children and youth and may educate the general public and policy makers about officially adopted PTA positions and resolutions.
Learn the election guidelines PTAs must follow as a 501c3 organization
Resource ideas and contact information from Utah PTA and National PTA
Using parliamentary procedure makes sure everyone gets heard, no one dominates the conversation and ideas are fully explored before the majority rules through voting
Using Roberts Rules of Order can help your PTA make decisions that are fair to all while moving the work of your PTA forward.
The legislative priorities of Utah PTA for the 2023 legislative session were approved by the General Membership during the Advocacy Conference Business Meeting on October 6, 2023.
The Utah PTA Public Program is the primary authority for public policy action and statements by Utah PTA on state and local legislation and administrative policies and regulations.
“School District v. Juul Labs, Inc., et. al.” litigation is a potential opportunity for Utah School Districts to receive additional resources for education and prevention of vaping.
Learn how to be in the legislative know through updates and action alerts from Utah PTA and National PTA.
The Legislative Advocacy Committee (LAC) is a recommending body of PTA members from all levels of PTA and across all of Utah who come together to evaluate and recommend Utah PTA positions on pending legislation.
Learn how to find your Utah Representative or Senator
Learn how to be a county and/or state delegate
Information on Advocacy events: Leadership Convention-Business and Resolutions Meeting, Advocacy Conference, Day at the Capitol, PTSA Student Day at the Capitol
About Meet the Candidates Night and how to organize it.
A resolution is a call for action. Local PTAs, councils, regions, and Utah PTA commissions and committees may submit resolutions for consideration to the Utah PTA Resolutions Committee.
List of advocacy terms and their definitions
Information for surveys
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