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.
- Identify a Legislative/Advocacy Vice President for your Board
- Meet with your administration and discuss ways to support your School Improvement Plan
- Sign up for State and Federal PTA Action Alerts
- Attend Utah PTA Advocacy Conference & PTA Day at the Capitol
- 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
- PTA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit association and we must follow certain laws governing 501(c)(3)s.
- 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
- 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.
- 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
- Non-profit organizations may take positions on public policy issues.