Did you know that National PTA was founded by advocates? Advocacy is at the core of our mission — make every child's potential a reality. National PTA is the largest child advocacy organization in our nation. Texas PTA is the largest child advocacy organization in our state, and the second largest in our nation. It is important that we, as a Council, and you, as a Local PTA, work together to educate our communities on important issues and share tools to elevate our membership's voice as parents and advocates.
One of our Basic Principles states that we shall work to engage and empower children, families, and educators within schools and communities to provide quality education for all children and youth, and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process by influencing school policy and advocating for children's issues, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education.
Governor Abbott is calling back the legislature for a 3rd special session to address educational needs of children in Texas by requesting legislation to provide educational savings accounts for all Texas children.
See articles below.
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/05/texas-legislative-special-session-vouchers-immigration/
https://lrl.texas.gov/scanned/specialSessions/88-3proc.pdf
https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-third-special-session-agenda
Here is a link to Texas PTA legislative priorities which are in line with Leander ISD Council of PTAs legislative priorities:
https://www.txpta.org/legislative-priorities
Here is a way to contact your local legislator to advocate for children in our area:
https://www.txpta.org/take-action
Please be aware of important dates for voting on November 7, 2023.
This week marks the start of a 30 day special session for the Texas Legislature where the focus is squarely on an attempt by many of those legislators to pull money away from public schools in the name of private school subsidies - often called school vouchers and education savings accounts (ESA). At a time when Texas public schools are underfunded by billions of dollars, prioritizing private school subsidies is a move in the wrong direction. We stand united with Leander ISD, Texas PTA and our local PTAs in saying no to vouchers and ESA and yes to investments IN public education such as increased salaries for teachers, enrollment-based funding, increase in basic allotment, updated funding weights, and increase for special education funding to actually cover the cost of providing services.
What can you do?
Write to and call your legislators Tell them that you are opposed to taking $$ AWAY from public schools through Vouchers, ESA, or any other money diverting program. Not sure who your representative is? The Texas Tribune has you covered. Input your address here to see each of your representatives and CALL THEM or WRITE to THEM.
Stay connected Make sure you are receiving up to date information this session by following the Texas PTA "Under the Dome" newsletter. Sign up here for Under the Dome: https://bit.ly/txptanewsletters
Spread the word Use social media to spread the word and follow Texas PTA and the Leander ISD Council of PTAs on Facebook (See the profile logo below). Talk with folks about these realities and share information with them.
Keep advocating for EVERY child so EVERY child has a voice.
Texas-Educators-Vote.pdfNationalPTAAdvocacyFlier.pdf