PTA COUNCIL

What is PTA?

Purposes of the PTA:

• To promote the welfare of children in home, school, community, and place of worship.

• To raise the standards of home life.

• To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children.

• To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate in the education of children.

• To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.

Our council is part of California State PTA.

California State PTA Core Values:

• The California State PTA is a professional, non-profit volunteer organization committed to the well-being of all children.

• We believe every adult has a responsibility to ensure that all children develop to their full potential.

• We believe parents are children’s first teachers and that parent involvement is essential throughout a child’s educational experience.

• We believe that family is the basic unit of society responsible for the support and nurturing of all children, and we recognize that “the family” may be defined in many ways.

• We believe our responsibility includes advocating for the safety and welfare of all children and the opportunity for a quality public education for each child.

PTA is a child advocacy association. Its legislative mission is to speak on behalf of all children and youth at the local, state and federal levels. One of the Purposes of PTA is “to secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.” PTA promotes and encourages legislative advocacy for the education and welfare of all children and youth.

Role of PTA in Legislation. As local officers of the largest grassroots child advocacy organization in the state, PTA legislative advocacy chairmen are responsible for demonstrating leadership on children’s issues at the local level by educating PTA members, community members and elected officials about PTA’s issues of concern and legislative priorities and goals. No amount of fundraising can have as much impact as a single piece of legislation.

The positions we take. The California State PTA takes positions on issues/legislation based on position statements in the California State PTA Toolkit, California State PTA convention resolutions, California State PTA Legislation Platform and National PTA positions and convention resolutions. The unit, council or district legislative chairman provides PTA members with information about PTA positions on current legislation and issues

Learn more about California State PTA.

Our council is part of National PTA, the largest child advocacy organization in America. Here’s the breakdown of the organizational structure.

National PTA:

Advocates nationally for children and youth.

Develops and funds projects national in scope.

Maintains legislative advocacy at the federal level.

Plans and holds and annual convention.

Provides field services and prepares publications.

California State PTA:

Represents PTA in youth and family education activities.

Maintains legislation advocates in Sacramento.

Plans and holds annual convention.

Provides workshops, field services, leadership training.

Prepares publications.

Fourth District PTA: (Orange County & Eastern L.A. County)

Promotes State and National PTA work.

Organizes and strengthens councils and units.

Channels information from California State PTA.

Provides workshops, programs, leadership training.

Prepares publications.

Laguna Beach Council of PTAs:

Offers resources and support through training and updates.

Provides guidance, mentoring and representation.

Promotes, supports, and provides parent education (PTA Coffee Break programs)

LBHS PTA, TOW PTA, El Morro PTA, Thurston PTA (School Site PTAs):

Works at the school site for all children and youth.

Carries out the purposes of the organization.