Advocacy

"Advocacy is the art of focused persuasion to bring positive change at the local, state and national levels."

What is Advocacy at Christa McAuliffe PTSA?

The role of Advocacy Chair, or Legislative Chair, exists in some form at every level of PTA, from the national PTA level down to the local school PTSA level. It's a fluid and complex role, and can look different in every PTA or PTSA organization, though its general responsibility is always the same: to advocate for the safety, health and welfare of all children.

The role of advocate is where the National PTA began. Its foundation was built on the mission of affecting positive policy change on children's issues and it was instrumental in such issues as securing polio vaccinations, providing hot lunches in schools, and making public education accessible for all children. Today, PTA strives to impact legislation and policy involving education, health care and safety issues, among others.

The specific tasks of the Advocacy Chair at the school level can vary from year to year, depending on what's going on within the state legislature, the school board and the school itself. For example, Basic Education legislation was a major focus of the Washington State Legislature this past year, driving the Advocacy Chair at McAuliffe to focus on asking parents to monitor legislative developments and contact their legislators to make their opinions heard. This year, the school district is placing two levies and potentially one bond on the spring ballot, putting Advocacy Chairs at schools across the district into "get out the vote" mode.

At McAuliffe this year, your Advocacy Chair will focus on:

• Representing McAuliffe parents at the State PTA's Legislative Assembly, and voting on which issues should be added to the State's legislative platform

• Recruiting parents to participate in education Focus Day in Olympia on January 18, a chance to show our state elected officials how important it is to ensure a quality education for our children

• Providing information to all interested McAuliffe parents on legislative and other public policy activities affecting education

• Coordinating groups of parents to make phone calls to voters reminding them to fill out their ballot in the spring (note: we are not allowed to tell voters what to vote for or against)

 

Questions?  Contact your Advocacy Chair, Denise Stephens at advocacy@mcauliffeptsa.org .