May 26, 2013

Issues Briefs and Talking Points

Throughout the years the Board of Directors of New York State PTA has taken positions on a variety of issues impacting the education, health and welfare of children and youth. As each school year brings new issues before our membership, the following is a compilation of those that have been of particular focus.

For each issue there is an “Issues Brief” that states the problem, the reason why it is a problem, the impact of the proposed policy, regulation or legislation and what PTA recommends or believes will affect a solution.

Each “Issues Brief” is accompanied by “Talking Points”. Both may be used as simple tools for members to communicate specific statements on an issue to decision-makers.

Engaging grassroots members in PTA advocacy campaigns strengthens our chorus!

Although PTA advocacy is a year-round effort, March has been traditionally designated PTA Advocacy Month. In the preceding January, the Executive Office, i.e. the governor, presents the State-of-the-State address and releases the Proposed Executive Budget for the upcoming year. Both houses of the NYS legislature have 8-10 weeks to react to the governor’s proposals. Senate and Assembly members either agree or propose adjusted funding allocations but are not permitted to change language within the budget. The approved Executive Budget is due to the public on April 1.

During the negotiation period, members of the State Board of Directors analyze the governor’s proposals and write a PTA response paper. Click here to read the NYS PTA's 2013 Budget Analysis.

From this response, two issues of concern or interest are selected upon which to focus member advocacy efforts. In addition to the “Issues Briefs” and “Talking Points” mentioned above, sample letters and postcard messages with a template are sent to region boards and unit/council presidents and posted on our website. These are designed to both provide our members with a clear understanding of the issues, the NYS PTA position on each, and tools to assist with letter writing campaigns, emails, phone calls or visits with decision makers.   

Our March Advocacy campaign kicks off with the reaction paper, followed by visits from representatives of NYS PTA and region and local advocacy partners to key Albany legislators on Lobby Day, Monday, March 18, 2013.  Via a statewide electronic advocacy campaign, Virtual Lobby Day (VLD), grassroots PTA members will take our message to the goal line by sending emails to the Legislature on the following day, March 19, 2013. Add your voice to the chorus -- be sure to subscribe to our Capwiz electronic advocacy tool and watch for NYS PTA's response to the proposed Executive Budget and VLD prepared messages/talking points in February, 2013!  
 

Take Action with Capwiz

All of the files to the right are in PDF format. If you do not have software to read this format, please click here to download the latest version of Acrobat Reader.