NYS PTANYS PTA is the oldest child advocacy organization in our state and country, and often presents positions on many policies and legislative issues affecting children and families.
Below you will find memoranda, testimony, letters, and other positions NYS PTA has taken over the past few years.
You can also read other Position Papers here. Also see here for Press Releases on many issues of importance.
Many of the files below 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.
2021
Open Letter on Marijuana by Medical Society of the State of NY, New York State Parent Teacher Association, Rural Schools Association of New York State, NYS Association of Chiefs of Police, New York State Sheriffs’ Association, New York State Association of County Health Officials and Smart Approaches to Marijuana
- NYS PTA on Student Mental Health – 2/22/21
- NYS PTA on Digital Equity – 2/18/2021
- NYS PTA Supports ELearn Bill – 2/22/21
- NYS PTA on School Aid – Say No to Education Cuts – 2/9/2021
- NYS PTA OPPOSE A.1248/S.854 – 3/15/2021
- NYS PTA on Amended Marijuana Bill – Vote NO – 3/29/21
- NYS PTA on the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana Law Enforcement Concerns – 3/23/21
- NYS PTA on the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana 2 – 2/22/21
- NYS PTA on the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana 1 – 1/22/2021
- NYS PTA Opposition the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana Presentation – 2/27/2021
Final NYGFFNYK Memorandum of Support S.4561 (Hinchey) and A.5404 (Lupardo) – 3/2021
- Tobacco Tax Support – Letter to Carl Heastie – 3/4/2021
- Tobacco Tax Support – Letter to the Senate – 3/4/2021
ECB Closing the Digital Divide – 3/4/2021
Easy-to-Read School Aid Run- 2/2021
Fund(Ed) Letter to Governor Cuomo – 2/2021
Public Health Funding Letter – 2/11/2021
New York Grown Food for New York Kids Farm to School Memo – 2/2/2021
- NYS PTA Support of NYSED Assessment Waiver Application – 1/21/2021
- NYS PTA notes in support of NYSED Waiver Application – 2/9/2021
NYS PTA Education Budget Testimony – 1/2021
2020
Letter to Governor Cuomo Regarding Tobacco Tax – 12/17/2020
Letter to Governor Cuomo Regarding the Removal of Lead from Drinking Water in Schools – 12/16/2020
Coalition Letter Opposing the Legalization of the Recreational Use of Marijuana – Fall 2020
Final NYGFFNYK Coalition Letter to Governor Cuomo – 11/20/2020
ECB State Aid Fact Sheet – Fall 2020
ECB Release on School Aid – 11/12/2020
NYS PTA letter to SED regarding Spring Assessments 3/19/2020
NYS PTA Education Budget Hearing Testimony 2/11/2020
Memos
- ECB Transportation Aid Statement
- Leading NYS Education groups call for renewed focus on student teaching programs amid teacher shortage
- Support the Safety and Security of our Students – 2/25/2020
- Support our Youngest Learners – 2/7/2020
- Supporting English Language Learners and their Families – 2/7/2020
- Ban the use of Polystyrene – 2/7/2020
- Support School‐Based Mental Health Services for Students – 2/4/2020
- NYS PTA Positions on the Executive Budget – 1/27/2020
- Our students need a $2.1 billion state aid increase – 1/27/2020
- Oppose the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana – 1/21/2020
- Oppose the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana – 1/21/2020
- Ban the sale of flavored e‐cigarettes, flavored e‐liquids, and flavored tobacco – 1/14/2020
2019
Youth Flavored Tobacco Crisis- Need to Ban Flavored Tobacco in NYS – November 27, 2019
- Letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo
- Letter to Assembly Speaker Heastie
- Letter to Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins
Testimony of Amany Messieha Dgheim, M.D. NYS PTA Wellness Coordinator to NYS Senate Standing Committees on Consumer Protection, Health and Education – November 4, 2019
ECB: FIX THE PROPERTY TAX CAP – Support Adjustments for BOCES Capital and PILOTs – March 28, 2019
ECB: PUBLIC FUNDING FOR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS – Reject Funding Increases for Nonpublic and Charter Schools – March 28, 2019
ECB: OPPOSE “Equity Plans” – State-Mandated School-Funding Redistribution – March 27, 2019
NYS PTA letter to Governor Cuomo, Senator Stewart Cousins and Speaker Heastie in opposition to marijuana legalization – March 26, 2019
Restorative practices improve school climate and offer an alternative to excluding students from school – February 22, 2019
NYS PTA Testifies Before Joint Budget Hearing – February 6, 2019
2018
Tobacco Issues from Tobacco Free Kids Sign on Letter – November 28, 2018
Senator Schumer
Representative Lowey
New York Grown Food for New York Kids Coalition Sign on Letter – November 20, 2018
NYS PTA Testimony on Mental Health and Physical Education – October 23, 2018
NYS PTA Commentary on ESSA Regulations – August 21, 2018
NYS PTA Letter to Chancellor Rosa and Commissioner Elia on Diplomas – February 21, 2018
NYS PTA’s Testimony at the Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Education – January 31, 2018
Educational Conference Board – Urgent action necessary to support English Language Learners in New York’s schools – January 29, 2018
Educational Conference Board – New York’s students deserve full access to career and technical education (CTE) opportunities – January 25, 2018
Educational Conference Board End of Budget Memos (March 2018)
Reject 529 Plan Private School Vouchers
Reject School-Based Budget Reporting Mandates Memo FINAL
Reject Special Education Cost Shift
BOCES Facilities and the Property Tax Cap
OPPOSE the “Education Affordability” Tax Credit
Budget Positions (January 2018)
Support a $2 Billion Investment in our Children
Support and Expand School Mental Health Programs
A Meaningful Diploma for ALL Students
No Student, No Child, Should Ever Go Hungry
Supports for Recovery High Schools, and the Prevention and Treatment of Heroin and Opioid Abuse
Career and Technical Education, a Proven Pathway to Success
Supporting English Language Learners and Their Families
Supporting Our Youngest Learners
Meaningful Family Engagement Matters
Protect Children From Tobacco and E-Cigarette Use
2017
Educational Conference Board Medicaid Fact Sheet – December 15, 2017
Educational Conference Board letter to Congress on State and Local Tax Deduction Proposal – December 15, 2017
NYS PTA on Graduation Requirement Change – December 11, 2017
NYS PTA State Budget Priorities 2018-19 – December 8, 2017
Educational Conference Board School Aid Request – December 4, 2017
NYS PTA Urges No Vote on Constitutional Convention – October 25, 2017
NYS PTA’s Testimony before the NYS Assembly Education Committee on School Infrastructure and Facilities – October 19, 2017
NYS PTA on SUNY Charter Regulations – September 11, 2017
NYS PTA on ESSA waiver requests – September 8, 2017
E-Cigarettes Now Banned on School Grounds – August 2, 2017
NYS PTA commentary on ESSA draft – June 16, 2017
NYS PTA on today’s decision to reduce 3-8 standardized tests to two days – June 12, 2017
NYS PTA on NYSER, All NY Children Deserve a Sound Basic Education Plus More – May 30, 2017
NYS PTA Supports Raise the Age – May 28, 2017
NYS PTA supports a parent’s right to make educational decisions for their children – March 24, 2017
NYS PTA’s Testimony at the Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Education – February 14, 2017
NYS PTA Letter on DeVos Nomination – January 25, 2017
2016
NYS PTA’s Testimony before the NYS Assembly Education Committee Public Hearing – December 5, 2016
Educational Conference Board report calls for $2 billion increase for schools – December 2, 2016
NYS PTA’s Testimony before the New York State Joint Legislative Committee Hearings – January 27, 2016
2015
NYS PTA’s Response to Governor Cuomo’s statement about failing teachers
ECB’s Memo In Opposition to the Governor’s Program Bill- Parental Choice in Education Act
ECB Sends Second Letter to Governor to Release School Aid Runs
