Advocacy Resource Notebook 2015 For Unit, Council and District Advocacy Chairmen California State PTA Advocacy Welcome! Dear PTA Advocate, Thank you for your service and leadership in helping to improve the welfare of California’s children, youth and families. Your contributions are an important part of PTA’s legacy of advocacy that has held strong for more than a century. To help you with your advocacy work this year, California State PTA has compiled these materials for your reference. We have pulled information on multiple topics from many different websites in an effort to give you everything you need in one place. We have used each organization’s original formatting, hence the variety of styles you will see in here! Please continue to add new documents to this binder throughout the year, along with your own notes, to make it even more useful and relevant to your local area, and be sure to pass it on to your successor at the end of your term. Your ongoing efforts toward educating, informing and motivating our PTA members to take action will further strengthen our collective voice on behalf of all our children. Your outreach to local, state and federal leaders helps to guide public policy towards meaningful improvements in our schools and communities. California State PTA’s Legislation Team is here to support you, and we look forward to working together with you! Sincerely, Kathy Moffat Director of Legislation, California State PTA [email protected] California State PTA Advocacy Resource Notebook For Advocacy Chairmen CONTENTS 1 - PTA ADVOCACY - STATE AND NATIONAL About PTA............................................................................................................................................................... Page 5 PTA – A Brief History .............................................................................................................................................. Page 9 State:  California State PTA Legislation Team 2013-15 ...................................................................................... Page 11  California State PTA Legislative Program ................................................................................................ Page 13  California State PTA Advocacy Goals 2013-15 ........................................................................................ Page 23  Job Description for Legislative Advocacy Chairman................................................................................ Page 25 National:  National PTA “Takes Action” ................................................................................................................... Page 29  National PTA 2014 Public Policy Agenda – Executive Summary ............................................................. Page 31 Where Social Media and PTA Advocacy Collide ................................................................................................... Page 35 The Power of Parents ........................................................................................................................................... Page 37 2 - LOCAL INFORMATION Suggested pieces for you to add in here:  Your School Board  Your county (ies) Board of Education 3 - STATE LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION Structure of the California Legislature ................................................................................................................. Page 53 State Senate Roster 2015-16 ................................................................................................................................ Page 55 State Assembly Roster 2015-16 ........................................................................................................................... Page 63 California State Legislature Leadership ................................................................................................................ Page 79 Standing Committees of the Senate & Assembly ................................................................................................ Page 81 Sample Legislative Calendar ................................................................................................................................. Page 83 How a Bill Becomes a Law .................................................................................................................................... Page 85 Official California Legislative Information ............................................................................................................ Page 89 4 - STATE BUDGET California Budget Process .................................................................................................................................... Page 93 California State Budget Timeline .......................................................................................................................... Page 97 5 - CALIFORNIA SCHOOL FINANCE Proposition 98 Overview ...................................................................................................................................... Page 99 California Schools: A Decade of Disinvestment ................................................................................................ Page 105 Why Greater Investment in K-12 Education Matters for California’s Students ................................................. Page 111 Timeline: A short history of school finance reform in California ...................................................................... Page 119 Local Control Funding Formula – Overview ....................................................................................................... Page 129 Local Control and Accountability Plan – Overview ............................................................................................ Page 131 Ed100 – LCAP Parent Checklist ........................................................................................................................... Page 133 Local Control Funding Formula – In-depth ........................................................................................................ Page 141 Local Control Funding Formula: FAQ ................................................................................................................. Page 161 6 - CALIFORNIA: EDUCATION INFO AND NEWS; MAJOR CHILDREN’S ISSUES Fingertip Facts on Education in California.......................................................................................................... Page 163 State Board of Education Responsibilities ......................................................................................................... Page 165 State Board of Education Members ................................................................................................................... Page 167 School Districts Are in Charge of Most Local Schools ........................................................................................ Page 173 Common Core State Standards:  Overview ............................................................................................................................................... Page 177  Issue Brief .............................................................................................................................................. Page 179  FAQ ........................................................................................................................................................ Page 185 Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium:  Core Components ................................................................................................................................. Page 193  Creating a Computer Adaptive Test ...................................................................................................... Page 195  FAQ ........................................................................................................................................................ Page 197 Health issues ...................................................................................................................................................... Page 211  Obesity .................................................................................................................................................. Page 213  Oral Health ............................................................................................................................................ Page 215  Mental Health ....................................................................................................................................... Page 219  Health Care Access ................................................................................................................................ Page 221 Foster Youth Issues:  Education .............................................................................................................................................. Page 223  Health .................................................................................................................................................... Page 225 Listing of Children and Youth Issues .................................................................................................................. Page 227 7 - FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION U.S. Congressional Representatives for California ............................................................................................. Page 229 U.S. Department of Education ........................................................................................................................... Page 231 How a Bill Becomes a Law .................................................................................................................................. Page 235 8 - FEDERAL BUDGET, MAJOR EDUCATION ISSUES & ISSUE CARD TOPICS The Federal Budget and Appropriations Process ............................................................................................... Page 237 The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA-NCLB) ............................................................................. Page 241 Parental Information & Resource Centers (PIRCS) ............................................................................................ Page 245 The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act .................................................................................................. Page 247 National PTA Issue Card Topics .......................................................................................................................... Page 249 9 - PTA & ELECTIONS National PTA Nonprofit Voter Guide.................................................................................................................. Page 251 State Ballot Measures – Overview ..................................................................................................................... Page 265 School Bonds and Latest Legal Guidelines ......................................................................................................... Page 267 10 - RESOURCES Ed100: Free online instruction about our education system ............................................................................ Page 271 Glossaries  Education Terms ................................................................................................................................... Page 273  Legislative Terms ................................................................................................................................... Page 305  Internet Terms ...................................................................................................................................... Page 329 Useful Websites ................................................................................................................................................. Page 331 About PTA MISSION STATEMENT OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE PTA The mission of the California State PTA is to positively impact the lives of all children and families. PURPOSES OF THE PTA  To promote the welfare of children and youth 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 and youth.  To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth.  To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social and spiritual education. 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. GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR CALIFORNIA STATE PTA  Increase responsiveness to the needs of members and communities  Work more efficiently and optimize our use of technology  Communicate clearly  Utilize strategic partnerships to achieve common goals  Use data to make informed decisions  Practice inclusiveness and cultural awareness  Value PTA members, families and leaders  Ensure the fiscal stability of the organization. California State PTA Advocacy Resource Notebook – Jan 2015 Page 5 CALIFORNIA STATE PTA GOALS 1. Promote, build and expand parent/family engagement 2. Empower and support PTA members and leaders  Engage, grow and maintain membership  Offer programs, services, and resources that meet the diverse needs of children, families and communities  Build greater awareness about the role, importance and value of PTA  Simplify processes and make it easier to participate  Deliver training and materials in easily accessible formats  Promote and practice inclusiveness and cultural awareness  Establish a PTA at every school. 3. Represent, inform and mobilize members and the public to advocate for the education, health, safety and well-being of all children, with a focus on:  Supporting the needs of vulnerable children  Adequate funding for every child’s education  Access to a full curriculum for every child that includes physical education, arts and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)  Highly effective educators in every classroom  Standards, assessments and accountability that best serve every child’s needs  Safe and positive school climate  Early childhood education  Healthy lifestyles and access to support services for physical, emotional, social and mental health. PTA BASIC POLICIES The organization shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, and nonpartisan. The organization shall work with the schools and community to provide quality education for all children and youth and shall seek to participate in the decision-making process establishing school policy, recognizing that the legal responsibility to make decisions has been delegated by the people to boards of education, state education authorities, and local education authorities. The organization shall work to promote the health and welfare of children and youth and shall seek to promote collaboration between parents, schools, and the community at large. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, directors, trustees, officers, or other private persons except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II hereof. Page 6 California State PTA Advocacy Resource Notebook – Jan 2015 Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (i) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. Upon the dissolution of this organization, after paying or adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the organization, the remaining assets shall be distributed to one or more nonprofit funds, foundations, or organizations that have established their tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and whose purposes are in accordance with those of the National PTA. The organization or members in their official capacities shall not—directly or indirectly—participate or intervene (in any way, including the publishing or distributing of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office, or devote more than an insubstantial part of its activities to attempting to influence legislation by propaganda or otherwise. The organization or members in their official capacities shall not endorse a commercial entity or engage in activities not related to promoting the Purposes of the organization. The organization shall not enter into membership with other organizations except such international, national, or state organizations as may be approved by the California State PTA. The California State PTA or any of its divisions may cooperate with other organizations and agencies concerned with child welfare, but a PTA/PTSA representative shall make no commitments that bind the group he represents. PTA ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE PTA Council California PTA District PTA National  (Local Area/   State  (Unit/School) (County/Region) PTA School District) PTA PTA Unit (your own school) California State PTA - Works at the school site for all children & youth. - Represents PTA in youth and family education - Carries out the purposes of the organization. activities. - Supports and works for legislation on statewide PTA Council (group of units in your local area) issues that affect the education, health and well- - Offers resources and support through training and being of children and youth. updates. - Plans and holds annual convention. - Provides guidance, mentoring & representation. - Provides workshops, field services, leadership - Promotes, supports, and provides parent education. training. - Prepares publications. District PTA National PTA - Promotes State and National PTA work. - Organizes and strengthens councils and units. - Advocates nationally for children and youth. - Channels information from California State PTA. - Develops and funds projects national in scope. - Provides workshops, programs, leadership training. - Maintains legislative advocacy at the federal level. - Prepares publications. - Plans and holds an annual convention. - Provides field services and prepares publications. California State PTA Advocacy Resource Notebook – Jan 2015 Page 7 Page 8 California State PTA Advocacy Resource Notebook – Jan 2015