Legislative Advocacy

Recipient of the 2008 National PTA Outstanding Advocacy Award

Mission Statement

Our goal is to influence, within PTA guidelines, federal, state and local policy makers to pass laws and grant funding which will provide for the improvement and betterment of our public schools in both curriculum and facilities.  In order to accomplish this goal, we will clarify legislative issues affecting our schools to the parent population and community at large, and encourage them to move to action.

Who We Are

We are the legislative advocacy committee of the San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs.  The committee consists of representatives from elementary, middle and high school PTAs in the San Ramon Valley Council area, Council board members, the SRVUSD Superintendent, a teacher representative and a school board representative.  A core committee consists of approximately 10 members of the whole legislative committee. The core committee receives, analyzes, and disseminates information from our federal and state legislature, and advises the legislative representative from each school on PTA positions taken.  The legislative representative then informs their PTA and parent population.

Process                                                           

• Lead letter-writing campaigns to federal, state and local policy makers
• Meet with legislative decision-makers in business and in government offices
• Coordinate with other PTA councils on legislative action
• Include media and business community in legislative issues that affect our schools
• Sponsor informational seminars with persons such as State  PTA lobbyists to help us become more effective advocates

 Strategy

• Inform parent population and community as to how school financing operates and how current legislative proposals affect the schools within the San Ramon Valley Council
• Monitor and distribute information regarding legislation which affects our schools
• Provide parent population and community with accurate information and action strategy as it pertains to key issues
• Write letters to legislature regarding our position on key issues
• Meet with our legislators to discuss legislative issues affecting children, including annual legislative trips to Sacramento