Park Hill High School PTA to Host “Shifting the Paradigm” Event

The American Association of University Women published findings of a survey in a report titled, Crossing the Line: Sexual Harassment in School conducted in the 2010-2011 school year. The survey questioned 1,965 public school students in grades 7-12 about sexual harassment in all its forms; bullying, teasing and touching. The survey found that about 48% of the students experienced some form of sexual harassment at school. You may think once a child graduates from high school there’s less cause for alarm, but that’s unfortunately not true.

The statistics for sexual assaults on college campuses are worse than those of high school. On a positive note, college campus sexual assaults are garnering more and more media attention, consider recent headlines from Michigan State University, but we need to empower our students before they reach the college campus. It’s time to “shift the paradigm” and view sexual assault through a new lens. Which is what Shifting the Paradigm, hopes to accomplish. A day long workshop being held at the Kaufman Foundation on Saturday, April 21st from 9 to 3pm.

Workshop attendees will be broken into three groups; teen boys, teen girls and parents and school staff. Workshop presenters include the following from the YWCA; Carrie Turner, Training and Outreach Coordinator; Karla Hanlan, Sexual Violence Victim Advocate; Wendy Hickman MSW LCSW Sexual and Domestic Violence therapist, Dr. Brad Kincheloe, 20+ year principal at Park Hill High School and Barrye L. Price, Major General, US Army, ret. These presenters will discuss and answer questions on topics like supporting survivors, recognizing rape culture, online abuse, alcohol and consent, and masculinity. These discussions will be a powerful tool for supporting people through these tough conversations, and can be a road map for open and honest communication between kids and parents and students and school staff. To round out the day, we will have a shortened version of a full length self-defense class. This is truly going to be an instructive day! We’d like to invite you to gather a group of students, parents and staff to attend what promises to be an informative and worthwhile workshop. At $5 per person, it’s certainly an economical event!

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Bonnie Cannon

President, Park Hill High School PTA

WORKSHOP DETAILS

WHERE: The Kaufman Foundation: 4801 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City, MO 64110

WHEN: April 21^st. Registration opens at 8:30am, Program begins at 9am and ends at 3pm.

COST: $5. Must be paid in advance and includes a light breakfast and boxed lunch.

REGISTER AT: Registration will open in March. Stay tuned for updates on the site information. * Registration is limited to 200

DEADLINE TO REGISTER: April 17, 2017. Walk-ups will not be admitted due to limited seating and pre-ordering of food.

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National PTA Statement on Administration’s FY2019 Budget Proposal

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Feb. 15, 2018)—This week, the administration released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2019.

“National PTA recognizes that improvements must be made within public schools to provide an excellent education for every child. Our association supports educational choices within public schools to meet the needs of all students and believes parents and families should be involved in all aspects of public school choice plans,” said Jim Accomando, president of National PTA. “There is a difference, however, between public school choice programs and the use of taxpayer dollars for private school voucher programs. Private school vouchers fund the education of only a few, select students; divert resources from the students and schools that need it the most; and lack accountability measures. Public dollars must remain invested in public schools for the benefit of all students and the future of our nation.”

“National PTA has long advocated for high-quality public education to ensure all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Our association remains steadfast in our belief that public education must be strengthened with the support of adequate funding,” said Nathan R. Monell, CAE, executive director of National PTA. “National PTA hopes the administration and Congress recognize the importance of investing in public education for children and our nation’s long-term success.”

National PTA also remains committed to advocating for investments for family engagement in education through the Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs) program. The SFECs program would provide states and districts with the capacity to support implementation and enhancement of meaningful family engagement policies and initiatives. It would also empower parents and families with the resources they need to ensure their children are provided the best opportunities to thrive and learn.

“Family engagement is proven to positively impact student achievement and school performance,” added President Accomando. “National PTA encourages our 4 million members to reach out to their members of Congress and urge them to invest in public education and the Statewide Family Engagement Centers program to improve our schools, make every child’s potential a reality and increase our nation’s economic competitiveness.”

While the proposal decreases funding for public education overall, National PTA is pleased to see that funding is maintained for Title I grants—which aid schools with high percentages of children from low-income families—as well as for special education grants through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The proposal also dedicates $200 million to STEM education and $43 million for School Climate Transformation grants.

“Strengthening STEM education is critical to bridge the STEM gap and inspire the next generation of STEM professionals. Ensuring children have access to programs and services that provide for their health and wellness is also essential to their long-term success,” added Executive Director Monell. “All children must be provided a high-quality, well-rounded public education in an environment that meets their emotional, intellectual, physical and social needs in order to reach their full potential.”

For more information on the fiscal year 2019 budget proposal, view the U.S. Department of Education’s fact sheet and the full budget request.

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org.

Media Contact
Heidi May Wilson, National PTA
[email protected], (703) 518-1242

National PTA and Florida PTA Statement on Shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Feb. 14, 2018)—The following statement can be attributed to National PTA President Jim Accomando and Florida PTA President Cindy Gerhardt:

“National PTA and Florida PTA are deeply saddened to hear of the shooting today at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the students, families, educators and administrators impacted.

“This is the second school shooting just this month. It is urgent that families, educators, school administrators, community leaders and elected officials work together to find solutions and make meaningful changes to ensure that all students have a safe environment in which to thrive and learn.

“Any act of violence at a school or involving children and youth is intolerable. Every student deserves to learn and grow in a safe environment. And no parent should fear for the safety of their child every time they leave home for school.

“It remains a top priority of PTA to promote safety for children and youth and improve education. PTA has a strong history of supporting and advocating for policies in the areas of gun safety and violence prevention, juvenile justice, mental health and students’ overall well-being.

“PTA is committed to supporting students, families, schools and communities in coping with and preventing violence. The association offers a variety of resources that can be downloaded at PTA.org/SchoolSafety.”

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org.

About Florida PTA

Florida PTA is the largest statewide volunteer association working exclusively on behalf of children and youth. Founded in 1923 as a branch of the 4 million member National PTA, Florida PTA is made up of approximately 1,450 local units with more than 300,000 Florida members seeking to unite home, school and community for all children. For more information, visit FloridaPTA.org.

Media Contact
Heidi May Wilson, National PTA
[email protected], (703) 518-1242

National PTA Announces 2018 Slate of Candidates