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Congress Passes Bipartisan Reauthorization of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA)

For years PTA has asked Congress to reauthorize JJDPA. Each year it would pass one chamber or the other only to stall. Today it finally happened, this important piece of legislation protecting juveniles in the justice system was reauthorized. Coming behind our victory in MO with #18in18 this feels like an early Christmas present protecting some of our most vulnerable youth.  #mopta#ptaproud #moptaadvocacyinaction Why PTA? Because of this.  EVERY child, one voice!

Today, thanks to YOU, NJJN’s fearless and robust advocacy community, Congress reauthorized the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.  See our press statement below.
For Immediate Release
December 13, 2018
Contact:
Melissa Coretz Goemann
Senior Policy Counsel, NJJN
(202) 630-3285
Congress Passes Bipartisan Reauthorization of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA)
 
New bill reauthorizes JJDPA and extends additional protections to children and youth in the juvenile justice system
 
Washington DC – Today, members Congress passed H.R. 6964, a bill to reauthorize and strengthen the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA). This measure will promote fairness, ensure state compliance with safe treatment standards, and strengthen delinquency prevention measures.
“We’re thrilled that Congress has come together to take action to reauthorize the JJDPA, which is long overdue,” said Sarah Bryer, director of the National Juvenile Justice Network. “The leadership of Senators Grassley and Whitehouse and Representatives Lewis and Scott has helped to ensure that stronger federal standards and supports are in place for improving juvenile justice and delinquency prevention practices, and contributing to safeguards for youth, families and communities.”
For more than four decades the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) has had a profound impact on how our youth justice systems operate by providing federal guidance and standards on the safe and equitable treatment of youth in every state, U.S. territory, the District of Columbia, and tribes. The JJDPA was last reauthorized by Congress in 2002. H.R. 6964 helps update the law by strengthening the core protection requiring states to address racial and ethnic disparities and requiring states to extend, within 3 years, the jail removal and sight and sound core requirements to keep youth awaiting trial in criminal court out of adult lock-ups and to ensure sight and sound separation in the limited circumstances where they are held in adult facilities. The bill is also informed by new developments that have taken place in juvenile justice since it was last reauthorized. For example, it requires that the state plans be supported by or take into account scientific knowledge on adolescent brain development and behavior, and that plans provide alternatives to detention for status offenses, engage family members in the design and delivery of prevention and treatment services, use community-based services, and promote evidence-based and trauma-informed programs and practices. Finally, the bill requires states to develop and implement a plan to eliminate the use of restraints on pregnant, confined youth.
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The National Juvenile Justice Network (NJJN) leads a movement of state-based juvenile justice reform organizations and alumni of its Youth Justice Leadership Institute to fight for a fairer youth justice system that’s appropriate for youth and their families. NJJN advocates for policies and practices that treat youth in trouble with the law with dignity and humanity and which strengthen them, their families and their communities. Founded in 2005, NJJN is currently comprised of 53 organizational members in 43 states and the District of Columbia and a growing cadre of graduates from our Youth Justice Leadership Institute.
Thank you for your tireless advocacy to Reauthorize JJDPA! 

National PTA Releases Two NEW ESSA Resources and Social Media Toolkit

PTA Leaders,

We are pleased to share with you two new resources on local implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).  These two documents will live on our www.PTA.org/ESSA webpage. We hope you find them useful!

ESSA provides a unique opportunity for parents and families to give input on their children’s educational experience, and strengthen parent are family engagement.  As school districts and schools implement this new federal education law to improve outcomes for every student, National PTA believes parents should have a seat at the table when decisions are made—and districts and schools should work with parents and families as partners throughout the school year.

The first document, The Parent and Family Guide to Local Implementation of ESSA explains what to expect as the law is implemented in your community. The second one, What to Ask Your District and School Leaders About ESSAprovides questions to ask your district and school leaders as you take your seat at the table as an essential partner in education.

Additionally, we have created a social media toolkit for you to use to help promote these two resources throughout your networks. National PTA will be promoting these two new resources over the next few weeks and we greatly appreciate you sharing these as well and retweeting and reposting National PTA’s social.

You are find the direct links here:

The Parent and Family Guide to Local Implementation of ESSA

What to Ask Your District and School Leaders About ESSA

Thank you for your continued advocacy!

Jacki Ball | Director, Government Affairs
National PTA®
1250 N. Pitt Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
P: (703) 518-1243 | C: (703) 405-5206
[email protected] | www.pta.org | @balljacki


JCDC Alert: Tell the IRS to Protect Public Education!

Attention ALL Missouri PTA Advocates!  Please contact the IRS today and ask them to support and protect Public Education and refrain from utilizing the proposed tax loophole.  This regulation creates a special circumstance benefitting private schools through a tax shelter for donations to private schools.
We need ALL of our advocates to TAKE ACTION by clicking the button below and submitting your requests to the IRS.  It takes 2 minutes to be a part of our PTA voice, supporting public schools and public education!  Please share with your social media followers and tag @MissouriPTA in your posts.
Thank you for speaking for our children!
Your fellow advocate,
Kristina Wilmoth, VP Legislation & Advocacy
Missouri PTA
#PTATakesAction #JCDC #JCDCActionAlert #MOPTA #SupportPublicSchools
Dear Education Advocate,

For many years a tax loophole has permitted taxpayers to profit by financially supporting private school voucher programs. This profitable tax shelter has fueled rapid growth in these voucher programs, leading to a major transfer of public dollars into private schools. Moreover, these profits come at the expense of state and federal budgets and do not find their way into public schools or public services.

The IRS has proposed regulations that would shut down this tax shelter and could significantly weaken the popularity and growth of these voucher programs. However, private school choice advocates have been flooding the IRS regulations comment section asking that the IRS maintain this tax shelter by providing a special exemption for private school tuition tax credits that will allow them to continue to receive a federal tax credit for donating to private schools.

We need your help to tell the IRS not to create a special carveout in these regulations for donations to private schools.  All you need to do is click on the “Take Action” button below to submit a comment to the IRS. Thank you for your continued support for public schools.

Thank you,
National PTA