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National PTA Public Policy Agenda

PTA Leaders,

 

During last weekend’s National PTA Board meeting, the Board of Directors approved this year’s Public Policy Agenda documents – “PTA Advocacy Changes Lives” and “Legislative Checklist for the 115th Congress.”

 

We encourage you to share these resources with your members.

 

Below are a few tweets for your use:

 

 

Please make sure to like and share National PTA’s social media posts on the public policy agenda materials.  We also encourage you to share the Facebook LIVE Government Affairs staff and VP of Advocacy, Shannon Sevier hosted last Friday – http://bit.ly/2jeTCrg

 

We look forward to seeing many of you at LegCon!  Don’t forget to tweet and post about coming to LegCon too!

 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

Thank you,

Jacki

 

Jacki Ball | Director, Government Affairs

National PTA®

1250 N. Pitt Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

P: (703) 518-1243 | C: (703) 405-5206

jball@pta.org | www.pta.org | @balljacki

 


DeVos HELP Confirmation Vote Tomorrow 1/31

PTA Leaders,

 

As you may know, tomorrow January 31, 2017 the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is scheduled to vote on the nomination of U.S Secretary of Education-designee Betsy DeVos.  The Committee is holding an executive session beginning at 10:00am ET and Ms. DeVos’ nomination is on the agenda for consideration.  You can watch the committee meeting via livestream.

 

Additionally, I would like to share with you the statements and letters National PTA has either issued or signed onto:

 

 

Thank you!

 

 

Jacki Ball | Director, Government Affairs

National PTA®

1250 N. Pitt Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

P: (703) 518-1243 | C: (703) 405-5206

jball@pta.org | www.pta.org | @balljacki


JC/DC ACTION ALERT: SB 32 – MO Empowerment Scholarships Account Program

****COMMITTEE VOTE SOON*** Please CALL your Senators now!

 

SB 32 would establish the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program

The Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program is a particular concern for PTA because this program would create an account that would allow taxpayers to may make a qualifying contribution to an educational assistance organization and claim a tax credit, as described in the act. The tax credit is for one hundred percent of the amount of the contribution. The tax credit may be carried forward for four years and may be transferred, sold, or assigned. The scholarships will be used in private schools effectively creating a voucher system in Missouri.

 

Missouri PTA encourages you to CALL your Senators office now and let them know your feelings on this bill.

 

When you call here are some talking points to discuss with their office:

 

Begin the call by thanking them for their time; give them your name and PTA Unit.

 

The Empowerment Scholarship Account is not good for students and parents, taxpayers and Missouri’s public schools for the following reasons:

 

  • Irresponsible expansion of tax credits when the state is facing massive shortfalls in the current budget.
  • This is a voucher in a bad disguise. This bill is not about choice but about killing public education as we know it, with no assurances that education will be delivered at all.
  • Lack of financial oversight of the schools receiving the funds these organizations could be for- profit institutions designed to take money directly from school students that could deliver no education but profit at the expense of Missouri taxpayers.
  • Expands education beyond the age of 21as long as the student has not completed high school.

 

This bill is not about choice but about killing public education as we know it, with no assurances that education will be delivered at all.  Please vote NO on SB 32.

 

Take a few moments to call now public education in Missouri depends on it!!

 

Thank you,

Carla Wiese

VP and Director of Legislation and Advocacy

Missouri PTA