Connecticut Father Takes Helm of Nation’s Preeminent Child Advocacy Association

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (June 30, 2017)—James L. Accomando of Fairfield, Conn. has been installed as the 55th president of National PTA, the oldest and largest all volunteer child advocacy association in the United States. Accomando’s installation took place during a ceremony at the 2017 National PTA Convention & Expo in Las Vegas.

A father of two children, the husband of a public school teacher and with a K-12 teaching credential of his own, Accomando has been engaged in education and active in PTA for nearly 20 years. Accomando firmly believes in the mission of PTA and that everyone can make a difference in the lives and futures of all children.

“Jim is a passionate and dedicated advocate for children and education, and we welcome him as president,” said Nathan R. Monell, CAE, executive director of National PTA. “His steadfast commitment to our mission, his leadership experience at all levels of PTA and his extensive professional career will build on the association’s rich 120-year legacy and make a positive impact on the lives of our nation’s children.”

As president, Accomando is committed to ensuring that all children have equity and quality in learning and access to a first-class public education. He will also focus on making sure PTA is relevant to today’s families.

“This is an extraordinary time in our history, where the issues affecting our children can greatly shift the progress we made in the past and the progress we are going to make in the future,” said Accomando. “These issues, however, provide us with great hope, promise and tremendous opportunities to make an impact. I look forward to working with the Board of the Directors, members, partners and staff to meet generational and demographic needs and challenges of today’s families, support and enhance our nation’s school system and make sure every child’s potential becomes a reality. I am honored to lead the association.”

Accomando has served in a variety of leadership positions in PTA. For the past two years, he served as president-elect of National PTA. Prior to his election, he served a two-year term on the National PTA Board of Directors and was also a member of the National PTA Standards of Affiliation Committee. Additionally, Accomando served as president of the Connecticut PTSA, president of Fairfield Ludlowe High School PTA, and was a board member and executive at Holland Hill Elementary School and Fairfield Woods and Tomlinson Middle Schools. While president of Connecticut PTSA, he was instrumental in the Snow Flakes for Sandy Hook Elementary School Healing Initiative.

Accomando will serve as president of National PTA until June 2019.

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.

Media Contact

Heidi May Wilson, National PTA

[email protected], (703) 518-1242

New ESSA Resource

PTA Leaders:

We are pleased to share with you this new PTA ESSA stakeholder engagement resource – “6 Keys to Engaging Families in ESSA” and the accompanying rubric, “ESSA Family Engagement Rubric.” Over the last year, we have heard from many of you about the need and importance of stakeholder engagement in the development of new education plans under ESSA. Based on your experiences and input, we have identified six critical ways states, school districts and schools should be engaging parents and families as part of ESSA or any new education initiative.

This resource is for education leaders to use to evaluate how they are engaging parents and family on ESSA implementation and for parents and families to hold decision-makers accountable to the family engagement requirements in ESSA.

You will be able to access the document at www.PTA.org/ESSA on Monday, June 26. National PTA will be pushing this resource out via our communications channels this week. We hope you will help us spread the message as well!

If you print the document from your computer, we suggest you use 11X17 paper. The document can be printed on 8 ½ x 11 but the font will be small.

Here are some sample social media posts and a short blurb that you can use in electronic communications to highlight the resource:

Twitter:

There are 6 keys to engaging families in #ESSA or any new ED initiative. How is your state/district/school doing?http://tinyurl.com/yd2p7arb
DYK there are 6 keys to engaging families in #ESSA? Make sure your education leaders do all 6! #PTATakesActionhttp://tinyurl.com/yd2p7arb
ICYMI there are 6 keys to engaging families in #ESSA. How is your state & school district ensuring voices are heard?http://tinyurl.com/yd2p7arb

Facebook Post: National PTA has identified six critical ways states, school districts and schools should be engaging parents and families as part of ESSA or any new education initiative. Use the rubric on the back to evaluate how your state, school district and school are doing! 6 Keys to Engaging Families in ESSA

E-Newsletter Blurb:

New Resource: 6 Keys to Engaging Families in ESSA

Parents and their children are the consumers of our nation’s public education system, and parents have always been essential partners in education. However, they haven’t always been included at the decision-making table. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides a unique opportunity for parents and families to give their input and to hold states and districts accountable for their children’s educational experience.

National PTA has identified six critical ways states, school districts and schools should be engaging parents and families as part of ESSA or any new education initiative. Use the rubric on the back to evaluate how your state, school district and school are doing!

6 Keys to Engaging Families in ESSA

Please let us know if you have any questions!

Thank you in advance for sharing this resource throughout your networks!

Jacki

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

Connect with National PTA^® on: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | One-Voice Blog

ESSA Comment Period Open!

Education Partners,

We are now taking comments from the public on the state’s draft Consolidated ESSA Plan through July 15. Please urge your membership to submit their comments on the plan. The more feedback we receive from a variety of audiences, the better the final product will become. We’ve created some sample messaging to help you in your communications. Feel free to use or create your own.

Sample tweet:

Make your voice heard by submitting your comments on the draft #Missouri ESSA plan through July 15: https://goo.gl/gf5mTw

Sample FB Post:

You can make a difference in the education of Missouri students by offering your comments on Missouri’s draft plan for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Visit this web page to read the plan and comment on the topics that matter to you. #ESSA #Education https://goo.gl/90jKv4

Sample Newsletter item:

Missouri ESSA Plan Public Comment Period Now Open
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is designed to ensure that all students have a significant opportunity to have a fair and equitable high-quality education and to close education achievement gaps. The public is invited to comment on the Missouri draft Consolidated ESSA Plan over the next 30 days. To read the plan or to comment, please visit DESE’s ESSA Plan website.

Thanks for your partnership in Missouri education!

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Communications | 573.751.3469 | dese.mo.gov

President Trump’s Cuts to Public Education Devastating for America’s Children

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (May 24, 2017)— President Donald Trump released his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018. The proposal cuts funding for public education programs by $9.2 billion.

“Equitable, high-quality public education for all students is essential to children and the nation’s long-term success,” said Laura Bay, president of National PTA. “Federal funding for education has remained at 2% of the federal budget for decades. Cutting funding for public education programs by an astounding $9.2 billion would further undermine opportunity for all children. Greater investments in public education are critical to ensure every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential and to improve our nation’s economic competitiveness.”

In addition to cutting vital funding for public education programs overall, President Trump’s budget proposal does not include funding for educator professional development or for Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, which help ensure students receive well-rounded educational opportunities, learn in healthy and safe school environments and have opportunities to use technology in the classroom. Funding for Title I—which aids 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) remains at the current level in the proposal. The proposal also does not include investments for family engagement in education through the Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs) program.

“Now more than ever, it is imperative to invest in family engagement programs as well as special education and Title I to ensure all children are provided the best opportunities to thrive and learn,” said Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA Executive Director. “Across the country there are great disparities in available resources as well as the quality of and access to educational opportunities. National PTA remains steadfast in our belief that robust federal investments must be made in public education programs that promote equity and opportunity for all children.”

While making significant cuts to public education funding, President Trump’s budget proposal includes a new $250 million competitive grant program that would allow public dollars to be used for private and religious school tuition. Additionally, the proposal allocates $1 billion in Title I for the creation of a new grant program that would allow those funds to “follow” a child to any public school.

“National PTA has strong concerns about any proposal that would significantly affect the distribution of funds across and within Title I districts and create division and separation within communities. Our association also opposes any private school choice system—tax credits, vouchers or deductions—that drains critical public school resources,” added President Bay. “Public dollars must remain invested in public schools and not be diverted for the benefit of all students and the future of our nation.”

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.