Advocating for your child is the one type of involvement which predicts success across race, class, and gender
Utah PTA Advocacy at Work
The mission and purpose of PTA state that a primary focus of PTA is “make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children,” “to speak on behalf of children and youth,” and to "secure adequate laws for [their] care and protection..."
Utah PTA is a nonpartisan organization concerned with the education, care and protection of children and youth. Positions are policies adopted by National PTA and Utah PTA and provide the basis for PTA advocacy efforts. Each member of PTA has an important place in PTA advocacy.
More info about each of the the following sections can be found below.
Utah PTA Public Policy Program
The Utah PTA Public Policy Program is the primary authority for public policy action and statements by Utah PTA on state and local legislation and administrative policies and regulations. The Public Policy Program is updated each fall.
Legislative Priorities
The Utah PTA Legislative Priorities are based upon the actions called for by the Utah PTA and National PTA resolutions and position statements. Rather than providing an exhaustive list of the areas in which the Utah PTA is involved, the priorities are indicative of issues on which PTA expects to target its efforts and activity. All PTA statewide public policy work is consistent with the Utah PTA’s priorities, resolutions, and position statements.
Utah PTA Legislative Priorities are approved by Utah PTA members annually during the Advocacy Conference Business meeting.
Resolutions
Utah PTA Resolutions and National PTA Resolutions are the corner pieces of our work as part of the Utah PTA Public Policy Program, and are the primary authority for public policy action and statements by Utah PTA on state and local legislation and administrative policies and regulation. The Utah PTA Board of Directors and Legislative Advocacy Committee form the framework. Resolutions and positions are formal statements of PTA public or association policy voted by the delegates at the annual Advocacy Conference or the annual National PTA and Utah PTA Conventions.
A change can be initiated when Utah PTA or National PTA recognizes a need and rallies the local PTAs and members to bring about statewide changes to benefit our children. Any member, with the support of their local PTA, can begin the process by submitting resolutions for adoption at the annual PTA convention.
Position Statements
Position statements are initiated by members of the Utah PTA or National PTA Board of Directors and approved by a majority vote of that body. Position statements provide guidance rather than prescribe specific policy actions to be taken by the association and are meant to be temporary in their nature until a resolution on the issue can be passed by the membership at the annual Utah PTA Advocacy Conference or Leadership Convention. Position statements have the same level of authority as resolutions.
Legislative Advocacy Committee (LAC)
The Legislative Advocacy Committee (LAC) consists of the Utah PTA Executive Committee, the Utah PTA Commissioners, interested members of the Utah PTA Board of Directors, and local PTA members who are approved by the Utah PTA Board of Directors. The LAC is a recommending body to the executive committee and to the Utah PTA Board of Directors.
The LAC meets monthly throughout the year and weekly during the legislative session and currently meets through zoom. Members work individually with commissions to evaluate and recommend Utah PTA positions on pending legislation.
Interested in becoming a member of LAC? Email kristina@utahpta.org to be added to the committee.
How Utah PTA takes Positions
All Utah PTA positions are based upon the Utah Public Policy Program which consists of National and Utah PTA Mission Statement and Values, the National PTA and Utah PTA Resolutions, the Utah PTA Legislative Policy, the Utah PTA Legislative Priorities, and the National and Utah PTA Position Statements. Utah PTA Legislative Priorities are determined yearly and voted upon by the membership at the Utah PTA Advocacy Conference. Resolutions are adopted by the members during the business meetings at the annual Advocacy Conference in the fall or the Utah PTA Leadership Convention in the spring.
Other organizations and lobbyists speak for business, the elderly, teachers, higher education, etc. PTA considers and works only for what is in the best interest of all children. With our diverse membership, individuals may be asked to advocate for issues or positions with which they personally disagree. If a person feels he cannot support a PTA position, he may remain silent. It is inappropriate to express a differing position as a PTA representative.