What is a Resolution?
A resolution is a part of the Utah PTA public policy program. Resolutions are formal statements of PTA public or association policy voted on by the delegates at the annual Advocacy Conference or the annual Utah PTA Convention. Utah PTA Resolutions also give direction for action, such as directives regarding policies to legislative bodies, state and local agencies, and recommendations for family and community engagement.
Utah PTA Resolutions contain two components. "Whereas" statements are based on current resources and data which outline the problems, concerns, or opportunities that impact children and youth on a specific topic. "Resolved" statements, direct the work that should be done in regards to that topic.
Local PTAs, councils, regions, and Utah PTA commissions and committees may submit resolutions for consideration to the Utah PTA Resolutions Committee. Instructions can be found below.
Utah PTA resolutions are online at: UtahPTA.org/Resolutions
National PTA resolutions are online at: National-PTA-Resolutions
Utah PTA Resolutions
Procedure for Submitting
Local PTA’s submitting resolutions should first submit a notification of intent to the Resolutions Committee by:
- Advocacy Conference May 1
- May Leadership Convention October 1
Submission of Completed Resolutions for Consideration by:
- Advocacy Conference June 15, for the September Board of Directors Meeting, to be voted on at the Fall Advocacy Conference
- May Leadership Convention November 15, for the February Board of Directors Meeting, to be voted on at the Spring Leadership Convention
Resolutions Process
The Utah PTA Resolutions Committee meets and considers all resolutions sent to them that meet resolution submission requirements. Resolutions approved by the committee are presented to the Utah PTA Board of Directors for approval. The Board of Directors cannot accept any resolution that is not consistent with PTA Purposes or Policies. (See Utah PTA Bylaws, Article XX Section 1.) Resolutions approved for state action will be available online at UtahPTA.org, at least 14 days before Leadership Convention or Advocacy Conference. The convention delegates will then take action on those resolutions at convention or conference.
The Utah PTA Resolutions Committee reviews submitted resolutions against established criteria. To assure that your resolution meets these criteria, please use the following guidelines:
Questions to Ask
- Does this topic align with the Utah PTA mission and purposes?
- Is the topic relevant to the health, safety, well-being, or education of children and youth?
- Is the topic statewide in scope?
- Does the topic supplement, but not conflict with, the Utah PTA Public Policy Program?
- Is the topic already part of the Utah PTA Public Policy Program?
- Is this topic best as a stand-alone resolution? Or, should it replace, update or amend a current resolution?
Whereas Clauses
- State why the action in the resolved clauses should be taken.
- Should be broad in scope and use clear and concise language with acronyms clearly defined.
- Should be brief - shorter is better in a resolution.
- Provides sufficient background to give a person with no knowledge of the subject enough information to make an intelligent decision.
- Should support the resolved statements.
- Each whereas clause should have at least two forms of documentation references from reputable, academic sources, with the whereas footnoted to a full APA citation at the bottom.
- Documentation material should be from a variety of sources and factual.
- It can include, but is not limited to: information such as educational, safety, and welfare articles or updates; copies of documented research; copies of pertinent laws, government publications, and regulations; and copies of articles from professional publications.
- Newspaper articles, abstracts, editorials, and websites alone are not sufficient documentation as they are second hand sources and often statements of opinion. Avoid using materials from other organizations intended for lobbying or advocacy purposes, as these items may present a biased view and often do not cite their sources
- Resource materials should be the most current material available. It is preferred that it be within the last 7 years.
- Digital copies of the documentation sources should be included in the submission
- Whereas clauses are the purview of the resolutions committee and shall be edited as needed by the resolution committee and presented to the Board of Directors for approval.
Resolved Clauses
- State what action or position should be taken to solve the problem established in the whereas clauses.
- Should deal with the issues brought up in the whereas clauses.
- Should be the strongest part of the resolution.
- Should include a verb showing what action will follow in each resolved clause.
- Can only be altered/updated with a vote of the Utah PTA General Membership.
Utah PTA Business and Resolutions Meeting
All Utah PTA positions are based upon the PTA Purposes and Mission, along with resolutions which have been adopted at the annual Utah PTA Leadership Convention and Utah PTA Advocacy Conference by delegate members.
Proposed new resolutions are available on the Utah PTA website 14 days prior to the Advocacy Conference, and/ or 14 days prior to the Utah PTA Leadership Convention. They are debated at the business/resolutions meetings held during the Utah PTA Leadership Convention and at the Advocacy Conference.
It is important that local members be made aware of and voice their opinions and/or concerns about these resolutions. Local PTA leaders are encouraged to provide information on resolutions to their membership in a timely manner and discuss the resolutions with their members in order to answer questions on the resolutions prior to the Leadership Convention and Advocacy Conference. This will help delegates attending the convention or conference business meetings be prepared to speak for or against the resolution based on the desires of their members.
Individuals may be asked to advocate for issues or positions with which they personally disagree. With our diverse membership, this is likely to occur. If you feel you cannot advocate for a particular position, you must remain neutral on the topic within your role as a PTA leader. You are responsible for passing information on to board members.