ADVOCACY
Who makes legislative decisions for Nevada PTA?
Some think that the Board of Managers makes all the decisions and that it
doesn’t seek input from our members. The reality is YOU, the membership,decide legislative priorities, resolutions and positions. Nevada PTA seeks input from its members prior to state convention. The issues are discussed and voted on by the local representatives. Go to www.nevadapta.org to review Nevada PTA’s legislative platform.
PTA members should only speak on issues addressed by an existing position statement or resolution. If a position does not exist at the National or State level, the membership of the local PTA should adopt resolution prior to speaking on the issue.
Because PTAs are 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, certain political activities are absolutely prohibited by the IRS, whose rules about legislative activities of nonprofit organizations must be followed. Supporting or opposing political parties or candidates for federal, state, or local public office, even on nonpartisan slates, is one example. The bottom line –
PTAs may only engage in nonpartisan issues directed at advocacy.
PTA has a rich history of advocacy at the national, state, and local level. PTA defines advocacy as mobilizing someone to spark changes in programs and policies benefiting children by working collaboratively with PTA and other citizens and groups.
- Family Engagement in Education
- Opportunity and Equity for all Children
Advocacy can be broken down into basic parts: the Advocate, the Issue, the Act and the
Decision-maker.
Anyone who speaks for another is an advocate. PTA members are advocates for children and their parents.
- PTA members advocate on a wide varietyof child-related issues: education,
health, nutrition, safety, juvenile protection, welfare reform, parent and
family life, to name a few. - Advocacy issimply communicating about an issue for which PTA has adopted a position by speaking, writing, phoning, faxing or emailing.
The purpose of the communication can be to inform, educate, persuade or
increase the level of awareness about the issue.The decision-maker is any individual or body that has the power to address the issue or solve the problem.
Decision-makers include elected and appointed officials, legislative bodies, school boards, county commissioners, and judges.
Every PTA member can be an effective advocate. The process is always the same: identify, research and understand the issue; identify, research and understand the decision-maker; and develop and communicate the message. The process is
not always easy, and dedication and perseverance are usually required. Sometimes success is achieved quickly, sometimes slowly.
