Race to the Top Fund

On August 28, 2009, the California State PTA submitted comments and concerns to Education Secretary Arne Duncan about some of the proposed specific federal eligibility requirements for Race to the Top Funds. California State PTA President Jo Loss noted, “We are pleased that major education reform is being proposed. We must carefully consider these substantive and lasting reforms to ensure that they will provide position outcomes for children and avoid unintended consequences…. Overall we believe reform must be research-based, measurable and sustainable…. We encourage you to keep in mind that meaningful education reform but not be just one or two sprints, but a marathon of ongoing commitment to give our students the programs, services and support needed to compete in a global society.”

Click here to read PTA’s specific comments to Race to the Top Fund – Docket ID-ED- 2009-OESE-0006 – in a letter to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Click here to read PTA's comments submitted to the Senate Committee on Education & Subcommittee #1 of the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee for an informational hearing.

Education: No Child Left Behind

The California State PTA, representing more than one million members statewide, and the National PTA, representing more than six million members nationally, have a vested interest in education issues as the largest children's advocacy organization and through their children who attend our public schools.

PTA supports the goals of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and particularly supports those provisions of the Act that promote the inclusion of parents in decisions affecting the education and well-being of their children.

However, PTA members continue to find many components of NCLB to be troublesome and welcome the opportunity provided by mandatory reauthorization of the Act to make recommendations for improving federal participation in the education of our nation's children.

California State PTA — NCLB Position

Recommendations on the Reauthorization of the
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

Talking Points (January 2007):

• Accountability
• Assessment
• Funding
• Highly Qualified Teachers
• Parent Involvement
• School Choice
• School Safety

National PTA Resources

PTA 2009 Public Policy Agenda

PTA 2009 Public Policy Issue Reference Cards

PTA Public Policy Briefs

• Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act-
  No Child Left Behind (pdf)
• Funding for Education and Child-Related Programs (pdf)
• The Child Nutrition and School Lunch Protection Act (pdf)
• Budget Response: The Committee for Education Funding (pdf)
• PTA Policy Issues Cards (pdf)

Updates from the National PTA

Watch this space for the latest news from the California State PTA!

Legislative Resources

Visit the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives websites for more information on your policymaker, proposed federal legislation, committees, daily calendars, legislative and voting records, history, statistics, structure and purpose, and references.

  www.senate.gov
  www.house.gov

How to ... find copies of bills

THOMAS (Library of Congress) provides the full text of bills from the 101st Congress (1989) to the present. Conduct fielded searches by bill number, sponsor, word or phrase. You can also browse a sequential list of all bills and resolutions.

GPO Access (U.S. Government Printing Office) provides the full text of bills from the 103rd Congress (1993) to the present. Conduct searches by bill number or by subject, or browse a list of all bills and resolutions.

Legislative Alerts

Click Here for Current Legislation Information Alerts.

Be An Advocate

PTA Position Statements

Race to the Top

NCLB and Education Policy

Special Education

Health

Children and Families

Condition of Children