1. PTA Opposes Additional Cuts in Governor's Proposed Budget for 2010-2011
 
Soon you will receive materials for California State PTA's "9 Million Reasons To Speak Up" campaign, which will include a fact sheet and action plan to assist PTA members in speaking up for the more than 9 million children in California who need our voice to be heard in opposition to further cuts to education and critical children's services.  
 
2. PTA SUPPORTS Qualifying the "Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act" for November 2010 Ballot
 
On January 30, the California State PTA officially endorsed the "Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act."  If qualified for the November 2010 ballot and approved by voters, the act would lower the threshold for passage of local school funding measures to 55 percent (just like school bond measures), from the current two-thirds, provided certain conditions are met.  PTA members are being urged to sign the petition to qualify this measure for the ballot at www.improvedschoolfunding.com and to actively participate in gathering the approximately 1 million signatures that the measure needs to qualify by early April. Click here for guidelines on PTA participation in this important process and how you can be part of it. Click here to read our recent press release on this initiative.
 
3. PTA To Join School Finance Lawsuit Against the State
 
On January 30, the Board of Managers approved California State PTA's participation as a plaintiff in a pending school finance lawsuit against the State of California. California State PTA will join the California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators as principal plaintiffs in this case. Because the case has not yet been officially filed, we are not able to release specific details. They will be forthcoming once the case is filed, most likely in the spring.