NCPTA Advocacy Priorities
The bylaws of the national PTA and the North Carolina PTA both provide that a core purpose of PTA
is “To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.”
In keeping with that part of the NC PTA mission, and in support of the existing and long-standing
policies of NC PTA, the following “Advocacy Priorities” will guide the work of NC PTA during the
2006-2007 school year and thereafter until modified by the board of directors or membership:
SCHOOL FUNDING
In North Carolina, the state government is required by law to make sure that every school system has
sufficient funds to provide every child with the opportunity for a sound basic education as defined by
the North Carolina Supreme Court and the laws of the state. Local governments also provide funds,
but the state is required to make sure the total amount of funding is adequate.
NC PTA will encourage and support initiatives at all levels of government --- local, state and federal --- to assure that every school system has sufficient funding to provide every child with an opportunity
for a sound basic education. That includes sufficient funding for qualified and certified teachers in all
classrooms, and skilled administrators in all schools.
Specific initiatives that NC PTA will support include, but are not limited to:
- Adequate operational funding for all schools;
- Adequate capital funding for all schools, including statewide assistance, in the form of bond
issues or other programs, to help fund local capital needs;
- Initiatives that will provide qualified and certified teachers for every classroom, and skilled
administrators for every school;
- Full funding of the Disadvantaged Students Supplemental Fund;
- Exemption of public schools from the state sales tax;
- Adequate federal funding to support the requirements of the “No Child Left Behind” program;
- Maintenance and full funding of the Low Wealth Supplemental Fund.
TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS
NC PTA recognizes that the success of every school depends on the teachers and administrators in that
school, supported by active and caring parents.
NC PTA will support initiatives that:
- Compensate teachers adequately to reward their important work, to encourage them to stay in
the profession, and to attract sufficient numbers of additional teachers to the profession to
assure a qualified and certified teacher in every classroom;
- Increase the supply of qualified and certified teachers through lateral entry programs, expanded
university training programs, out-of-state recruiting, and otherwise.
- Support and expand mentor programs to help new teachers;
- Provide adequate professional development for all teachers throughout their careers;
- Assure that every school is led by a trained and effective team of administrators.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
Good schools require parental support and involvement. Parents can and should be active participants
in the education of their children. Teachers and administrators can be most effective when they have
such support.
As an integral part of its advocacy mission, NC PTA will work to increase meaningful parental
involvement in our public schools. To further this goal, NC PTA will:
- Encourage parents to become more involved in the education of their children and in the work
of their children’s schools;
- Encourage teachers and administrators to seek and facilitate parental involvement;
- Encourage public officials, through legislation and otherwise, to support and facilitate
increased parental involvement in public schools.
ACCOUNTABILITY
NC PTA recognizes that public education is the largest and most costly governmental activity in our
state. NC PTA believes that well-designed and well-administered accountability programs are
essential:
- To assure that public education funds are spent wisely and effectively;
- To assure that children are actually learning;
- To encourage continued and increased public support for our schools;
- To assure steady progress in closing the achievement gap; and
- To assure that all children are taught essential 21st century learning skills.
NC PTA will support such accountability programs and, as necessary, efforts to improve such
programs.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
The education of children depends, to a great degree, on their overall health. Our public schools must
help children learn the value of balanced nutrition, sensible exercise and good overall health. NC
PTA will support public policies at all levels of government, and school programs, that help to
maintain the health and wellness of all children.
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