February News & Resources
February 17th marks Founder's Day. It is a time to reflect and take pride in our achievements as a volunteer community, and renew our commitment to be a:
- Powerful voice for all children;
- Relevant resource for parents; and
- Strong advocate for public education.
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The work each of you are doing contributes to the 100+ year legacy of building community, and sharing resources to benefit our students and communities. I hope you take a minute this week to reflect on and appreciate the impact you are making in your community.
As we move into the second half of the 2024 General Assembly session, a number of key education funding priority bills are struggling! The House is advancing a bill (HJ67) that will Study the JLARC Study (!). In the Senate, all bills that would implement the JLARC recommendations were consolidated into an unrelated omnibus bill (SB105). We are concerned that many of the JLARC recommendations will not be funded. Sharing social media posts and contacting your delegate/senator to share your support for a specific bill, or general education funding, is an impactful way to help generate energy around investing in our students, schools and communities.
In this newsletter you'll find:
- Legislation Updates you can share with families
- Virginia PTA Annual Meeting (May 18) - Early Bird Registration Details
- New * PTA Leader Workshops!
- Membership Achievement shout-outs
- Volunteer Impact Awards (please nominate yourselves!!)
- Nominations & Election Tips
- Student Scholarship Reminder
PTA EVENTS FOR YOUR FAMILIES!
- Reading Together, Family Webinar w/ VA Dept of Education (March 13th)
- PTA Day at Kings Dominion (Discounted Tickets for May 19th)
Thank you for the time you share with our PTA volunteer community, and with your school!
Yours in Partnership,
Jenna Alexander
President, Virginia PTA
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Recruiting Volunteers & Officer Elections
Tues. March 12, 2024 | 7pm
Learn strategies for building a strong PTA volunteer base, and how to hold a PTA officer election. We'll cover role of the Nominations Committee, creative recruiting, how to announce your slate, conduct elections, and manage position vacancies.
Presenter: Ben Pearson-Nelson President Elect, Virginia PTA
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Financial Review &
Treasurer Transition
Wed. April 24, 2024 | 12pm
Prepare for and understand how to conduct your required annual Financial Review.
We will also provide helpful tips for wrapping up your PTA fiscal year, and go over the end of year PTA treasurer checklist.
Presenter: Ann-Marie Ward Treasurer, Virginia PTA
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Implementing Financial
Best Practices
Wed. May 29, 2024 | 12pm
Designed for all Board Members. Learn the basics of your 501c3 structure, how to develop a budget, reimburse volunteers, and manage point-of sale transactions. We will also review filing your IRS 990, maintaining financial records, and monthly reporting.
Presenter: Ann-Marie Ward
Treasurer, Virginia PTA
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Virginia PTA Annual Meeting | |
Early Bird Registration Is OPEN! | |
Sat. May 18th (9am-4pm)
Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond
We invite outgoing and incoming local unit and council board members to attend.
- Represent your school
- Learn & Collaborate
- Vote on Bylaws Amendments
- Visit the Partner Vendor Hall
- Celebrate your work
Attending Annual Meeting (Registration, Hotel, Mileage) is a valid PTA expense and should be included in your Annual PTA Budget.
NEW THIS YEAR! 2 Days of Fun Family. Whether you are travelling with PTA friends, or with your family, this year you can enjoy popular Richmond attractions at a discounted price.
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$35 Early Bird Registration ends on March 20th.
$50 On-time Registration starts on March 21st.
DISCOUNTED $10 SCIENCE MUSEUM TICKETS
Annual Meeting Registration includes breakfast/lunch.
Free, on-site parking garage.
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PTA Day at Kings Dominion | |
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PTA Day @ Kings Dominion
Sunday, May 19, 2024
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All PTA members across Virginia are invited to enjoy Virginia PTA Day at Kings Dominion.
In addition to family fun for all ages, PTA leaders may participate in a 30-minute Communications Workshop led by a Kings Dominion Marketing expert who will share tips and ideas your PTA can use to grow family engagement. We'll also enjoy a 15-minute PTA Pep Rally with Snoopy.
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- $38/person admission and parking ($57 savings)
- $50/person admission, parking and single meal deal ($63 savings)
To access discounted pricing, use the link below and
Enter Username: KDVAPTA | Password: KDVAPTA
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Reading Together - Family Webinar | |
March is Family Reading Month
Virginia PTA successfully advocated for the 2022 Virginia Literacy Act, which transforms how reading is taught in Virginia. Starting with the 2024-25 school year, Virginia’s schools must use evidence-based reading instruction, intervention, and assessment practices.
During Family Reading month we encourage your PTA to host family reading events, and share resources that empower families to support their child's reading.
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Reading Together Webinar
Wed. March 13 @ 7pm
Join the Virginia Department of Education & Virginia PTA for a Reading Together. A webinar designed for families to learn about best practices in reading instruction, and how they can support their student through all stages of learning to read, and improving reading comprehension.
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Celebrate Your Work!
Nominate your PTA, principal or a volunteer to be recognized for their family engagement work, advocacy, or impact on your PTA & school.
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Nominations from Local Units to Council PTAs and/or Virginia PTA
are due on April 1st
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Membership Milestones
Congratulations to our PTA units whose have reached new membership milestones.
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Student Voice Award Recognition
Congratulations to our PTSA units whose student membership is 30% or more of the total membership!!
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Judging is underway!
Virginia PTA is excited to celebrate the artistic talents of students across the Commonwealth with an afternoon of creativity and celebration!
Date: Saturday, April 13th, 2024
Time: 1:00pm- 3:00pm (Doors open at 12:45pm)
Place: Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, Richmond
Guest Speaker: Virginia Secretary of Education, Aimee Guidera
The celebration will include a watercolor painting activity led by a professional artist and an awards presentation. Students who place at the state level will receive a direct RSVP email invitation from Virginia PTA, as will their Reflections Chairs and unit Presidents.
Results coming soon!
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Applications Due: March 30
We encourage each local PTA/PTSA unit and all Council PTAs to work with their high school counselors and principals to make students aware of the scholarships available from Virginia PTA. Learn More
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Prepare for Nominations & Elections | |
Although there is still work to be completed this year, it's time to start preparing your PTA to transition to the new school year.
Timeline for an Officer election in MAY:
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Feb: Advertise for Nominations Committee Volunteers (Social Media/Newsletter)
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March: Elect Nominations Committee. Officer Search formally starts
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April: Announce Slated Candidates (General Membership Mtg, All Media)
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May: Hold Election
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May/June: Report new Officers to Virginia PTA in Givebacks (MemberHub)
All positions are considered 'open' and should be advertised, even if current officers are eligible to serve a consecutive term in the same role.
Members may run from the floor against a slated candidate, or to fill a vacancy in the slate. Criteria distributed with the Nominating Committee's Officer Search Announcement should establish the process and timeline for the election as well as the process to declare yourself a candidate to run from the floor.
The Nominating Committee is NOT responsible for filling Committee Chair positions; those are the responsibility of the newly elected incoming officers (Executive Committee).
LEARN MORE:
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We have reached the mid-point of the 2024 General Assembly Session. Referred to as "Cross-Over", this is the point when all bills that will move forward must have been read three times on the floor of the originating chamber, and be approved to cross-over for deliberation in the other chamber.
Virginia PTA is actively testifying on the bills on our watchlist. Below are key highlights. Please watch for action alerts on social media to share with your families.
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We had a impactful Capitol Day in Richmond with over 45 legislator meetings and lots of drop-by conversations.
Huge thanks to the ~70 PTA members from across Virginia who travelled to Richmond to meet their legislators and share PTA legislative priorities and perspective from their community.
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Virginia Superintendent, Dr. Lisa Coons, made time to personally welcome our families to the Capitol, and Virginia House Education Committee Chairman, Delegate Sam Rasoul, welcomed PTA Members during House Session.
#TakeAction4Kids #VAPTAAdvocacy #VAPTACapitolDay
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🚨 ACTION ALERT --> SCHOOL FUNDING
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Some key JLARC funding bills are still moving forward, however, there is significant energy building behind House Bill (HJ67) that will STUDY THE JLARC STUDY!
All Senate bills that would implement the JLARC high-priority recommendations were consolidated (or failed). They are now in a single bill unrelated bill, SB105.
We expect *some* funding will be allocated in budget discussions. However, direct outreach to your delegate/senator is important.
Even if your delegate/senator is not on the appropriations or finance committees - it's still important that they hear from you, and know that you want them to advocate for education funding this session.
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Watch Press Conference on
School Funding
| Virginia PTA joined with 11 other state-wide education associations to ask the General Assembly to #FundVASchools by implementing the JLARC high-priority recommendations. | |
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Dear Senator/Delegate,
I am a constituent, and a volunteer with my local PTA. I'm writing to share my support for implementing high-priority JLARC recommendations including: Lifting the Support Cap; Allocating Funding for Special Education & English Learners; and correcting the At-Risk Add-On, which provides targeted support for low-income students.
The 2022 JLARC Study (and previous studies) were clear. Virginia's funding formula is systematically under-estimating the cost of providing a high-quality education.
Funding schools is important for my students/our school/our community because...
Please take action this session to correct Virginia's out-dated funding formula by supporting:
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Thank you to those that emailed their delegate/senator.
Special Education Reform bills crossed-over!
HB1089 (Coyner) passed the House
SB220 (Favola) passed the Senate
💵 Read Budget Amendment
$179,000 (2025) = Develop Virginia IEP and high-quality professional development
$1,080,000 (2025)/ $2,209,000 (2026) = Prof. development w/ VA's training and technical assistance centers (TTACs)
$1,080,000 (2025) & $1,080,000 (2026) = Teacher coaches through Virginia's TTACs
$1,245,000 (2025) & $1,245,000 (2026) = 8 regional ombudsman positions
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School Building Modernization | |
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SB14 (McPike) & HB805 (Rasoul) >> Bills Moving Forward
Would allow all localities to hold a voter referendum on a local sales and use tax, up to no more than 1%. The income would be dedicated only to school construction. Currently only nine localities are allowed to ask voters to consider a school construction sales & use tax.
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Virginia ranks 48th nationally in providing access to mental health care for youth | |
Mental Health Staffing Bills Failed in Both Chambers
HB181 (Faggens) School Counselors at 1:250
HB386 (Hernandez) Specialized Support Staff at 4:1,000
SB127 (VanValkenburg) Counselor & Specialized Sprt Staff
There's still mental health budget amendments that may be funded to provide school divisions with flexible funding. Additionally several mental health curriculum bills are moving forward.
HB224 (Henson) & HB603 (Price)
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Social Media & Student Data | |
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School Meal bills passed the Senate and will move forward (but failed on House side)
SB283/HB686 (Roem/Benett-Parker): Maximizing access to federal school meal funds and convenes a stakeholder work group to study and make recommendations on ways to avoid or mitigate the impact of offering statewide free school breakfast and lunches and to submit a report on findings and recommendations by January 15, 2025.
SB314/HB830 (Roem/Cousins): Establishes a Farm to School Program Task Force
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