PTA LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMS

The National PTA legislative program is the primary authority for action taken by National PTA on federal legislation, rules, or regulations. It entails five components: legislative policies, which are broad statements that define the fields of advocacy concern; legislative directives, which are the association’s current legislation priorities based on what is expected to be at the forefront of the federal legislative and administrative agenda; policy statements, which are broad statements on children’s issues that form the basis for resolutions and position statements that become official when they are passed by delegates at the National PTA Annual Convention or by the National PTA Board of Directors; resolutions with legislative intent can be proposed by any PTA, the National PTA Board of Directors recommends resolutions for consideration by delegates at the National PTA Annual Convention and they must be approved by the convention body and then ratified by the National PTA Board of Directors to become positions of the organization; and position statements, which are initiated by committees of the National PTA and approved by the National PTA Board of Directors. Convention resolutions with legislative intent and position statements adopted by the National PTA help to guide advocacy activity. The National PTA legislative program, adopted every other year, is mailed to all local unit and council presidents and state and National PTA leaders. 

The Pennsylvania PTA legislative program includes Pennsylvania PTA adopted resolutions, position statements and priority items.  It is drafted by the state legislation and advocacy committee and approved but the state board of managers, and presented to the convention body in odd-numbered years. Once adopted, the program is used for a two-year period and becomes the advocacy authority of the Pennsylvania PTA. 

2020-20 PA PTA Legislative Priorities and Legislative Program