In his first public appearance since leaving office, President Barack Obama said, "The PTA is a perfect example of the kind of thing we want to encourage" when discussing ways to be engaged in communities.

Overall Education Funding Decreases in New Federal Budget This week Congress reached a deal to fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2017. Final passage of the funding bill is not expected until later in the week and if it passes as written, here's how the following education programs would be funded compared to fiscal year 2016: U.S. Department of Education would be cut by $1 billion Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs) would not be funded Funding for services for low-income and poor students (Title I) would receive a $100 million increase Funding for services for students with disabilities (IDEA, Part B state grants) would receive a $90 million increase Funding for well-rounded education, healthy and safe schools and education technology (Title IV, Part A block grants) would be funded at $400 million Although National PTA is encouraged by some of the increases for education programs in the bill, we have strong concerns about the decrease in overall federal funding for education and no funding for SFECs. If you have not already, Take Action today and tell your members of Congress to invest in public education and family engagement programs in fiscal year 2018. For more info on the federal funding bill, read the fiscal year 2017 appropriations bill and explanatory statement of the funding.

National PTA Advocate of the Month Janelle Sperry, West Virginia PTA president, participated in a Senate Briefing on Capitol Hill April 28 to discuss the importance of the federal E-rate program. The E-rate program works to ensure all public libraries and K-12 public and private schools gain access to broadband connectivity and robust internal Wi-Fi. During the briefing, Sperry declared that a student's geographic location shouldn't determine their internet access and academic opportunities, as every child deserves access to the internet to reach their full potential. The briefing was hosted by the Education and Libraries Network Coalition (EdLiNC) and theNational Coalition for Technology in Education and Training (NCTET).

President Obama Encourages Joining PTA During First Speech Since Leaving Office In his first public appearance since leaving office, President Barack Obama said, "The PTA is a perfect example of the kind of thing we want to encourage" when discussing ways to be engaged in communities. Joined on the stage at the University of Chicago by a diverse group of six former and current students from across the city, the former president discussed the importance of civic engagement and cultivating the next generation of leaders. Watch the recording of the event on YouTube.

National PTA Endorses Five Bills in the 115th Congress:  Recently, National PTA pledged support for five bills recently introduced in the 115th Congress. Each bill would work to improve the health, safety and overall well-being of children and aligns with the National PTA Legislative Checklist for the 115th Congress. Click the links below to read the text of each piece of legislation. Child Protection Improvements Act of 2017 (HR 695) Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act of 2017 (HR 627/S 383) Chronic Absenteeism Reduction Act (HR 1864) Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2017 (HR 1809) Gun Violence Research Act (HR 1478)

PTA Live! E-learning and National PTA's Strategic Plan Watch this recording of our PTA Live on our Facebook page. National PTA's Director of Education and Leadership Development, Mary Pat King, discusses National PTA's expanded focus on leadership development in the Strategic Plan and how our new e-learning courses can help you during leadership transitions.  Have an idea for a new e-learning course, or a question about e-learning in general? Leave a comment on the video!  Webinar: Overview of Proposed Resolutions and Process at Convention Join National PTA's Resolutions Committee at 8 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, May 17, for a review of the 2017 proposed resolutions and the resolutions process at the upcomingNational PTA Convention & Expo in Las Vegas, June 22-25. Register now.

National PTA Joins 11 Other Child Welfare Groups to Call Out State Bills Attacking Trans Youth Last month, National PTA joined 11 other child welfare organizations to call out state bills that would discriminate against transgender children. "We, as organizations committed to serving the best interests of all youth, are deeply alarmed at the flurry of bills introduced in state legislatures around the country this year that would directly harm transgender people, and particularly transgender students," the letter states. "These appalling proposals would compromise the safety and well-being of the young people we all have the duty and obligation to support and protect." Read the full letter.

Advocate for College and Career-Readiness! The College and Career Readiness & Success Center's website provides a vast array of information and resources state PTAs can use to help advocate in their states. It includes an interactive map and an interactive graphic intended to be a comprehensive and visual representation of the complexities of college and career readiness and success. Check out the website and these great resources! College and Career Readiness Begins with a Well-Rounded Education: Opportunities Under the Every Student Succeeds Act Using College and Career Readiness to Plan and Implement ESSA CCRS Interactive State Map The College and Career Readiness and Success Organizer Research Corner: Teacher Training Can Help Promote Parent Involvement New research by Keith C. Herman and Wendy M. Reinke of the University of Missouri shows that teacher perceptions of parent involvement can be altered through training teachers on how to engage families more effectively. The results indicate that if teachers are provided training that encourages them to examine their assumptions and biases about parents and to develop and/or repair relationships with challenging students and families, then their perceptions of parental contact and comfort with those parents change. In a press statement, Herman stated "fortunately, this study shows that we can support teachers to improve their relationships with all parents, resulting in a better education for all children while also encouraging parents to become more involved in the education process." Read the full study.