Move the 2021 Ohio PTA Annual Convention???

We’re planning some changes to our 2021 Annual
Convention (including moving it from Columbus to Northeast Ohio,) and need your input. Please click on this link and tell us what you think!  EXPRESS YOUR OPINION HERE

National PTA Statement on Gun Violence and Friday Night Football

National PTA Statement on Gun Violence and Friday Night Football

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Sept. 27, 2019)—The following statement can be attributed to National PTA President Leslie Boggs:

“According to an article published this week in Education Week, since the start of the new school year, at least seven shootings have occurred in or near high school football stadiums, including in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Any act of violence involving children and youth is intolerable—no parent should fear for the safety of their child every time they leave home.

“For years, we have called for action and have said ‘enough is enough.’ Yet, too often, we have been met by ‘thoughts and prayers’ from our elected leaders. Our children and families deserve more than thoughts and prayers. Continuing to do nothing is unacceptable.

“National PTA has taken swift and concrete action to address the safety of our nation’s children. Last week the National PTA Board of Directors added to a long list of many advocacy activities over the years by amending the association’s position statement on Gun Safety and Violence Prevention to reinforce our unwavering call for universal background checks and the adoption of ‘red flag’ laws, among other measures that will decrease gun violence and make our schools and communities safer for everyone.

“I also testified last week before the U.S. House of Representatives Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in support of universal background checks, and our association sent a letter in early September to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urging him to bring the Background Check Expansion bill to the floor and facilitate its passage in the Senate.

“We encourage all families to get involved in our efforts to protect every child. Our association has developed resources for parents on steps they can take to advocate for and ensure schools are safe and supportive places for their children as well as on how to talk to their children about violence. 

“For nearly 30 years, National PTA has advocated for common-sense and comprehensive gun safety and violence prevention measures, while preserving the lawful use of firearms for sport and personal protection. It has been and remains a top priority of the association to prevent and eliminate violence in schools, communities and at home; promote safety for children; make sure the needs of the whole child are met and ensure every child reaches their full potential.

“A report released last week found that 2,500 school children died from gun-related injuries in 2017, and for the first time, firearms killed more people than motor vehicle accidents. National PTA demands that Congress and the president act today and put laws in place that address our nation’s gun violence epidemic and protect our children and families.”

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org.

2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools Video

For Immediate Release
Sept. 27, 2019

Fourteen Ohio Schools Receive National Blue Ribbon Honors

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has named 14 Ohio schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2019. Schools in each state are recognized in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, student subgroup scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest-performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest-performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.

In mid-November, DeVos and the U.S. Department of Education will celebrate with more than 350 school honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The National Blue Ribbons Schools in Ohio for 2019 are listed below:

City	School Name	District
Akron	Akron Early College High School	Akron City Schools
Beachwood	Beachwood Middle School	Beachwood City Schools
South Webster	Bloom-Vernon Elementary School	Bloom-Vernon Local Schools
Columbus	Bluffsview Elementary School	Worthington City Schools
Milford	Boyd E. Smith Elementary School	Milford Exempted Village Schools
Convoy	Crestview Elementary School	Crestview Local Schools
Kettering	Dayton Regional STEM School	-
Delphos	Franklin Elementary School	Delphos City Schools
Lewis Center	Freedom Trail Elementary School	Olentangy Local Schools
Minster	Minster Jr./Sr. High School	Minster Local Schools
Creston	Norwayne Middle School	Norwayne Local Schools
Solon	Solon High School	Solon City Schools
Wadsworth	Wadsworth Middle School	Wadsworth City Schools
Westerville	Worthington Christian Middle School	Worthington Christian Schools

###

National PTA Sponsor Awareness Survey

National PTA is conducting this brief survey to measure the current awareness of certain sponsors among our local PTA leaders and members. Your responses provide us valuable feedback to help us strengthen our sponsor’s programs to benefit state, district and local PTAs nationwide.

This survey will be repeated at a future date in the coming year to measure any increase or decrease in the awareness of these same sponsors.

To ensure we get accurate baseline data, once started, please do not click away from this survey. Please use only your memory and opinion to answer these questions.

TAKE SURVEY NOW - HERE

Sign up to receive The Ohio PTA Voice on the right side of the home page.

Modern Parenting Go-Guide Insights and Discussion Starters

Life360 brings families closer through smart tools that protect and connect the people who matter most. With real-time location notifications and advanced driving safety features, parents and kids can feel free, together. In an effort to better understand how the digital age affects families, Life360 surveyed 2,000 parents nationwide with kids ages 6-25. This Go-Guide compiles key findings and insights around family milestones, communication habits, and modern parenting concerns. To address the challenges highlighted by this research, Life360 proudly announces a new collaboration with National PTA – the largest and oldest child advocacy association in the United States. Together, we will foster constructive conversations among families by offering new resources like this Go-Guide. 

Table of Contents

Section 1 | Universal Family Milestones 

Page 5. National and Regional Averages 

Page 6. General and Tech 

Page 7. Family Communication 

Section 2 | Family Insights by School Age 

Page 8. Elementary School 

Page 10. Middle School 

Page 12. High School 

Page 14. College 

Section 3 | A Modern Tool for Families 

Page 17. Life360’s Advanced Safety Features 

Page 18. Talking to Your Kids About Life360

Modern Parenting Go-Guide Insights and Discussion Starters

30-Second Report Card Survey

PARENT SURVEY

Take this important 30-second report card parent survey. http://bit.ly/2IhRJUt 

Join the Ohio Partnership PTA today! For the cost of a $5 cup of fancy coffee, you can join the largest and oldest child advocacy association in the state for one year. Your membership means a great deal in amplifying advocacy efforts everywhere. https://lnkd.in/eKMZCER 

¡Ensamble la sociedad PTA de Ohio hoy! Para el coste de $5 tazas de café de lujo, usted puede ensamblar la asociación más grande y más vieja de la defensa del niño del estado por un año. Sus medios de la calidad de miembro mucho en esfuerzos de la defensa que amplifican por todas partes. https://lnkd.in/eKMZCER 

Thanks California PTA for the believe pic. #PTAProud

Education & STEM Expo 2019!

Education & STEM Expo 2019, co-presented by Northeast Ohio Parent magazine and Ohio Tuition Trust, is the free, can’t-miss education event of the season. Think of it as an open house preview where you can meet with dozens of schools at once — and it all happens in the lovely surroundings of the Cleveland Metroparks!

Sunday, October 6
11 a.m.-3 p.m.Acacia Clubhouse at Cleveland Metroparks
26899 Cedar Road, Lyndhurst, OH 44124

The FREE, family-focused event offers the following features:

• Expanding this year to include STEM (science, technology, engineering and math)
• Meet with dozens of schools under one roof!
• Win raffle prizes
• Engage in activities & crafts
• Outdoor fun in the Cleveland Metroparks
• Bubbleologist Dr. U.R. Awesome brings some science fun + much more! 

The first 100 families to register qualify for a tote bag, perfect for collecting information from all the schools. (One registration per family)

Click here to register today!

What is Be SMART?

http://besmartforkids.org/

The Be SMART framework is designed to help parents and adults normalize conversations about gun safety and take responsible actions that can prevent child gun deaths and injuries.

Explore Everytown for Gun Safety's new model, and sign the PTA action alert to demand universal background checks.

4.6 million
American children live in homes with guns that are both loaded and unlocked.

Mental Health and the State PTA Webinar

Addressing mental health in our schools can be complicated and overwhelming. How does the State PTA best fit in? How can we make the biggest difference and how do we get started?

Join us as we hear from Lynn Makor, MA, CAGS, Consultant for School Psychology, and Sharon Goldblatt, Member, National PTA Mission Engagement Committee and Past State PTA President in this November 29, 2018 recorded webinar facilitated by Kelly Langston, Member, National PTA Mission Engagement Committee.

• What is mental health?
• What should we be considering when discussing mental health in our schools?
• What does the data tell us?
• What are the facts?
• How do we use the data to prioritize our efforts?
• What advocacy efforts have had/might have the greatest impact?

National PTA President Leslie Boggs Speaks Strongly About Gun Violence

Watching Gun Violence Prevention Discussion @CSPAN
https://www.c-span.org/video/?464431-1/task-force-meets-discuss-gun-violence-impact-children-background-checks

TAKE ACTION contact your Senator TODAY! The letter is already written to your U.S. Senators in Voter Voice - just add your name and address. It is that simple❗️ Your VOICE matters❗️ Tell YOUR SENATORS to address gun violence through universal background checks.

TAKE ACTION NOW! 

• HR 8 passed the U.S. House of Representatives 200+ days ago (PTA supports this legislation) 
• SB 42 should come to the floor of the Senate NOW
• Ultimately a bill should reach the President's desk for signature

National PTA Position Statement on Gun Safety and Violence Prevention

Gun Safety and Violence Prevention

 

Ohio PTA's From Report To Results Initiative / Schedule A Workshop TODAY!

It is our hope that with the support of the From Report to Results (FRTR aka R2R) initiative, funded by the Gates Foundation through National PTA, Ohio PTA will:

• Improve data literacy by hosting educational events and developing and disseminating parent-friendly resources and materials;
• Amplify the parent voice on data through social media and other public forums;
• Drive a narrative among parents showcasing the benefits of data and the “good side” of data, dispelling myths around data being solely related to test scores; and
• Engage parents as stakeholders in key policy conversations around report cards and school improvement, continuing PTAs role in implementation efforts of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) at the state and local levels.

E-mail advocacy@ohiopta.org to schedule your district R2R "report card" workshop today!

Membership Matters!

Apply for the monthly membership awards!

PTA Leaders -- Have You Filed Your Taxes Yet?

Don't procrastinate and take a chance of losing your 501(c)(3) status. The 990 is due November 15th but why wait...complete and file the simple form today. Your state financial reporting is also due. Why pay a fine to the state for a late filing and/or penalty for not filing. The fiscal year ended June 30, 2019 so filing can occur anytime until November 15th to be considered timely. 

Resources:

Charitable Trust Guide / State of Ohio

Charitable Registration

The Ohio PTA Secretary/Treasurer

Bring The "Report Card" Workshop To Your District!

Parent Resource on Education Data

Report Card Fact Sheet Link

Learn More About Student Data Privacy

Learn More About Report Cards and ESSA Here

How to Interpret Report Card Data Workshop Registration

[Room capacity 50 people]

National PTA President Leslie Boggs to Speak on Capitol Hill Wed. 9/18

Good evening PTA leaders,

I am pleased to share that Leslie Boggs, National PTA president will be participating in a U.S. House of Representatives Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Forum on the “Impact of Gun Violence on Children and the Need for a Senate Vote on Universal Background Checks” this Wednesday, September 18, 2019 on Capitol Hill from 1:00pm – 3:00pm ET.   

The forum will be livestreamed and we will share that link with you as soon as we get it. We will also be posting Leslie’s testimony online and will share that with you as well.

As you know, for almost 30 years, National PTA has advocated for federal efforts to protect children and youth from gun violence and strongly believes that Congress must enact common sense legislation that will help prevent future tragedies from occurring while preserving the lawful use of firearms for sport and personal protection.

If you haven’t done so already, please send your Senators an email to urge them to support S. 42, the Background Check  bill or thank them for their sponsorship of S. 42 the Background Check Expansion Act.  The House of Representatives passed the H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 earlier this year which would close a loophole in current law that allows private or unlicensed vendors to sell guns without conducting a background check on the purchaser. The bill is stalled in the Senate which is why we need you to Take Action today!  National PTA sent this letter to Senate Majority Leader McConnell last week urging him to bring the bill to the floor and facilitate its passage in the Senate. It’s time for the Senate to take action to address our nation’s gun violence epidemic and protect America’s children and families. Attached is the email we shared with you last week regarding our advocacy on gun safety and violence prevention. 

Thank you for your continued advocacy!

Sincerely,

National PTA Government Affairs

From Report to Results / How to Interpret Report Card Data!

How to Interpret Report Card Data

Why does information about schools matter? To understand your child's educational experience, you need to know more than just their tests scores. By exploring information about your school, you can gain a deeper understanding of their day-to-day life at school and also have specific insights into what you want to change.

You are invited to participate in our How To Interpret Report Card Data Workshop

Hosted by the Ohio PTA FR2R Committee

DATE: Saturday, November 2, 2019
TIME: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: North Royalton Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library
5071 Wallings Road • North Royalton, OH 44133

*******Lunch Served @ 11 a.m.********
Room capacity 50

Register Here Today!

Highlights from Preparing Parents for District Data / Workshop Part 1

Educate, Interpret, Advocate... From Report To Results workshop will provide important information to your district parents about the state and district report cards. Have the FRTR committee come to your school district real soon. The workshop is 55 minutes. 
E-mail - advocacy@ohiopta.org 

Dynamic District 13 Conference Coming Soon! REGISTER TODAY!

All professional organizations provide training for their employees and volunteers. 

PTA is no different. We are a professional parent teacher association.

If you experience low parent enthusiasm, lack of members, insufficient leadership, and more drama than you need…perhaps PTA training [PTA professional development] is an antidote 
for what ails you. 

Next great PTA training opportunity listed below.

Ohio PTA District 13 Fall Conference 

Saturday, October 5, 2019    8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

John R. Buchtel CLC , 1040 Copley Rd. Akron, OH 44320

Agenda and Workshop Descriptions

Registration fee (includes lunch) is $15.00/person

OR  2 for $25 must pre-register at the same time! NO REFUNDS!              

Registration deadline is Monday, September 30, 2019                              

Make all checks payable to: Ohio PTA District 13

Mail registration form and payment to:   

Karen Smik

3823 Faith Lane

Richfield, Oh 44286

Or register through Cheddar Up: 

REGISTER HERE RIGHT NOW