Public comment open on Ohio's proposed state plan for the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund

 Public comment open on Ohio's proposed state plan for the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund

The Ohio Department of Education is seeking public comment on Ohio's proposed State Plan for the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.

View the proposed plan on the Department's Reset and Restart webpage.

The Department is accepting public comment regarding the proposed plan by email to ESSA@education.ohio.gov by June 1.

LWVO Criminal Justice study and Real Talk Criminal Justice forums on June 2and June 9

 

Register here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vhYMMCdDRTiFyFJQn3ngnw

Help End 24 Years of Unconstitutional State Funding of Public Schools

 

ACTION ALERT - May 19, 2021

Do You Want Fair School Funding? Send a Message Today! Help End 24 Years of Unconstitutional State Funding of Public Schools

The Ohio House has approved HB 110, the state budget plan. HB 110 includes the Fair School Funding Plan, a high quality solution to the problem of inadequate and inequitable school funding in Ohio. The budget must pass the Ohio Senate by June 30. The HB 110 plan recognizes the diversity of Ohio’s 609 school districts and 1.5 million students. It uses the actual cost of educating a student to determine the amount of funding guaranteed to all students, and more accurately identifies the ability of local communities to pay their share of the cost. The plan also increases the state’s contributions to transportation, and to educating children who live in poverty, are gifted, or have disabilities. It ends deduction funding for charter schools and vouchers.   The Ohio Senate is considering removing the Fair School Funding Plan from the budget and replacing it with a Senate version. This would devastate Ohio's schools ... yet again. We need the Fair School Funding Plan to remain in the budget as-is with its 6-year phase-in schedule.   The Senate's talk of attaching state money to the child and following that child to any public or private school would destroy our public school system.   We need YOU to call, particularly if your state senator is one of the two in our area on the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Dolan and Senator Antonio. Contact Your State Senator Today -- And Mark Your Calendar to Contact Your Senator Every Week Until June 30! Let them know we care. Don't know who your state senator is? Click here. Don't know how to contact your state senator? Click here. You may call and leave a message, or cut and paste this message into an email -- today, and every week, until the Senate acts! Here's the message: Please pass the Fair School Funding Plan as part of HB 110 and strengthen our system of public education.   The Ohio Constitution guarantees that every Ohio child will have access to a public school that is required by law to protect that student’s rights and meet that student’s particular needs. These guarantees are fundamental to our system of public education, a system that is unique among nations and an institution essential for our democracy.     We must protect this legacy for our children and their children. The Ohio Constitution requires a thorough and efficient system of public schools. These must be the legislature’s priority, not tax supported private schools or charter schools which lack any Constitutional mandate and are not held to the same standards for inclusion, protection, or oversight as our public system.   Pass the Fair School Funding Plan, as written, and as part of the FY 2022-2023 state budget, and in so doing, ensure that Ohio’s public education system is adequately and equitably funded.

STEM ideas and activities that parents, grandparents, guardians, and other people can do with Pre-K to 12 students over the summer

 

Register here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6uL_Je-vRrWo5g7RxQ615Q

Convention Workshops

Here is a sneak peek at the topics we will be covering at our 2021 Ohio PTA Convention, coming up this June 9th-June 12. I can't believe it is already almost June. There is something here for everyone!

• Early Childhood PTA Exchange of Ideas
  
  Preventing Theft in your PTA
  
  One Coin, Two Sides: Family Engagement and Student Success
  
  We Have Members, Now How Do We Get Volunteers?
  
  Leadership - Serving to Inspire
  
  Best Practices for Virtual Meetings
  
  Prioritizing Diversity and Inclusion in your PTA work
  
  Rebuilding after a Pandemic Year
  
  Board Basics
  
  Value of PTA
  
  Mock meeting/Parliamentary Procedure
  
  Presidents - How to Run a Successful PTA

 

Please note that this is an election year and that also means PTA business. I am including links regarding business and how to get signed up for the convention and view the times for general sessions below. 

Also, don't forget that you have to register by June 4th, 2021 to participate in voting on our 2021-2023 incoming Board of Directors, this has to be done so that there is time to confirm membership status. If you register after that date, as a delegate you can still participate in other PTA business. 

Ohio 2021 PTA Convention Details and Schedule

2021 Proposed Amendments to the Ohio PTA Bylaws

Ohio PTA Bylaws with Proposed Bylaws Highlighted (Reference)

 

Please reach out with any questions!

Sincerely,

Brandy Shaffer-Ohio PTA Administrative Coordinator

Times will be announced closer to the convention when the program is finalized.

Early Childhood PTA Exchange of Ideas

Preventing Theft in your PTA

One Coin, Two Sides: Family Engagement and Student Success

We Have Members, Now How Do We Get Volunteers?

Leadership - Serving to Inspire

Best Practices for Virtual Meetings

Prioritizing Diversity and Inclusion in your PTA work

Rebuilding after a Pandemic Year

Board Basics

Value of PTA

Mock meeting/Parliamentary Procedure

Presidents - How to Run a Successful PTA

It is not too late to register for the convention. 

Click here >>> http://www.ohiopta.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021-convention-1-pg-promo-March-FINAL-1.pdf

Help End 24 Years of Unconstitutional State Funding of Public Schools

 

ACTION ALERT - May 19, 2021

Do You Want Fair School Funding? Send a Message Today! Help End 24 Years of Unconstitutional State Funding of Public Schools

The Ohio House has approved HB 110, the state budget plan. HB 110 includes the Fair School Funding Plan, a high quality solution to the problem of inadequate and inequitable school funding in Ohio. The budget must pass the Ohio Senate by June 30. The HB 110 plan recognizes the diversity of Ohio’s 609 school districts and 1.5 million students. It uses the actual cost of educating a student to determine the amount of funding guaranteed to all students, and more accurately identifies the ability of local communities to pay their share of the cost. The plan also increases the state’s contributions to transportation, and to educating children who live in poverty, are gifted, or have disabilities. It ends deduction funding for charter schools and vouchers.   The Ohio Senate is considering removing the Fair School Funding Plan from the budget and replacing it with a Senate version. This would devastate Ohio's schools ... yet again. We need the Fair School Funding Plan to remain in the budget as-is with its 6-year phase-in schedule.   The Senate's talk of attaching state money to the child and following that child to any public or private school would destroy our public school system.   We need YOU to call, particularly if your state senator is one of the two in our area on the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Dolan and Senator Antonio. Contact Your State Senator Today -- And Mark Your Calendar to Contact Your Senator Every Week Until June 30! Let them know we care. Don't know who your state senator is? Click here. Don't know how to contact your state senator? Click here. You may call and leave a message, or cut and paste this message into an email -- today, and every week, until the Senate acts! Here's the message: Please pass the Fair School Funding Plan as part of HB 110 and strengthen our system of public education.   The Ohio Constitution guarantees that every Ohio child will have access to a public school that is required by law to protect that student’s rights and meet that student’s particular needs. These guarantees are fundamental to our system of public education, a system that is unique among nations and an institution essential for our democracy.     We must protect this legacy for our children and their children. The Ohio Constitution requires a thorough and efficient system of public schools. These must be the legislature’s priority, not tax supported private schools or charter schools which lack any Constitutional mandate and are not held to the same standards for inclusion, protection, or oversight as our public system.   Pass the Fair School Funding Plan, as written, and as part of the FY 2022-2023 state budget, and in so doing, ensure that Ohio’s public education system is adequately and equitably funded.

Ohio PTA Virtual Convention UPDATE

 

Hello,

HERE is information regarding how to sign up for this years virtual convention as well as the convention schedule. 

Workshop specifics will be coming a week prior to convention. 

Please note that all delegates planning to participate in voting for the 2021-2023 Board of Directors must be registered by June 4, 2021. This is to allow time to verify membership status of registered attendees prior to voting. Delegates registered after June 4th will still be able to participate in all other business of the convention i.e., bylaws, workshops, meetings. 

I also want to remind you that while this is a virtual convention, we will still have virtual exhibitors. Our virtual exhibitor hall will be a website page you get access to for 3 weeks. You will be able to schedule 1 on 1 meetings and demonstrations individually or as a group at your convenience instead of being limited to only convention weekend. 

Every year at convention we also do a scholarship fundraising raffle event and will be continuing with this tradition, so watch for more details on this coming soon as well!

One last thing to note is that if you are unable to make a specific workshop or want to reference it at a later date, these will all be recorded and sent to attendee's after the conclusion of convention. 

Please feel free to reach out with any questions!

Convention Details and Schedule

Sincerely,

Brandy Shaffer- Ohio PTA Administrative Coordinator

PTA Updates/Information

 

Contact your Senator today to request robust funding for the FY2022 Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFEC) program. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) are currently circulating a bipartisan letter internally through the Senate, asking representatives to join them in seeking robust funding for the program. The FY2021 level of funding is currently only $12.25 million. However, students and families in nearly 40 states and territories that have previously utilized the program will be unable to benefit from the support and services provided by SFECs unless more funding is provided. Now, more than at any other time, families are critical and primary to the success of their children’s achievement. Congress must continue to recognize the important role of parents and families in a child’s education and support the Statewide Family Engagement Centers program. The best way to make your voice heard is by contacting your Senator today. It takes just a minute and will make a big impact. The deadline for your Senator to sign onto the SFEC letter is this Friday, May 21st! Click the link below to log in and send your message: https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/EYv36-48mN-3Q8VOFjhKZw

__________________________________________________________________

A NOTICE OF OHIO PTA RESTRUCTURING was sent out through MemberHub and social media in March. We will be hosting a Q&A about our proposed new regions on Tuesday, May 25 at 7:00 p.m. 

Please register below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcqcu6hqj8jGdMpMKaaHpeOf7ssteJv8-tn 

The 2020 election saw the greatest participation in our nation’s history. Throughout election season, the League of Women Voters worked tirelessly to ensure voters had the information and the access to make their voices heard.

Read the full report here. 

https://www.lwv.org/sites/default/files/2021-05/LWV_ElectionImpactReport_2020.pdf

American Rescue Plan Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund / Comments Requested

 

We urge our PTA advocates to submit a comment responding to the Federal Register posting on the American Rescue Plan Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. Commenting on this posting will close May 24, 2021. Those who prefer to submit comments by postal mail should address comments to the PRA Coordinator of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W208D, Washington, DC 20202-8240. Click the link below to log in and send your message: https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/owGPEbbl1I4-G1OgkRxDgw

Public Money and Vouchers

NPTA believes that public money stays with public schools. Here is a link to the NPTA website https://www.pta.org/home/advocacy/ptas-positions/Private-School-Vouchers-and-School-Choice

Private School Vouchers and School Choice - PTA Where Does National PTA Stand on Private School Vouchers? National PTA advocates for the improvement of public education for all children and to guarantee public funds are not diverted to any private school choice proposal and/or voucher system. www.pta.org

National PTA News

 

A Note From Our Leaders   In this edition, we’re focusing on social emotional learning (SEL)! Read on to meet our Allstate SEL Advisors, discover our new Healthy Minds podcast miniseries and learn more about our newest resources to help children and families thrive. Reach out to us at familyengagement@pta.org if you have any questions!   Our Latest News NEW Healthy Minds Podcast Miniseries!   Notes from the Backpack has launched a new miniseries, focused entirely on mental health and social emotional well-being! We spoke with experts to bring you answers to some important questions like…    How Can We Prioritize Wellness at School?  Is My Teen Having a Mental Health Crisis?  Are You Practicing Parent Self Care?   LISTEN NOW Welcoming our Allstate SEL Advisors   As part of National PTA's Healthy Minds initiative, we are excited to announce we’ve selected Dr. Brandi Kenner & Dr. Erin Raab as PTA's Allstate Social Emotional Learning Advisors!   Brandi is cognitive developmental scientist, researcher, and nonprofit and organizational development guru with nearly two decades of experience in the education sector.   Erin brings 20 years’ experience in nonprofit leadership and rich expertise in literacy, social and emotional development, designing for human flourishing & democracy, and systems change.   Over the next year, Brandi & Erin will be creating resources to help families engage in SEL practices in meaningful ways. Keep an eye out for new tips and tools this Spring!   Become a School of Excellence Enrollment for the National PTA School of Excellence program is now open. Local PTAs are encouraged to enroll early to set their commitment to improving family-school partnerships at their schools during the 2021-2022 school year. Learn more at PTA.org/Excellence and enroll today!   Have you already been designated a School of Excellence? If so, you are eligible to apply to National PTA's Whole Child Fellowship. Learn more and apply! Registration is Open for #PTAConLIVE21 Connect with PTA leaders, educators and parents to ignite your outreach and impact in your school community—and make a difference for every child—at the 2021 National PTA Virtual Convention! This is your time to get inspired by mission-minded peers and experts, stay informed on trends and issues affecting our children and transform your leadership! Learn how you can support your families social and emotional development during Mental Health Summit and grow your skills at our wide variety of workshops! Join us for our virtual convention June 17 – 26, 2021!   Register now New Resources for PTA Leaders The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Parent Voice: Everything You Need to Know   National PTA's Government Affairs team has released a helpful document, "Opportunity to Provide Input on the Implementation of The American Rescue Plan Act in Your Community".   They will also host a webinar entitled "The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Parent Voice: Everything You Need to Know" on Thursday, May 13th, 2021 from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET. Join us for an overview of the education funding in ARPA and for a discussion of how PTAs can best engage with their school district, state department of education, and the U.S. Department of Education. Join here at 8 PM ET   Let's Talk About Allyship In our latest episode of 10 Minutes to PTA the Transformative Way, learn about allyship and how you can support LGBTQ+ members of your community. Watch now! Watch Now WEBINAR: Turn Your Commitment to DEI into an Action Plan Is your PTA committed to enhancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion but is not sure where to start? Join National PTA staff and our DEI grantees on May 25th at 8 PM EST. We’ll introduce our newest DEI tools to create a diversity profile, host listening sessions and create a DEI action plan. Our grantees will share how they were able to use these tools to engage in meaningful conversations with families in their communities and put their feedback into action. Register Now New & Noteworthy in the Field   Summer learning is a hot topic as families worry about the COVID slide. Don't miss the new report from Learning Heroes: Out-of-School-Time Programs This Summer -- Paving the Way for Children to Find Passion, Purpose & Voice.   Check out 100 Days of Conversations, a collaborative project organized to catalyze conversations amongst students, educators and families across the country brought to you by our friends at cs. Join us at the 2021 National Family & Community Engagement Conference June 1-4 and don’t miss our workshop, Leveraging Home-School Technologies to Strengthen Home-School Partnerships. Register now!   Successful Innovations Inc and NAFSCE are now accepting workshop proposals for the 2021 National Family Engagement Summit in October. Submit your proposal by May 15th!   Save the date! National Center for Families Learning is hosting the 2021 Families Learning Conference on October 25-27 in Dallas, Texas.