
How our PTA Can Advocate On Public Issues
PTA is a tax exempt IRC 501(c)(3), non-partisan, non-sectarian, and non-commercial organization. The PTA may take positions and advocate on public issues but not on candidates. Taking positions on candidates would jeopardize our tax-exempt status.
The National PTA takes positions and advocates on federal issues, the California State PTA takes positions and advocates on California issues, the Second District PTA takes positions on issues affecting San Francisco city and county, and Unit PTAs may take positions on issues that affect their immediate neighborhood. Specific procedures must be followed at each level (National, California, City, and neighborhood) to get approval to for the PTA to take a position and advocate on Public Issues.
If your PTA unit would like to take a position on a local ballot measure, there are a few rules to follow.
PRIOR TO THE MEETING:
- Facility Use Permit: Your unit must pay a full facility use permit to host the meeting.
- Announce the meeting 14 days in advance.
- A small team of PTA members will review the legislation and research CAPTA resolutions and positions to determine whether the CAPTA body has supporting authorities. Then a report documenting the legislative support is written and distributed for presentation during the noticed meeting.
PRESENTING THE LEGISLATION DURING THE MEETING:
- The unit President or Legislative Chair will read the Legislation and the legislation report aloud to the membership.
- Proponents representing arguments for and against the legislation must be given equal time to speak.
- Question and Answer: Both sides must be given the same amount of time to answer questions. Then the unit membership votes.
For more information refer to https://capta.org/focus-areas/advocacy/
These mandatory procedures are covered in detail in the PTA ToolKit.
If your PTA would like to make a recommendation on positions of the larger organization, follow the guidance in the ToolKit.