LASA PTSA MEMBERSHIP
Please join the PTSA for the 2022-23 school year. PTA is the largest child advocacy organization in the US. Please help us grow our membership to greater than 500,000 Texans. This will help us advocate for Texas students, families and schools at the local, state and national level.
$ 5 student/ $10 adult
UPCOMING EVENTS
Currently,
the State of Texas is 41 st in the Nation in the amount of dollars it funds education.
the State of Texas provides $ 4000/student less than the national average.
the State of Texas' funding is in the bottom 10 states in the Union.
the State of Texas educates more than 10% of the United States students.
92% of Texas students go to public schools. Should we not be talking on how to make the better
We need to do better
Send your positive public education story to #txed
We need to help change the legislator's opinion about public education
THIS WEEK at the Capitol
Please use your twitter, your phone calls , your emails , your comments, to use your voice and MAKE SOME NOISE
ACPTA Advocacy is doing an amazing job getting the word out. Join their advocacy group
Scroll the the bottom of the page: Advocacy | Austin Council PTA and join their google group
TODAY - Wdnesday May 17
In the past week, public education advocates have sent more than 65,000 letters to the House Public Education Committee.
They have flooded phone lines.They have contributed to 655 pages of public comments on SB 8.
Yesterday, we held off a committee vote on Senate Bill 8, the rushed voucher bill that would also increase the amount of standardized testing in our schools, but a vote could come as soon as today.
This will be a close vote, and we know who two of the swing votes on the committee are: Rep. Charles Cunningham (HD 127) 512 463 0520 and Rep. Oscar Longoria (HD 35) 512 463 0645 Tell them to vote against any school voucher bills.
They need to hear from their constituents, but even more than that, they need to hear from Texas public school employees and parents who will be hurt if SB 8 passes.
Can you call these reps today & urge them to vote NO?
- Here's a script to help ...
I ask you to stand by your words of support for public education and reject vouchers soundly, once and for all. Vote NO on Senate Bill 8.
Instead, I ask you to dedicate your time to actual solutions to our school staffing crisis: more funding for our public schools, more money in school employees’ pockets, and more respect for our profession.
Our schools are underfunded as it is. They cannot afford to lose another dollar. I urge you to vote NO on SB 8 and this attempt to divert taxpayer dollars away from our neighborhood public schools.
Vouchers are still a hot topic so keep sharing information with your friends and family and encourage them to reach out to their representatives to say No to Vouchers!
If you missed the presentation, look for the link below.
Thank you to Laura Year for hosting this informative event.
Video: https://fb.watch/hgJSxl5m3Q/.
PDF of the graphics included in the presention:
.
School Funding_ Connecting the dots 2022.pdfDid you know?
Texas spends $9,369 compared to the national average of $13,679 in per student expenditure: https://epe.brightspotcdn.com/53/df/9c427bce4390a4b5a5335393567a/v40-34-qc-finance-table.pdf
Texas spends 2.5 times more per inmate than per student each year: https://www.texascjc.org/2021-session-safely-adjust-parole-practices-reduce-massive-prison-budgets#:~:text=Texas%20has%20an%20opportunity%20to,in%20Texas%20prisons%20is%20%2422%2C751.
By 2023, nearly 20% of the state’s funding for public education (including recapture) will go to charter schools, up 2.5X the 8% in 2014: https://www.lbb.texas.gov/Documents/Publications/Fiscal_SizeUp/Fiscal_SizeUp_2022-23.pdf, page 215
Check out these great advocacy sites
Just Fund It TX : https:\\justfundittx.org
TAMSA (Texans Advocating for Meaning Student Assessment) https://tamsatx.org
Raise Your Hand Texas: https://www.raiseyourhandtexas.org/
Measure What Matters Report from Raise Your Hand Texas: https://www.raiseyourhandtexas.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Measure-What-Matters-report.pdf
Texas Educators Vote: https://texaseducatorsvote.com/
RootEd: https://proudlyrooted.com/
Notes from the Backpack: Your Child's Career Exploration Starts Now
We often ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, but how often do we help them figure out the answer? We invited Jean Eddy, Executive Director of the American Student Assistance (ASA) and ASA’s “Solve It” contest winner and high school student, Elliana Cabellon, to talk about career exploration. They share how families can help kids follow their passions, plan for their futures and explore STEM career pathways. Listen now.
Please join us in us in volunteering for LASA PTSA
PFLASA and LASA PTSA have teamed up to do great things for the LASA Community. PFLASA will focus inwards and LASA PTSA will focus outwards with the core goals of advocacy and parent engagement. We will also do core programing that is only available to PTA, eg. Reflections, Texas PTA Connect Programs, Share the Love, Rally Day, gathering of the Austin ISD High School PTSA Presidents, and others. We communicate with our neighbors, trustees and coordinate the Memorial Day event with the community.
We would love to have your help even if it is only for 2 hours of your time. Please indicate your interest in our form here.
We also need an ACPTA Reps to attend the ACPTA meetings,our executive board and membership meetings.
If you have any questions, please contact Jayne @ president@lasaptsa.org.
RESOURCES
Notes from the Backpack Podcast
English Podcast | Spanish Podcast
Teacher Talk Miniseries: The Teacher Burnout Crisis - experienced educator and activist Sofia Gonzalez shares her thoughts on teacher burnout and how systemic changes could make teaching a more sustainable profession
Do my child's test score really matter ?
Why Aren't There More Black Teachers?
Our Culture is More than a Holiday
¿Está su Hijo Recibiendo los Servicios que Necesita?
Lo que necesitas saber para apoyar la educacion de sus hijos
Entendiendo los Conceptos Básicos de las Finanzas Escolares
Apoyando a los niños pequeños durante COVID-19
El Plus - Las Finanzas Escolares Durante COVID-19
De Regreso a la Escuela con el CDC
Introducción a Las Redes Sociales y el Cyberbullying
National PTA " Our Children" online magazine articles are also in Spanish
Register ahead of time here and we will email you the link when you register and the night before the meeting in an email.
GET INVOLVED
PTA VISION
Every child's potential is a reality
PTA MISSION
To make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children
WHY PTA?
Why is the PTA important, and how does it work to make a difference? PTA...
...Educates parents and families and it helps us support the education of our children.
...Improves schools in ways that are important to families.
...Creates community in our schools and in our neighborhoods.
...Supports teachers and other employees who support our children.
...Gives families power on your campus and helps parents speak with one voice about important topics.
...Gives you a voice in the government, about laws and policies that impact children.
...Shows our students that we value education.
...Helps families learn new skills that they can use in everyday life.
...Creates friendships with other families.
...IS FUN!
Thanks to all the members and volunteers that helped us to achieve Good Standing with Texas PTA last year