Advocates

Contact Us

dingle-pta-academics@googlegroups.com

Position Statements

• National PTA

• California PTA

Advocacy Made

• Public Comments

• Responses to Parent Representatives

• Our Advocacy Playlist on YouTube

• 2024-2025 advocacy on parent engagement

Advocacy Resources

• Data and Dashboards

• Parents/Family Rights by the CA Department of Education

• Quality Schooling Framework by CA Department of Education

Parents Rights in CA Education

Summary of Education Code on Parent Involvement:

• observe the classroom or classrooms in which their child is enrolled

• meet with their child’s teacher or teachers and the principal

• volunteer their time and resources for the improvement of school (with approval and supervision)

• receive the results of their child’s performance on tests, attendance, and other records

• receive information on the performance of the school on tests

Tips on Making Public Comments

-- From a local parent and professional who runs large state projects in which collect public comments.

• "Know the agency you are commenting to and their authority"

• "Tailor your comment to that authority.  For example, it's no use complaining to the WJUSD BOT about lesson plans because they have no authority over lesson plans."

• "Tailor your comment to what the agency is asking for comments on.  For example, it is not useful to bring up past decisions you didn't like if they are not asking for comments on that unless you can directly connect the past decision to what they are requesting comment on."

• "Do not yell, do not be sarcastic.  Treat them like you would like to be treated, regardless of how they are treating you."

• "Write your comment down, read it aloud, re-write it, then read it aloud again." Ensure it is clear and within the time allowed.

• "Keep statements short, to the point, avoid semicolons and 'howevers'."

• "Start with your conclusion and end with the same conclusion."

• "Know you have the right to comment and a right to be heard, but they may not listen to you."

• "It's a lot of work to prepare effective and relevant comments.  Most agencies can ignore most comments because the comments are not effective, relevant, or in the scope of what the agency controls."