Northern Virginia District PTA

Northern Virginia District PTA

 

Serving Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax City,

Fairfax County and Falls Church City PTAs and PTSAs

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Answers to common questions.

 

 

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What is the Proposed 2009 Legislation Program for Virginia State PTA? (pdf)

2009 Virginia PTA, Proposed Legislative Program (PLP)

  • THE PLP is the next step in the PTA legislation process. Members should be given the opportunity to review and vote on the Policy Statement that will result in the Legislation Program.
  • LEGISLATIVE ACTION ITEMS (LAI) are requests for the introduction, passage, or defeat of specific legislation by the General Assembly and/or regulations by the Board of Education or other appropriate agencies.
  • POLICY STATEMENTS (PS) are statements of the Virginia PTA/PTSA on general issues and may be used as the basis for addressing issues before the General Assembly, Virginia Board of Education or other appropriate agencies.
  • Legislative Action Items - There are no Legislative Action Items for this year.

  • LEGISLATION ACTION ITEM  #1

    Virginia PTA seeks legislation that will strengthen current restrictions on smoking to prohibit smoking indoors in commercial establishments that are open to and frequented by the public.

    Rationale:

    The U.S. Surgeon General’s June 2006 report on The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke concludes that secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in adults and children who do not smoke.  Secondhand smoke contains over 200 poisons, 70 of which are known carcinogens. Because it is unfiltered, smoke from the end of a cigarette is more lethal than that actually inhaled by a smoker. The report expressly states that: “because their bodies are developing, infants and children are especially vulnerable to the poisons in second hand smoke.” Such exposure leads to a documented increase in the incidences of acute respiratory illness, ear infections, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome.

    LEGISLATIVE ACTION ITEM #2

    Virginia PTA seeks legislation that funds the expansion and integration of Arts Education into all core curricula subjects beyond the Visual Arts Standards of Learning (SOL).

    Rationale:

    Virginia PTA believes that the arts, music, dance, drama, and visual arts are central to learning. Infusion of the arts in elementary and secondary education curricula is key to the development of students. We support programs that promote public awareness of the arts and arts education and the integration of the arts in school curriculum requirements -- without cutting funding from existing programs -- as part of the K - 12 curriculum at all schools.

       Research has shown that “arts education increases interest in academic learning, cognitive and basic skills development, and the development of academic achievement skills” (R.R. Konrad, Empathy, Arts, and Social Studies, 2000). 

       Despite these findings and the inclusion of arts as one of the “core academic subjects” in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), many schools faced with tightening budgets fail to fund arts programs.  Schools that provide little or no arts education are denying students the opportunity to master skills that will best prepare them for the highly competitive labor market of the 21st century.  Arts education is a fundamental component of comprehensive learning for grades K-12

       The report from the Center for Education Policy concludes that, since the enactment of NCLB, instructional time for art and music has been reduced by 22 percent.  This at a time when parents, employers, and civic leaders are demanding improvements to the learning environment that will make our schools places where all learners will access a complete education and opportunities to succeed. These demands cannot be met without comprehensive arts education in our nation’s schools.

    LEGISLATION ACTION ITEM  #3

    Virginia PTA seeks legislation supporting the removal of toys and educational aids found to be unsafe as identified by the Consumer Product Safety Commission from all public schools and child care centers. We support the development of standards and regulations to aid in keeping unsafe toys and other unsafe products out of public schools and child day care centers. Furthermore, the Virginia PTA seeks legislation that would influence retailers to remove recalled products from their inventories in an expeditious manner.

    Rationale:

    Lead, which accumulates in a child’s body over time, can cause permanent, irreversible injuries such as growth and behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and death. According to the National Safety Council’s most recent data (2005), there are more than 400,000 children younger than six (6) years old with unacceptable levels of lead in their blood. Children’s playthings should not contribute to this disturbing statistic.

       Seventeen (17) percent of the children’s products tested had levels of lead above the 600 parts per million federal standard that would trigger a recall of lead paint. (Ecology Center)  According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, last year 73,000 kids went to the Emergency Room because of toy-related injuries. There are more than 9 million toys under recall worldwide from major manufacturers today.

       The millions of dangerous toys reaching the marketplace before their hazards are identified highlight the inadequacy of safety protocols. Toy industry self-regulation and voluntary safety standards, which are inadequate and often not adhered to, have failed to produce safe children’s products. No adequate protocols exist to address known hazards. No testing is required to identify lead in toys despite the millions of individual toys and pieces of children’s jewelry that have been recalled for excessive lead content.

    Consumers have a right to expect that toys they select for their children be designed with safety as a priority.

    POLICY STATEMENT  #1

    Virginia PTA supports the expansion and improvement of activities that will prepare teachers to incorporate the arts into the curriculum of academic subjects to supplement and engage students in learning.

    Rationale:

    Educators should be provided opportunities to acquire the skills to incorporate the arts into their courses of study through resources such as higher education and local school division training. Arts education not only cultivates imagination, self-expression, and creativity, but also plays a vital role in the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.  It promotes visual literacy, which enables students to analyze and interpret the meaning of complex visual imagery that is prevalent in the media and popular culture. Additionally, the arts provide a point of departure for learning in other disciplines, including social studies, history, literature, science, and math.

  • Find your delegate: http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/Mweb siteTL?OpenView

 

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What does our local unit need to do in order to be "in good standing"?

National/State dues must be received in the Virginia State PTA office no later than December 1; next payment dates March 1 & June 30. Download Remittance Form. Your Bylaws must be "current" meaning that they are less than 5 years old. Check the front page or call the state office to check on that date. Have an audit completed each year at the minimum or whenever there is a change in Treasurer's. A copy of this audit must be approved by your general membership and mailed to the state office.

 

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When is the District holding another training?

In June 2007, Regional District leadership training was held.  In 2008, we will hold a specialized training in early June and in September, we will hold our annual fall leadership training either on a Saturday morning or a weekday evening. Information about district training will be distributed to units and listed on our web site. Don't forget this is a legitimate PTA expense and should be reflected on your budgets approved by your general membership.

 

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When are District Awards for Reflections given?

District awards for Reflections winners will be presented in the spring. Announcements and invitations will be distributed to all winners. Student entries earning Virginia PTA awards will be honored at the District Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner to be held on Thursday, April 17, 2008.  For more information, contact Denise Bolton, District Arts In Education Chair at reflections@novadistrictpta.org

 

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Do we really need PTA insurance?

Insurance is highly recommended for all PTA local units and councils. The coverage can help with bonding and insuring the PTA against lawsuits and personal injury while a person attends a PTA sponsored event. Make sure to put this as your first purchase each year and include the coverage in your budget. Renzi, Nuccio, and Aim are some of the PTA insurance carriers that offer coverage in Virginia. You can check their web sites for more info.

 

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Why do we have to have an audit?

An audit protects the Treasurer in particular and the unit as a whole by having a third party check the treasurer's work each year. The audit is presented to the board which then takes it for approval to the General Membership (usually at the first meeting of the year.) An audit is necessary each time there is a change in the office of Treasurer and yearly at the end of the budget year. A copy should be mailed to the state office in order to keep your tax-exempt status and keep your unit in good standing. Information can be found on the VA PTA Library

 

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What is 2008-2009 Citizenship Essay Theme? "Our Earth - Our Future"

 

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What is the 2008-2009 Reflections Theme?

"Wow!"  WINNING COUNCIL ENTRIES ARE DUE TO DENISE BOLTON TBD.

 

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When and where is the Annual State PTA Convention?

The 2008 Virginia PTA Annual Convention will be held November 7-9, at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center, Roanoke, Virginia. Registration and more information will be mailed to all local unit presidents in early September 2008. Contact the state office info@vapta.org for more information. Remember that registration fees for the state convention are a legitimate PTA leadership expense and should be reflected on your budgets approved by your general membership.

 

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I need a copy of my local unit bylaws?

Contact the State PTA office at info@vapta.org to request a copy be mailed or faxed to you. Each member of your executive board should have a copy of the current bylaws. A copy of the bylaws should also be available for viewing by any PTA member who requests it. You can post one at your PTA "table" if you have one at your school,  maintain a copy in the school office or library for viewing, and/or have it listed on your PTA/PTSA web site. If your unit bylaws are due for revisions and you need assistance, please contact the District Bylaws Chair Sharon Sneed at bylaws@novadistrictpta.org or the VA PTA Bylaws Chair Robin Groves at bylaws@vapta.org

 

Submit a question: Communications@novadistrictpta.org.

 

 

 

 

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Northern Virginia District PTA
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