The Thirty-Third District PTA Association voted earlier this month to approve the following four resolutions, that allow the resolution authors to begin the work to move these through the process of ideally being approved at the 2023 California State PTA Convention in April. The resolution summaries are listed below.
In the coming months, you may come to hear more about these resolutions and if approved by the California State PTA, see them presented at this year's California State PTA Convention. Question about resolutions or the process? Email Nannette Nolan at 8vp@torrancecouncilofptas.org.
Inclusive Education for Students with Cognitive Disabilities submitted by Karen Ford Cull
This resolution asks the California PTA to encourage and support the state and local education authorities to put in place inclusive practices that will increase access for students with intellectual disabilities.
CAPTA already supports inclusive education; this resolution focuses on the group of children most often excluded from inclusive settings in our schools specifically, children with Intellectual Disabilities, children with Down Syndrome and children with Autism; all not included in existing resolutions on inclusive education.
In California, 63% of children with intellectual disabilities spend greater than half of their days segregated classrooms, making CA the 46th worst state for inclusive schooling. Vermont, by example, has less than13% of their students with intellectual disabilities spending more than half of their days in a segregated classroom setting.
Improving Reading Proficiency Rates with Evidence-Based Curriculums and Teacher Training in all Publicly Funded Schools submitted by Cherie Dorreen
This resolution supports evidence-based methodologies for teaching students to read.
In 2022 the nation's report card (NAEP) identified California as the lowest performing state in the nation; in pre-pandemic 2019, only 32% of 4th graders and 31% of 8th graders were reading proficiently to grade level.
Early literacy skills are the foundation to access all areas of education, with Illiteracy being the most solvable issue of our time. CAPTA must address this reading crisis and advocate for legislative change so that all children may learn to read and have “equal educational opportunity” for all.
Non-Tobacco Sourced Nicotine and Youth Health submitted by Melissa TM DeChandt
PTA has an existing resolution on flavored tobacco products, however, there currently is no resolution, \ on non-tobacco-sourced nicotine, thus limiting the ability of CA state PTA members from taking position with PTA authority to support legislation that would properly identify formulations and safety information of non-tobacco sourced nicotine products and support the ban of the sale and use of these products that are very dangerous for our youth.
These products are exempt from current tobacco regulations, have unknown, unregulated formulations whose toxicity and carcinogenicity in humans are unknown and are becoming the dominant products in the market, easily accessible to our youth.
These highly addictive products with a multitude of adverse health effects seen in our youth and are Big Tobacco’s response to litigation and legislation that has prohibited sale and forced the removal of flavored tobacco products from the market across the US.
Cannabis and Youth Health and Safety submitted by Melissa TM DeChandt and Cherie Egbert, 12th District PTA
There currently is not a CAPTA resolution on Cannabis, thus limiting CA state PTA members from taking positions with PTA authority.
Cannabis is the most prevalent illicit drug used by adolescents worldwide and use by youth in CA is high and continues to rise.
The THC concentrations used in commercially available cannabis preparations have increased substantially over the last 40 years.
Cannabis use in youth leads to addiction, negatively impacts youth brain development, has adverse health impacts, negatively impacts learning, memory and high school graduation rates and post-graduation employment etc.
Advertising is targeted to impact youth use; dispensary locations increase youth cannabis use and are often near schools.
PTA RESOLUTIONS GUIDE OUR ACTIONS: California State PTA Resolutions Procedure Explained
Come from our members and call attention to a problem and a need for action on a particular issue affecting children, youth, and families.
Are a major source of authority for the CA State PTA and its units, councils, and districts.
Provide direction (authority) for our membership to take actions.
Only authorized by delegates to the California State PTA’s Annual Meeting (Convention).