Fourth District PTA, California State PTA

With the current budget crisis, we are watching our school districts pink slip teachers and cut support staff. What can you do to help? One thing that you can do is to collect signatures for the Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding act which could appear on the November 2010 ballot if it qualifies.

This measure would allow school districts to add the needed funding locally by putting a parcel tax on the local ballot. If passed, the parcel tax would last only for a determined number of years and the money would go directly to OUR SCHOOLS!

In our area, we are familiar with school bonds. School bonds were difficult to pass when they required a 2/3 vote for passage. That difficulty was removed when a 55% passage rate was approved a few years back. If this initiative qualifies for the ballot, if passed, it would allow for a 55% passage rate for parcel taxes for schools.

It's easy to do! and has been approved by the California State PTA board of managers. (See below) Go to www.improvedschoolfunding.com and download a petition now. Take it to your community meetings and events or just have your family, neighborhood and friends sign a petition. Someone will call you with instructions to submit your signatures.

Don't feel like there is nothing you can do about the crisis in our schools. GATHER SIGNATURES TODAY AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR CHILDREN!

Legislative Informational Alert
March 2, 2010

Support Local School Funding

for Local Schools

We Need Your Help!

Please sign the petition to qualify the Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act today! As you know, the California State PTA has endorsed the initiative to lower the passage rate for parcel taxes from two-thirds to 55 percent. We need your help to collect 1 million signatures by the beginning of April to ensure that this measure qualifies for the November 2010 statewide ballot.

The California fiscal crisis is affecting every one of our schools. Passing local parcel taxes is one way to ensure a reliable source of local funds for schools, but they currently require a supermajority vote of two-thirds to pass. The Local Control of Local Classrooms Funding Act will lower the passage rate to 55 percent, making it easier for communities to invest in their local schools.

Please download and sign the petition today. We urge you to download a petition, forward it to your entire membership, and ask them to sign as well. There's no need to wait. As per our policies; units, councils and districts need not vote to affirm a California State PTA position on a statewide measure in order to take action. Signatures may be collected at authorized PTA meetings or events held on school grounds, as long as you have secured the appropriate use of facilities permission from your school district, and provided that district funds are not otherwise used to support the signature gathering. You should not collect signatures on school grounds in any other manner. Check with your local school district office and/or your school's principal to verify this complies with your own district's policies. You may also collect signatures outside of the school in your community - talk to your friends, neighbors and colleagues.

It's easy! And we can make a strong statement and strengthen our voice in supporting our local schools and speaking out for all children. Just follow these instructions.

1. Go to www.improvedschoolfunding.com
2. Click the "sign petition" button
3. Pick a package for the number of signatures you want to submit. You can sign a single
petition or choose to collect multiple signatures.
4. Read the instructions and check the box at the bottom
5. Click the link, "Click here to download the signature package as a pdf."

After doing this, you will have the signature package ready to print, sign and mail to the campaign. Remember, you can sign as an individual, or you can sign and collect other signatures as well.

PTA is looking for members willing to serve as key contacts for the campaign throughout the state. If you are willing to volunteer, please forward your name, e-mail address, telephone number, city or town and PTA District number to us at legislation@capta.org. Someone from the campaign will follow up with you.

Do it TODAY! Together, we can make a difference.

If we collect the approximately 1 million signatures required, we will be the first and only organization to successfully qualify an initiative for the ballot without using paid signature gatherers. Help us to make history! This will enhance the strength of our organization and help local schools save programs from future cuts.

If you have any questions, you can visit the campaign website at www.improvedschoolfunding.com, send an e-mail to petition@improvedschoolfunding.com or call 800-915-4768. For an important message from Delaine Eastin, former California Superintendent of Public Instruction, click here.

Thank you for your support.

Legislative Action Alert