California State PTA

With its million members, the California State PTA is the state’s largest volunteer organization, working to promote the education and well-being of all children. In the past year, the PTA has launched a pilot of the Hewlett Foundation–funded SMARTS: Parents for the Arts initiative in four California districts and fourteen schools to build an arts advocacy effort from the ranks of parents. The pilot program attracted a diverse parent population to basic training sessions on the education system, advocacy, and leadership and infused the PTA culture with a renewed focus on the arts statewide. In the midst of California’s largest ever budget crisis, parents will play a crucial role in regaining state education funding that has been lost in the past two years, and the arts seek to be part of this effort. Parents equipped with knowledge and skills have the greatest potential to advocate successfully for change at the school, community, district, county, and state levels. Renewed support would launch the second year of the pilot program, adding two more districts and four more schools to those that were part of the first year’s pilot.

With its nearly 1 million members, the California State PTA is the state’s largest volunteer organization, working to promote the education and well-being of all children. The PTA’s School SMARTS program, piloted in 2010 with Hewlett Foundation funding at fourteen schools in four school districts, strives to mobilize parents as champions for the arts. The pilot program attracted a diverse group of parents to basic training sessions on the education system, advocacy, and leadership and infused the PTA culture with a renewed focus on the arts statewide. Parents equipped with knowledge and skills have the greatest potential to advocate successfully for change at the school, community, district, county, and state levels. Renewed support would help the PTA transition School SMARTS from a pilot to a sustainable program in eighteen schools in six districts, with a view to long-term expansion throughout California.

With nearly one million members, the California State PTA is the state’s largest volunteer organization, working to promote the education and well-being of all children. The organization’s School Smarts Parent Engagement Program strives to mobilize parents as champions for the arts. Implemented in 400 schools, School Smarts parents develop the knowledge and skills to successfully advocate for change at the school, community, district, county, and state levels, and to take advantage of the state’s Local Control Funding Formula, which provides parents with greater input into school decision making and budgeting processes. Renewed funding will support expansion of the School Smarts program and help the California State PTA build its alumni network.