Can you believe that school is starting this week? Although summer vacation is coming to an end, the start of school is a time of excitement for our students, teachers and us as parents.

Click here to read more and see the NYS PTA Back to School message.

Welcome Back! Another exciting school year has begun and we hope that you will once again support your school and community by adding your voice to the nearly 300,000 members from across the state who advocate for all children.

Why PTA? Check out some of PTA's past accomplishments here!

Be on the lookout for information coming from your PTA or search for your local PTA and purchase a membership for yourself or your entire family in one easy transaction online with no additional fees here!

The Empire State PTSA (ESPTSA) is a statewide unit formed in 1979 for people who may no longer be associated with a local school or PTA unit, or who do not have a PTA in their school or community and are advocates for children and youth.

Remember, anyone can join Empire State PTSA or any PTA! Teachers, staff, community members, businesses, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings!

Already a PTA member? You can also join the ESPTSA to show your support for the association or give an ESPTSA membership as a gift! You'll get all the great parent info, PTA member emails, and state PTA event details, for just $10! To join ESPTSA, click here and search "Empire".

New Member Benefits!

Ticket Monster has discounts on concerts, sporting events, theme parks and more! FYI you will have to register to receive these discounts.

If you are looking for ways to support your child, learn about education policies that may affect students, or meet new friends who care about kids as much as you, NYS PTA Convention has opportunities for you to discover. Click here to watch our new Convention video!

There are many events and activities that you may participate in during Annual Convention, including hearing from our special guest, National PTA President Laura Bay.

Click here to register for Convention 2016!

Nassau Region PTA leaders and Executive Director Kyle Belokopitsky had a great meeting with NYS Senate Education Chair Carl Marcellino, where we discussed school aid, tax cap, testing, drug abuse treatment and prevention, and e-cigarettes. We look forward to working with the NYS legislature on these hot topics.

Check out our new month-by-month Advocacy Calendar here.

Back to School Letter to Parents from NYS Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia. Click here to read it.

Capitol Pressroom with Susan Arbetter: NYS PTA President Bonnie Russell and Executive Director Kyle Belokopitsky discuss pressing education issues such as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), tax cap and school aid with reporter Susan Arbetter. Click here to listen (interview starts at 35:35).

WXXI News Interview with Karen DeWitt: Karen Dewitt of WXXI News interviewed both Bonnie and Kyle about ESSA. Listen to the interview here.

Capital Tonight on TWC News: Kyle and Bonnie shared concerns about education, ESSA, tax cap and school funding, on Capital Tonight. Watch it here.

State Ed revamps test score reports (with permission from POLITICO): "We heard from parents that past score reports were too complicated," department spokeswoman Jeannie Beattie told POLITICO New York in an email. "This year, after input from groups including the New York State PTA, these reports have been made more user-friendly so parents can know more clearly and in better context how their child is doing." Click here to read more.

Make the morning easier with a school lunch planner here.

Digital safety for kids is so critical! Check out the most common questions that parents have concerning how to keep their child safe in the digital era here.

Some expert advice about when to let your child ride in the front seat, and why. Read about it here.

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