Are you still interested in coming to NYS PTA's 120th Annual Convention in Saratoga Springs, NY, from November 11-13?

Although online registration is closed, onsite registration is still available.

Click here for more information about Convention.

Questions? Call the NYS PTA office at 1-877-569-7782 or 518-452-8808.

Join PTA Today!
It only takes a few moments. Click here to search for your school's PTA and join online 24/7!

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Why PTA?
Check out this awesome flyer [NEW! Spanish version here] that you can edit to add the amazing things you're doing in your PTA! #DoGoodThings4Kids

New Member Benefit!

Check back often as we revise and update membership benefits here!

Every Student Succeeds Act

As you know, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was passed in December 2015 and New York has been working on our new federal plan since then.

NYS PTA submitted comments to the US Department of Education, with concerns over certain regulations relating to the implementation of the new federal law. These comments, as a reminder, can be found here and here.

NYS PTA is honored to serve as a member of the ESSA Think Tank, which is working to develop New York's federal education plan.

The NYS Education Department (SED) has released 36 High Concept Ideas derived from the work of the Think Tank. Please review, and feel free to discuss at a PTA meeting. Please click here for these high concept ideas.

Standards Review

As a reminder, SED has also released revised draft standards in ELA and Math. NYS PTA issued this press release. SED has extended the comment submission deadline to November 14.

You can access the ELA standards here and the Math standards here.

We are pleased to share with you a letter from NYS Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia to NYS PTA members, discussing critical issues for parents and educators today. Click here to read Commissioner Elia's letter to NYS PTA members.

Email Listserv from the State Education Department

The State Education Department (SED) has a new parent email listserv. By subscribing, you will receive SED's monthly newsletter and other updates.

Here is how to sign up:

Send an email message to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.NYSED.GOV

The body of your message must read: SUBSCRIBE PARENTS [firstname lastname]

Example: SUBSCRIBE PARENTS Jane Smith

You will receive an email confirming your subscription

(Please don't reply to this email; you won't be subscribed.)

On Saturday, October 15 Genesee Valley Region PTA hosted our third Reflections Roadshow, to great success!

We had a number of student artists, dancers, filmmakers and musicians attend with their families. Thank you to Monroe 1 BOCES for hosting our event. 

Check out photos of the event here.

Also, watch this great video of the artwork on display.

The NYS PTA Reflections page can be found here, It has helpful information about how to start and run a successful Reflections program in your school, plus this Reflections program video.

Your Voice Matters for Education and Family Engagement

This fall, President Obama signed a Continuing Resolution (CR) into law that funds the government until December 9.

Funding the government through a CR does not account for the annual growth of our nation's education system. Nor does it fund important programs that are included in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), such as Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs).

It is critical for Congress to pass an omnibus appropriations bill that funds SFECs and invests in education programs in Fiscal Year 2017 (FY2017).

We need your help! Please reach out to your members of Congress and urge them to pass an omnibus appropriations bill for FY2017 that funds SFECs and invests in education programs.

You can show your support for greater federal investments in education and family engagement in less than two minutes by sending your member of Congress a letter through PTA's Takes Action Center.

Legislators do value hearing from their constituents, which is why it is essential that we use the power of our collective voice and Take Action.

Interested in learning more about federal budgets and advocacy? Watch this webinar from National PTA's government affairs team.

ESSA Roadmaps Available!

The ESSA webpage redesign and Roadmaps are available and National PTA is excited to share them with you! Check out this sample Roadmap, "What's the Difference?: No Child Left Behind and the Every Student Succeeds Act." Key ESSA resources can be accessed and downloaded here.

What are the 10 life skills your teen needs before leaving home? Find out here. 

Do you talk to your kids when digital safety comes up? Check out four ideas here!

Here are 7 ways to teach your middle-schooler organizational skills. 

Just because Halloween celebrates scary things doesn't mean you want any safety scares of your own. Here are some tips and information to make your Halloween safe.

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