Mark your calendars for Tuesday, March 14 for our Virtual Lobby Day! Be on the lookout for a special email about taking action.

Check out these four advocacy positions about critical issues NYS PTA is working on:

Career and Technical Education and Pathways to Success

Restrict and Ban Marketing of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems to Children

Support a $2 Billion Investment in Our Children

Heroin and Prescription Opiates/Opioids

NYS PTA advocates visited Capitol Hill on March 9 with the power of positivity to advocate for all kids across New York.

After a recent meeting with the Honorable Matilda Raffa Cuomo, NYS PTA is proud to partner with the NYS Mentoring Program.

Good role models can have a positive influence on others. We know that PTA members care about children and ask that you consider becoming a mentor.

Please click here for the program brochure and here to read the invitation letter and access the application.

PTA Reflections is a nationally acclaimed student recognition program to encourage artistic creativity in the classroom and at home. Students reflect on a theme, create original works of art in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts, and earn positive recognition for their achievements.

This year, over 2,000 students of all grades and abilities participated and explored the arts based on the 2016-2017 theme, "What Is Your Story?" Of those entries, 480 region winners were judged at the state level and there were 133 state winners! 27 of those winners will have their artwork judged at the national level.

Here is the list of the 2016-2017 NYS PTA student winners.

The NYS Education Department (SED) just released a survey on "Possible Indicators of School Quality and Student Success," a tool which will be used to develop New York's Every Student Succeeds (ESSA) plan, the new federal education law.

See HERE for the link to the ESSA page with more details. Please consider taking the survey, which can he found HERE.

Also, HERE is a list of local public meetings on the ESSA plan development, RSVP is necessary.

SED Wants Your Input on Principal Preparation

SED is also looking for PTA members like you to attend focus groups around the state and discuss principal preparation.

HERE is your invitation to sign up for one of the 20 focus groups that will be taking place across New York.

SED has allotted four spaces at every focus group for parents. The topic is principal preparation in NYS, and you will be reacting to possible recommendations that may be presented to the NYS Board of Regents.

Please compete the application as soon as possible if you are interested in attending.

Letter to NYS PTA Members from NYS Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia

Dear Parents,

I would like to take the opportunity to provide you with some recent news and important updates. These include guidance on the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA); the New York State Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Commencement Credential; the 2017 Grades 3-8 Tests in ELA and Math; and a reminder about opportunities to provide input on the New York State Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) draft plan.

Click HERE to read more.

10 Life Skills Your Teen Needs Before Leaving Home from iMom

Check out these 10 tips for giving the best kind of praise to kids with learning and attention issues from understood.org

Here's a helpful College Prep Checklist from studentaid.gov

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