NYS PTA is requesting each one of our current 224,000 members to support children by asking just one person to join in our mission on February 15.

Our goal is to double the amount of voices speaking on behalf of all children in NYS in 24 hours. We will update our progress on our website, Facebook and Twitter throughout the day.

Who will be your +ONE?

The new Legislative Summit and Lobby Day was widely successful!

This past Sunday and Monday, nearly 100 advocates from NYS PTA converged on Albany for a two-day event, featuring discussions on school aid, diplomas for all students, and engaging with speakers, including Commissioner Elia and many legislators.

Monday, NYS PTA members took to the halls in Albany and met with state legislators and staff on priority issues affecting children.

Here are some priority issues:

• Support a $2 Billion Investment in Our Children
• Support and Expand School Mental Health Programs
• No Student, No Child, Should Ever Go Hungry
• Supports for Recovery High Schools, and the Prevention and Treatment of Heroin and Opioid Abuse
• Career and Technical Education, a Proven Pathway to Success
• Supporting English Language Learners and Their Families
• Supporting Our Youngest Learners
• Meaningful Family Engagement Matters
• Protect Children From Tobacco and E-Cigarette Use
• A Meaningful Diploma for ALL Students

See HERE for a Storify on the events!

It has come to our attention that a parent group in the New York City (NYC) school system used wholly inappropriate images in an invitation for a fundraiser.

This parent group has NO affiliation with NYS PTA nor National PTA, and we find the behavior unacceptable.

Click HERE for the full press release.

Click HERE for information about diversity, inclusion, and equity from NYS PTA.

Did you miss the news? NYS PTA has been honored with the National PTA "2018 Outstanding State PTA Advocacy Award."  Read more about this HERE.

Congratulations to EACH OF YOU for making this award a reality! YOUR advocacy makes a difference for children everyday!

Save the Date for SLC in July!

Summer Leadership Conference (known as SLC) is an annual event designed to provide training and programs to all PTA members, helping you establish grass-roots advocacy in your school, and preparing you to be a leader in your education community.

New for 2018: New location! Union College in Schenectady, NY

Held on a college campus, Summer Leadership is casual and fun. You will enjoy college dorms, campus food and college classroom resources.

When: July 20-22, 2018

Where: Union College, Schenectady NY

NYS PTA's 122nd Annual Convention

When: November 9-11, 2018

Where: Saratoga Springs, New York

Teen drug slang is evolving daily. It is important to not only keep up with the latest trends and terms, but also talk openly with your kids about them. Here's a brief overview of the most common slang names for drugs that teens use from iMOM

Science Fair Help: How to help your child find science experiment ideas - even at the last minute! from Scholastic Parents

What kind of screen time parent are you? Take this quiz and find out! Are you strict, a pushover or right down the middle? These 9 questions could help you find the right balance when it comes to your kids and digital devices. Learn more from NPR's Education Team

We are excited to announce a new partnership with Read For My School.

Read for My School offers an easy and fun way to raise funds while students read! This innovative approach to school fundraising empowers you to promote school-wide PARP programs by providing tools to manage, track and celebrate student's PARP goals and progress with minimal volunteer resources!

Click HERE to learn more about this new - and free - program!

In case you missed it - check out the latest issue of New York Parent Teacher.   This Winter 2018 NYPT edition features:

- An article written by 2017 NYS Teacher of the Year Amy Hysick from Cicero-North Syracuse High School

- #WhyPTA Advocacy

- Convention 2017 Wrap-Up

- Parent Resources

- And more!

Winter 2018 New York Parent Teacher

[If the images or text in the NYPT are blurry, you can zoom in for a clearer view.]

Thanks for all you do for children and youth!

Dear Parents,

This week, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) released high school graduation rates for the 2013 cohort, students who entered 9th grade in 2013. The overall graduation rate increased to 80.2 percent, up 0.5 percentage points from 79.7 percent for the 2012 cohort.

Click HERE to read more.

As a NYS PTA member, you'll receive a $500 credit at closing on a Citizens Bank purchase or refinance mortgage loan. You can also save 0.125 percentage points off your mortgage interest rate with a Citizens Bank checking account. See full details and mention offer code HM-LO-NPTA.

CLYNK the only bottle redemption system that allows you to create a personal account, drop off bags of redeemable containers, accumulate cash in an electronic account, and donate to your school online from your own home computer. Read more here and think of us as a modern bottle drive that's simple and effective!

The We Connect The Dots mission is to excite, inform and educate students about Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) careers.  Through a collaboration with the community, education, government and the technology industry, WCTD provides awareness and education of the 21st Century workforce skills, as well as the opportunities available to students embracing STEAM careers.Go here to learn about their programs to support learning!

Great News....for our Parents, Supporters, Friends and Co-Workers! A Dining, Grocery and Shopping Benefit! A National Program.  Highlights: Monthly pricing has been discounted to $6.95 monthly; $2.00 comes back to your Local PTA every month. You can easily save $15 / $20 monthly and....support your PTA. Click HERE for more info!