Federal Policy Update and Action Alerts: Special Update - Advocacy Award Recipients

National PTA is honoring advocacy efforts at the state, local, and individual level with its 2010 advocacy awards. This year's recipients are Florida PTA; Language Academy PTSA in San Diego; and Rick Tyler of Temple Hills, Maryland.

The award recipients were chosen for their dedication, leadership, and sustained effort to positively affect child-related policy, regulation, and legislation.

Florida PTA is being honored with the PTA Outstanding Advocacy Award for its work to prevent further education budget cuts in a state that already ranks near the bottom in the country in school funding. Florida PTA's initiatives, including an advocacy toolkit and regular conference calls with region and local PTAs, created sustained advocacy and generated newfound enthusiasm for parents and local PTAs to work together for education funding for Florida children. Advocates sent more than 3,000 letters of protest to the Florida governor and state legislators and held one of the largest rallies ever at the steps of the state Capitol. As a result of Florida PTA's efforts, Florida legislators did not reduce education funding as proposed.

Language Academy PTSA is receiving the PTA Outstanding Advocacy Award for its initiative at the local level. The PTSA rallied students, parents, and teachers after the San Diego Unified school board proposed to cut transportation funding for magnet and urban area schools. With the proposed school bus cuts affecting 57 percent of their student body, Language Academy PTSA organized town hall meetings, media campaigns, and protests. The end result: The school board voted against the proposed cut, transportation funding was secured, and children will continue to be able to attend their school.

Rick Tyler is being honored with the prestigious Shirley Igo Advocate of the Year Award for his 20-year commitment to the advocacy efforts of Maryland PTA. As a National PTA federal legislative chair, Tyler has advocated for increased funding for Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs), implementation of ESEA provisions at Title I schools, school funding, and school modernization. Through his leadership, Tyler has energized child advocates to take action on important legislation affecting Maryland schools; his work has benefited tens of thousands of students across his state and the nation.