24 by President IUCPTA

TIPS FOR PTAs DURING AN ELECTION YEAR

As the nation’s largest children’s advocacy group, advocacy is core to PTA’s DNA.
We have a proud history of advocating for programs and legislation that help children be safe, healthy, and successful.
It’s crucial to remember that PTA is active in political issues but is not partisan. Partisan, as defined by the PTA, includes any election involving a candidate — even for “nonpartisan” offices such as a school board or city council.
PTA does not support or oppose any political party or any candidate for political office, but does advocate for issues to promote and protect the welfare of our children, youth and families .

Do’s and Don’t’s!

Do’s:

Use your voice to advocate! Topics of advocacy should be reviewed and decided (and voted upon) by each unit.
Encourage your community to vote (and register if they haven’t already at vote.org)
Share things you find interesting from 4th District’s Advocacy Communicator (including legislation 4th District PTA supports)
Encourage respectful and open discussion/dialogue

Don’ts:

Units cannot accept any donations from political candidates or interest groups or parties who are offering sponsorship for promoting/endorsing their campaign or political movement
Do not use your PTA title when personally endorsing a political candidate or interest groups or party
Units cannot take a stance on any political candidate or party – whether it’s an endorsement, approval or disapproval
Units are not allowed to have political candidates speak at any PTA sponsored event –unless the event is specifically a candidate forum and ALL candidates are invited. If the candidate is a parent or a member of the PTA, they can come to the event and only speak as a parent only.
Communications from the PTA should be free of any images related to political affiliations and/or candidates (e.g., including but not exclusive to campaign signs and shirts, reposting anything from political groups/candidates)

Communications from the PTA should be free of any images related to political affiliations and/or candidates (e.g., including but not exclusive to campaign signs and shirts.
Avoid, commenting, liking, following or sharing posts that are from candidates.
Do not repost anything from political groups/candidates
You can share from 4th District PTA,, California State PTA, and National PTA, but reference specifically who (the PTA level) is supporting a bill or position.
Units can NEVER take a public PTA position against council, district, state or national positions.