PTA RESPONDS TO CANDIDATE’S COMMENT: “Without a doubt PTA is the ‘kids association’ that defends the interests of all children.”

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PRESS RELEASE October 13, 2010 For Immediate Release Contact: Alison apRoberts Communications Manager (916) 440-1985, ext. 106 (916) 261-5286

PTA responds to candidate's comment

Sacramento, Calif. -- While discussing education during last night's gubernatorial candidates' debate, candidate Meg Whitman said: "There's a parent teachers association, there's a California Teachers Association; there's no kids association, and I want to defend the children."

California State President Jo A.S. Loss released the following statement in response.

California State PTA fights for the interests of all of the children in California, all of the time.

PTA is the largest children's advocacy group in the state. We are a nonprofit, nonpartisan association open to everyone. We do not endorse candidates, but we do champion children's issues. We have long raised - and continue to raise - our voice on behalf of all children to secure adequate funding for public schools, smaller class sizes, access to a complete curriculum for all students, high quality teachers and administrators, closing the achievement gap, safer schools and communities, healthier children and greater parent involvement, among many issues.

Our record stands on its own and demonstrates without a doubt that PTA is the "kids association" that defends the interests of all children.

We welcome both candidate Meg Whitman and candidate Jerry Brown to join PTA, and support our efforts to secure a better future for every child in California.

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everychild. onevoice.

The California State PTA has nearly 1 million members throughout the state working on behalf of public schools, children and families, with the motto, "every child, one voice." The PTA is the nation's oldest, largest and highest profile volunteer association working to improve the education, health and welfare of all children and youth. The PTA also advocates at national, state and local levels for education and family issues. The PTA is nonprofit, nonsectarian and noncommercial.

For more information about the California State PTA, visit www.capta.org

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