GOVERNOR BROWN JOINS THOUSANDS TO CONNECT FOR KIDS AT KICKOFF OF ANNUAL PTA CONVENTION

PTA PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE: April 28, 2011

For Immediate Release
Contacts: Linda Mayo

Vice President for Communications

(916) 261-1715

communications@capta.org

Alison apRoberts

Communications Manager

(916) 261-5286
aaproberts@capta.org

 

LONG BEACH - Governor Jerry Brown today called on thousands of parents and PTA members from across the state to continue speaking up for children and urging the Legislature to protect education funding. His appeal came during an address to PTA delegates during the first day of the 112th Annual California State PTA Convention at the Long Beach Convention Center.

"Schools are the future, and you are the voice of those schools, so we've got to hear from you. You have the credibility," Brown told the delegates. "It's going to have to be the voice of parents and teachers and, yes, even the school students themselves, to awaken the conscience of California to our true path forward, which is to invest in the future, not steal from it."

Jo A.S. Loss, president of the California State PTA, said the association's members clearly support protecting education funding.

"Our nearly 1 million members have said loudly and clearly that adequate school funding is their top priority," Loss said. "They are deeply concerned about the massive budget cuts that education and children's programs have already absorbed in the past few years. We will continue speaking up for a balanced budget solution that will prevent deeper cuts that would affect children."

The PTA has been focused on raising awareness about the devastating impact of state budget cuts on children. The association recently launched a "Cut$ Hurt Kids" campaign, supported by a Facebook page. Thousands of PTA members have already contacted legislators urging them to reject an all-cuts budget and to protect funding for education and other crucial children's services.

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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 organization 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.