Advocacy

Governor McCrory’s proposed budget can be found via the following link.  The Governor’s proposed budget will now be reviewed by members of the North Carolina General Assembly. http://www.osbm.state.nc.us/thebudget

The North Carolina Parent Teacher Association (NCPTA) applauds and supports the inclusion of Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) in both the findings and recommendations that were adopted by the North Carolina General Assembly’s House Legislative Research Commission (LRC) Committee on Food Desert Zones and approved by the main LRC on May 13. PTAs were referenced in both the school gardens findings and recommendations for school breakfasts. Findings included that school gardens are important tools for helping students be involved and connected with healthy foods. Additionally, there is a need for Local Education Agencies (LEAs), school boards, and PTA units across the

This chart from Governor McCrory’s office shows the various components of the Governor’s teacher compensation proposal that will be considered by the General Assembly this short session.

Governor McCrory today announced a new teacher compensation plan that includes raises for new teachers, as announced in February,  but also provides at least a 2% raise for veteran teachers.  The plan also calls for the creation of a Career Pathways for Teachers program that will enable teachers to earn more money through leadership roles, teaching certain core subjects, and teaching at high-need schools.  This proposal will be included in the Governor’s budget that will be considered by the General Assembly when it convenes for its short session beginning in May.  The full announcement can be viewed via WRAL’s website:

The General Assembly’s House Legislative Research Committee on Food Desert Zones adopted its findings and recommendations yesterday.  Parent Teacher Associations were included in both the findings and recommendations.  The Committee’s findings on school gardens and school breakfasts are as follows: Finding on School Gardens School gardens are an important tool for helping students be involved and connected with healthy foods. However, some Local Education Agencies (LEAs) have expressed confusion over the rules for operating school gardens and what can be done with the produce grown in school gardens. The Department of Public Instruction should develop a guidance document on the

North Carolina PTA believes ensuring that North Carolina students are receiving a high quality education is impossible without simultaneously attracting some of the state’s best and brightest individuals to enter the teaching profession, stay in the classroom, and influence the learning experience in a positive way. Teacher salaries have been frozen in North Carolina since 2008 except for a 1.2 percent across-the-board increase in 2012. On March 31, NCPTA Executive Director Debra Horton and Public School Forum of NC Executive Director Keith Poston presented on behalf of a K-12 Education Consortium of parents, teachers, and school administrators to the NC

Child health is one of NCPTA’s top legislative priorities.  Yet some families continue to face challenges when access to healthy foods is limited or not fully utilized.  NCPTA will address these concerns and also present on policies and activities that promote health and access to nutritious foods during the House of Representatives Committee on Food Desert Zones meeting on March 24 at 1 p.m..  If you are interested in listening to the audio broadcast of the Committee meeting on March 24, you can go to the North Carolina General Assembly’s audio link for Room 544. NCPTA’s Legislative Priority on Health and Wellness

Below is a message from the NC Alliance for Health on Upcoming Healthy Food Access Trainings Please join the North Carolina Alliance for Health at one of two interactive trainings on obesity prevention and how obesity can be addressed in our state through increased access to healthy foods. We will discuss food insecurity in North Carolina and the many different ways people around the state are trying to increase access to healthier foods in food deserts. We’ll also discuss what to look for on this topic during the coming General Assembly short session, as well as media and decision-maker advocacy skills.

North Carolina PTA hopes all PTAs in North Carolina will consider coordinating an Elected Officials Go to School program at your school before the General Assembly convenes on May 14.  The purpose of this program is to give legislators and other policymakers an opportunity to spend a day at your school and interact with staff, teachers, parents and students.  Information on how to put together an Elected Officials Go to School event can be found here.  This link includes a sample invitation for your local legislators or other elected officials. As an incentive to get local PTAs engaged in this program,