Advocacy

Proposition 98

Protect Proposition 98: Take Action Before June 15

At Convention, California State PTA members took a strong stand for public school students by contacting legislators about the Governor’s proposed Proposition 98 withholding. That advocacy made an impact — and now we need to build on it.

Where Things Stand:
The Governor’s May Revised Budget reduced the original $5.6 billion Prop 98 withholding, but it still withholds $3.9 billion in constitutionally guaranteed school funding.  That equals $643 per student for each of California’s 5.7 million public school students.

*The June 15 budget deadline is approaching, and the final budget is still being negotiated.

Your Voice Matters:
The more Californians who contact their legislators, the harder it is for Sacramento to look away. Every PTA leader, member, and community resident, PTA or not,  can help protect school funding.

Take Action:
Send your message now:
capta.org/focus-areas/advocacy/take-action/

The Prop 98 withholding page includes:

•  Voter Voice alert
• Press conference video
• CA PTA President Heather Ippolito’s statement
• Background resources

Spread the Word:
Share the Voter Voice link with your school community, neighbors, and networks. Every California resident can participate.

NEW to this issue:
Plain-language explainer on how California schools are funded and why Prop 98 matters: ed100.org/lessons/prop13

Learn more about the Prop 98 withholding issue

The Advocacy Communicator is a monthly newsletter that contains monthly event info; legislative county, state, and federal updates; and advocacy resources to help units and councils with their advocacy efforts. Click on the month to read the complete newsletter and use the Talking Points to easily present an advocacy report at your PTA meetings.

TIP! Include an advocacy report on all of your meeting agendas.

Resources

• CA State PTA Advocacy | Resources
• National PTA Advocacy | Resources
• Find Your Legislators
• Take Action
• OC Vote
• Ed100-California Ballot Initiative Schools Tax

Reports

• CA Children's Report Card
• Orange County Conditions of Children Report - 31st Annual

SEPTEMBER ADVOCACY FORUM 

 

Event Details:
Date: Friday, September 25, 2026

Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Location: Orange Unified School District Office
1401 N. Handy Street, Orange inside 
The Panther Lab, Portable P (east of the main parking lot, next to the softball fields)

 

Start the year strong with Fourth District PTA’s annual Advocacy Forum, designed to help PTA leaders feel confident, informed, and ready to speak up for students.

Join us as we cover the essentials of PTA advocacy, including:

   ➡️Why advocacy is central to PTA’s mission
   ➡️What actions you can plan for the year
   ➡️Which bills and propositions California State PTA supports
   ➡️How to navigate election season “the PTA way”

Registration is REQUIRED. 

Register HERE

**This event is for PTA members only**

 

 

How California ballot initiatives shape schools and taxes:

California’s voter initiatives: Power to the people
For more than a century, California’s state constitution has empowered citizens to bypass the formal legislative process through initiatives. With enough valid signatures, California voters can directly place measures on the ballot to change or create laws, and even change the constitution itself.

The initiative process was enshrined in the California Constitution in 1911 under then-governor Hiram Johnson.

Some of the most significant laws affecting education were passed this way.   Below are some  of the way voters helped shape California's education system

Key Voter Initiatives (Props)