New York State PTA
One Wembley Court
Albany, NY 12205
Phone: 1-518-452-8808
Toll Free: 1-877-5NYSPTA
or 1-877-569-7782
Fax: 1-518-452-8105
Email: pta.office@nyspta.org
Achievements of the New York PTA since 1897
1897 National Congress
of PTAs organized Feb. 17; New York organizes FIRST state congress.
1898 First convention held; sex education before puberty stressed;
inclusion of physical education in the public school curriculum
encouraged. (see 1904, 1975)
1899 Petition to Congress for national health bureau (14 years before
creation of U.S. Public Health Service); evaluation of juvenile court
and probation system. (see 1905, 1931, 1964, 1968)
1900 Initiated legislation for protection of employed children. (see
1909, 1990)
1903 Recognition of needs of handicapped children. (see 1986)
1904 Child labor laws sought; booklet published on sex education.
1905 Juvenile court and probation system endorsed by President T.
Roosevelt in message to Congress.
1909 Established committee to investigate child employment conditions.
1910 Urged supervision of motion pictures and vaudeville. (see 1965,
1973)
1911 Recommended that kindergarten be part of the public school system.
1912 PTAs sponsored hot lunch projects in many schools (see 1941, 1946)
1915 Advocated that schools provide education for motherhood and
homemaking.
1916 Urged the installation of automatic sprinklers in school buildings
in addition to existing fire escapes.
1926 Urged action to eliminate smoking by minors. (see 1964, 1966)
1928 Bureau of Parent Education established.
1931 Submitted to Commissioner of Education resolutions dealing with
needs of exceptional children and need for separate juvenile courts and
detention homes.
1932 Nutrition project urged printed information on food values.
1941 Inauguration of PTA's nationwide school lunch program.
1946 Legislation enacted for permanent federal school lunch program.
1959 Worked with U.S. Post Office to combat distribution of pornographic
materials.
1964 Educating youth on hazards of smoking became an ongoing project;
held pilot conference on judicial concern for children in trouble. (see
1968)
1965 Financial support of public schools, control of stimulant and
depressant drugs, and moral responsibility of the mass media, all
resolutions passed at convention.
1966 Smoking and health project supported by Public Health Service.
1968 Legislation enacted for juvenile delinquency prevention and
control.
1969 Child Protection and Toy Safety Act passed.
1972 PTA amended Basic Policy to read: PTAs "...shall seek to
participate in the decision-making process establishing school
policy..." (see 1992)
1973 Major effort to combat violence on TV begins.
1975 Comprehensive School Health Education Act, a PTA-sponsored bill,
introduced in Congress.
1978 PTA starts major education campaign to eliminate corporal
punishment as a means of discipline in the schools. (see 1985)
1980 Legislation prohibiting hazing passed.
1983 Campaign against toxic art supplies in schools begins in New York.
1984 Published first report on state aid to non-public schools and
testified for public money for public schools. (see 1989)
1985 Regents banned corporal punishment; New York achieved passage of
legislation requiring school bus drivers to be screened for criminal
history; State Legislature raised alcohol purchase age to 21.
1986 Students completing Individual Education Plans granted right to
receive diplomas.
1987 Assumed administration of Parents As Reading Partners (PARP)
program.
1989 Opposition to tuition tax credits for non-public education and
education tuition vouchers reaffirmed; opposition to non-public school
choice established.
1990 Child labor laws strengthened in New York.
1991 Sponsored successful grassroots Education Cuts Don't Heal
coalition; urged state financing of public education be increased and
distributed equitably; discouraged use of standardized tests below grade
three.
1992 Parent involvement established as a PTA priority; Regents amend
regulation 100.11 of Education Law to have parent representatives on
school-based planning teams be selected by parent organization(s);
inclusion of school bus driver safety program in Education Law
encouraged; State PTA membership reached 353,800, third largest in the
nation.
1994 Legislation enacted to require children under the age of 14 to wear
helmets when riding bicycles.
1995 Development and distribution of "Each One Reach One: Strategies for
Involving a Diverse Community" program kit for multicultural and
diversity education.
1996 Youth member position reinstated on State Board of Managers; 100th
Convention and celebration; First Golden Circle of Leadership Awards
given; State PTA membership reached over 370,000 members.
1997 Purchased the building at One Wembley Square (now Court) and moved in May 17th.
1998 Formed the Urban Initiatives Task Force.
1999 Bylaws amended to allow executive director.
1999/2002 First collaborative booklet on Special Education done with NYSUT.
2000 "Focus on Fathers" membership award established.
2002 Districts renamed as "regions" and composition adjusted after lengthy study of Structure Committee; Phase Two of Growth Through Leadership Award initiated.
2003 ECB (Educational Conference Board) Rally for Education in Albany in March draws over 40,000.
2005 Bylaws amended to remove executive director.
2006 NYS PTA is awarded the "Go Green" State Award; first Virtual Lobby Day held. Successful advocacy of Board of Regents "Policy for Improving Student Achievement and School Performance through Parent and Family Partnerships"; National PTA Phoebe Apperson Hearst winner from Taconic Region.
2007 Adopted the Regents Parent and Family Engagement Policy and Implementation Plan; First new unit in the Re-Vitalization of PTA in NYC; Introduced Advocacy Newsletter and Legislative Briefs...; Approved the Position Paper on Whole Child.
2008 First Minority Leaders Strand at Summer Leadership Conference; NYS PTA / PIRC Parent Involvement Summit; Launched New Website; Co-Sponsored the Go Green Environmental Education Conference; Developed the White Paper on Tax Caps.
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Achievements
Purposes, Vision, Mission, Beliefs
