Advocacy
Advocacy is at the heart of the work of Austin Council of PTAs. We advance the mission of PTA by advocating for our communities at the local, state, and national level.
Tools for PTA Advocates
Overview of the advocacy chair position with links to trainings, toolkits, and resources
Stay updated on calls to action, current events, and advocacy opportunities through our Google group
Detailed guide for getting started in your role, basic duties, and ways to advocate at the school, district, and state levels
View real plans of work from other advocacy chairs to help create your own
Everything you need to get started as an advocacy chair in an Austin ISD PTA
Public Education Resources
PDF one-pager giving a basic overview of the how public school funding works in Texas
Videos on state vs. local funding sources, how Texas ranks in funding, and where the money goes
PDF one-pager on the Texas Education Freedom accounts program, or voucher program
PDF one-pager from the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency
PDF one-pager on what triggers a TEA takeover, what it means, and data on other district takeovers in Texas
Report from Every Texan on how recapture works and its role in the overall school funding picture in Texas
Public Education Advocacy Organizations
Local Advocacy
Public education funding and accountability
Cross-campus community organizing across all Austin ISC schools
School finance and funding equity
Ecosystem map of organizations working on public education advocacy across Texas
Public education, religious freedom, and civil liberties
Statewide union of education employees
Information and research on vital issues that concern the future of public education at a time when it is under attack
State PTA whose mission is to engage and empower families and communities to advocate for all children
Coalition working to oppose the state takeover of Austin ISD
Labor union for employees of Austin ISD
Texas Legislature Resources
Local Advocacy
Find out what district you are in and who represents you
Step-by-step guide to registering your position on a bill, also known as "dropping a card"
Flow chart detailing how bills move through the Texas Senate
List of current members of the Senate Committee on Education
See who does what in education at the local, state, and federal level, by position or issue
How to register to testify at a hearing and tips for giving effective testimony
Flow chart detailing how bills move through the Texas House of Representatives
Basic overview of how to use Texas Legislature Online (TLO) to track specific bills and get alerts when a bill's status changes
Step-by-step guide to submitting a public comment for committee hearings
Video how-to on how to register to testify or submit a position on a House bill online
List of current members of the House Committee on Public Education
PDF with detailed map of rooms on each floor of the Texas Capitol
Austin ISD Resources
Step-by-step guide to signing up to speak at an AISD board meeting or submit a recorded comment
Search for current volunteer opportunities in the district on Voly
List of current school board members and their contact information
Calendar of all board meetings, agendas, and past minutes
Information on current advisory bodies and how to apply to for membership
Voting Information
Nonpartisan election information, voting guides, and advocacy resources
Search for current volunteer opportunities in the district on Voly
Local voting information, advocacy calendar, and volunteer opportunities
Learn about the easy process to become a Volunteer Deputy Registrar (VDR) so you can register people to vote
Get a personalized ballot, compare candidates, register to vote, and check your registration
How to Stay Updated
Stay updated on calls to action, current events, and advocacy opportunities through our Google group
Latest updates on TFN's work, calls to action, and opportunities to get involved
Latest updates and research on the privatization of public schools, including vouchers and charter schools
Weekly newsletter with the most important stories on how policies at the Texas Capitol are directly impacting our classrooms
Texas public education updates, legislative news, and the latest on Texas AFT's work