Advocacy Webinars
Advocacy webinars connect PTA members with policy makers and experts to share information on education policy and topics that impact our students and school communities. Learning about the challenges that our communities face, enables us to raise our voices together, and raise the bar for all students across the Commonwealth.
If there is a topic you want to learn more about or a specific speaker you would love to hear from, please email your ideas to Vice President of Advocacy (advocacy@vapta.org).
2026 General Assembly Preview Webinar
January 20, 2026 @ 7:30 pm
Join us for an overview of the basics of education funding and Virginia PTA’s legislative priorities. We’ll also talk about how the General Assembly works, how to participate in Capitol Day, leverage priorities that support student success, and how to follow legislation from home.
Presenters: Catie Brownback, Lauren Klute, Ben Pearson-Nelson, Virginia PTA
Date: January 20, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Defunding Futures: How Federal Budget Cuts May Affect Your Child
September 25, 2025 @ 7pm
Federal education funding is changing, and your school could feel the impact. Join us to learn what’s happening now, the potential risks for your students, and practical steps your PTA can take to advocate and prepare.
Presenters: Ben Pearson-Nelson and Catie Brownback, Virginia PTA
Date: September 25, 7 pm – 8 pm
School Meals (Healthy. Fresh. Locally Grown.)
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 @ 12pm
Learn about state-wide efforts to increase scratch-cooking and Virginia-grown foods in your school cafeteria. Increase your understanding of how funding impacts school meals. Get ideas on how you can support hands-on learning in school gardens.
Guest Presenter
- Dr. Sandy Curwood, Virginia Department of Education, State Director, Office of School Nutrition Programs
2025 General Assembly Preview
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 @ 7pm
Get ready for PTA Capitol Day. Learn about education policy issues, and actionable steps you can take to create change in your community.
Updates on Special Education
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 @ 7pm
Learn about changes to Special Education services that were made in response to the passage of HB1089/SB220. This webinar will cover changes made since the July 2024 implementation including changes to the IEP template and dispute resolution process, as well as the establishment of Regional Special Education Support Centers, increased data reporting, and new resources for families.
Guest Presenters:
- Samantha Hollins, VA Dept Education, Associate Superintendent of Special Populations & Board Operations
- Tammy Burns, Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC), Executive Director
PREVIOUS WEBINARS
LUNCH & LISTEN: Changes to School Performance Reporting
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 @ 12pm
The Virginia Board of Education is developing a new school performance reporting system. Parent feedback is important! Join this Lunch & Listen with the Virginia Department of Education to learn about plans to change Virginia‘s approach to school accountability and accreditation.
Reading Together: Family Webinar
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 @ 7pm
Join the Virginia Department of Education & Virginia PTA for Reading Together. A webinar designed for families to learn about best practices in reading instruction, and how they can support their student through all stages of learning to read, and improving reading comprehension.
2024 General Assembly Preview Webinar
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Join us for an overview of the basics of education funding and Virginia PTA’s legislative priorities. We’ll also talk about how the General Assembly works, how to participate in Capitol Day, leverage priorities that support student success and how to follow legislation from home.
Back To School Town Hall with Superintendent Dr. Lisa Coons
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Join Virginia PTA and Dr. Lisa Coons, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction, for a conversation about education in Virginia. Learn what the Virginia Department of Education is working on and share your ideas about ways we can collectively support student success
Lets Close the Reading Gap
Monday, January 9, 2023 (12:00pm – 1:00pm)
Reading is the cornerstone of academic success. Unfortunately, the number of students in Virginia who can’t read proficiently by 4th grade has increased as a result of the Pandemic. Join Virginia PTA, Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals, and Decoding Dyslexia Virginia for a webinar with Dr. Emily Solari, Jenna Conway, and Delegate Carrie Coyner to learn about the multi-pronged approach Virginia is using to improve reading proficiency.
Parents will learn what evidence-based literacy instruction is (and is not), what they can look for in the classroom, and practical reading strategies they can use at home to support their struggling reader. We’ll also discuss implementation of the 2022 Virginia Literacy Act, how it’s changing the way reading is being taught across Virginia, and how you can advocate for improved reading resources during the 2023 General Assembly Session.
Dr. Emily Solari, is the Edmund H. Henderson professor and coordinator in the Reading Education program in the Department of Curriculum Instruction and Special Education at the University of Virginia and is a nationally sought-after expert on reading development.
Jenna Lawrence Conway, is the Virginia Department of Education, Deputy Superintendent of Early Childhood Care and Education. Ms. Conway manages Virginia’s birth-to-five, public-private early childhood care and education systems and is supporting Virginia’s effort to help implement evidence-based literacy instruction in early elementary settings.
Delegate Carrie Coyner, represents the 62nd District in the Virginia House of Delegates. Delegate Coyner introduced the 2022 Virginia Literacy Act which requires a comprehensive approach to literacy across Virginia that relies on scientifically-based reading research and uses evidence-based practices for instruction, intervention, assessments, and teacher training.
