Writing Resolutions
Proposed Resolutions Due Annually on JANUARY 19th
Do you know of a situation or concern which affects children and youth statewide and requires a statewide solution?
Resolutions are one way that we share our research with each other and formally communicate a researched position and the collective action needed to address a concern that affects children and youth statewide.
Your school PTA may adopt a resolution to formally share concerns and a needed local action with your School Board or Superintendent. If the solution required is a statewide concern or requires changes to the state code, regulations or funding formulas, your local PTA or Council PTA can submit a proposed Resolution to Virginia PTA to elevate your concern and initiate statewide advocacy.
The Virginia PTA Resolution Committee encourages local PTAs and Council PTAs to conduct research and propose action on topics that impact their community and/or that they would like PTA members across Virginia to take collection action to address. Proposed Resolutions are reviewed by the Resolutions Committee based on the criteria below and then debated and voted on at the Virginia PTA All Unit Annual Meeting.
There are two main parts of a resolution:
Whereas Statements: Shares researched FACTS that EXPLAIN WHY the action in the resolved clauses is important and needs collaborative work.
Resolved Statements: States the ACTION that you want to happen in order to address a concern or express the opinion or will of the association.
A resolution submitted to the Virginia PTA should:
- Relate to the education, health, safety or welfare of children and youth, or parental education and involvement of parents across Virginia;
- Be in harmony with the basic policies and purposes of the National PTA and Virginia PTA, as stated in the bylaws;
- State a position not previously adopted by Virginia PTA or National PTA;
- Cite three (3) different background references which were published no more than six (6) years ago for each “Whereas” statement of fact to show that the issue is statewide in scope. Note, position statements or materials of National PTA may not be used as reference materials. Research should ideally be from peer-reviewed sources.
- Describe the action you want taken by Virginia PTA members, administrators, legislators or influential parties to solve the problem.
To be considered, all resolutions must be submitted using the Virginia PTA resolutions template and be signed by the President of a local unit or council PTA that is in good standing.
Submitted resolutions will be reviewed by the Virginia PTA Resolutions Committee to determine if the submission criteria are met and whether or not the National PTA or Virginia PTA have already addressed the issue through a different resolution or position statement. The Virginia PTA Resolutions Committee may work with the maker of any submitted resolution to combine or edit the resolutions to prepare the resolution for discussion at the Virginia PTA Annual Meeting.
Resolutions that are approved by voting delegates at the Virginia PTA Annual Meeting automatically become statewide advocacy priorities for the following year and may also be advanced to National PTA for consideration by the National PTA Resolutions Committee and voting body.
Resources
Please email the Resolutions Chair (Advocacy@VAPTA.org) if you need help or have questions.
