as of October1, 2006

Television Viewing Skills Development – 1983

Resolved: That PTAs be urged to develop among their members an understanding and awareness of television viewing skills; and be it further

Resolved: That schools and school districts be encouraged to incorporate the development of viewing skills as a familiar and motivating tool to improve learning in appropriate section of the current curriculum and/or provide a viewing skills unit or course; and be it further

Resolved: That parents and teachers assist children in limiting the amount of television watched and in being selective about the television programs they do watch.

Education as an Alaska PTA Priority Issue – 1985

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA increase its efforts to focus important resources on education issues, that local units may be better prepared to influence the decision making process of public education; and be it further

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA ensure that the Education Committee is fully organized and has the necessary commitment and leadership from the Board of Managers to address these critical concerns.

K-12 Visual Arts Education Program – 1987

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA, its units, and councils encourage all school districts to employ qualified elementary and secondary teachers of art; be it further

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA urges the State Board of Education to require a balanced, sequential program of visual arts education for all students grades K-12.

Earthquake Preparedness Program in Public Schools – 1988

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA, its units and councils, encourage schools to hold an earthquake preparedness drill at least twice during the school year and instruct teachers and staff in earthquake preparedness yearly at staff meeting; and be it further

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA, its units and councils, encourage each school district to adopt an earthquake response plane commensurate with the risk in its seismic zone and an earthquake safety curriculum and be it further;

Resolved: That PTA parents support teachers and staff in initiating these programs.

Safe Water, Soil, and Air for Alaska School – 1989

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA encourages additional testing of water, soil, and air samples from schools for toxins and metallic contaminants; and be it further

Resolved: That the test results be published in a manner readily accessible to the general public.

Comprehensive School Health Education – 1990

Resolved: That parents representing the varied opinions on controversial health education issues be involved with the local school districts in developing a well-planned, age appropriate health curriculum for grades K-12; and be it further

Resolved: That teachers and school nurses be adequately trained to teach these subjects in all Alaska school districts and that adequate funding and technical support be provided by the State of Alaska.

Use of Standardized Tests in Alaska – 1990

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA urges the Alaska Department of Education to continue to require the use of nationally-normed standardized multiple-choice tests and to ensure the appropriate implementation of the test among school districts; and be it further

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA urges the Alaska State Board of Education to pursue the implementation of a statewide performance assessment which would measure critical thinking and communication skills, in addition to the required nationally-normed standardized multiple-choice test.

Class Size in Primary Grades - 1991

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA supports the incremental lowering of class size in Alaska’s elementary schools with an optimum goal of 15 students per teacher in primary grades, K-3.

Parameters for Educational Reform – 1992

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA opposes any educational reform plan which

• uses public funds for private schools;
• fails to guarantee an excellent education for those students who do not, or can not “Choose”;
• fails to guarantee equal access;
• causes any public school to become unable to compete as a result of student and financial loss;
• leads to segregation by race, socioeconomic class or disability;
• fails to meet constitutional, as well as federal, state and local educational mandates;
• fails to provide for meaningful parental involvement;
• fails to provide for an evaluation process to determine the effectiveness of the program.

The Use of Pesticides in Schools - 1993

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA support and advocate the use of safe alternatives to pesticide use; and be it further

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA specifically support and advocate the use of integrated pest management (IPM) policies in all Alaska schools.

Definition of Unhoused Students - 1994

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA urges the Department of Education to define in regulation “unhoused students” in accordance to AS 14.11.013 (a)(I)(B); and be it further

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA recommends that the Department of Education adopt regulations so that any student above the 110% design capacity for any permanent school building be considered an “unhoused student.”

Remedy for Impaired Schools - 1994

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA urges the State of Alaska immediate and direct action to secure relief for students in overcrowded and unsafe public schools: to ensure equitable and standard enforcement of every Alaskan student’s right to be housed in safe and adequate facilities as guaranteed by Alaska law and the Constitutions of the State of Alaska and of the United Sates of America.

Safe Water, Soil, and Air for Alaska School – 1989 Reaffirmed 1994

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA encourages additional testing of water, soil, and air samples from schools for toxins and metallic contaminants; and be it further

Resolved: That the test results be published in a manner readily accessible to the general public.

Importance of Physical Education in Our Schools – 2001

Resolved: The Alaska PTA urges local schools to make a commitment to make regular physical education programs an integral part of our children’s education. Physical Education programs and curriculum should follow the minimum national standards as set forth by the appropriate professional organizations, should be developmentally appropriate, sequential, and cooperative in nature.

Nutrition Requirement – 2003

Resolved: Alaska PTA supports the requirement that food or beverage items that are made available to K-12 students on school property during the school day contain the minimum nutritional value as determined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in cooperation with the Department of Education & Early Development.

Resolved: Alaska PTAsupports legislation to sustain and improve federal child nutrition programs,

Inhalant Awareness – 2003

Resolved: Alaska PTA supports educating not only children, parents and educators about inhalants but community members as well, and

Resolved: Alaska PTA supports legislation to make inhaling illegal, and provide for treatment for offenders.

Continuing Financial Support of Community Schools – 2003

Resolved: Alaska PTA urges the continuation of financial support for Community Schools.

 Recognition and Care of School Aged Children with Diabetes – 2005

Resolved: That Alaska PTA believes all school personnel should receive general training on diabetes; and be it further

Resolved: That at least two staff members per school obtain intensive training on insulin administration, diabetic emergency procedures, and in identification and treatment for symptoms of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.

Recognition and Solutions to Bullying - 2005

Resolved : That the Alaska PTA supports the inclusion of school staff, students, and parents in the efforts to raise awareness about bullying, improve peer relations, intervene to stop intimidation, develop clear rules against bullying behavior, and support and protect victims of bullying; and be it further

Resolved: That the Alaska PTA supports programs, which address the causes and effects of bullying in our schools.

  School Trust Lands and Funds – 2005

Resolved; That Alaska PTA shall provide information to parents, educators, policy makers and the public about school and institutional trust lands and permanent school funds; and be it further

Resolved; That Alaska PTA shall support management of the Alaska Public School Lands Trust that is consistent with legally recognized trust principles of sound financial management to provide maximum benefit to the children in public schools who are the beneficiaries of that trust; and be it further

Resolved; That Alaska PTA supports compensation for unfulfilled legally binding commitments made by state and federal governments to the Alaska Public School Lands Trust; and be it further

Resolved; That Alaska PTA urges state and federal lawmakers to support public schools by ensuring that the historic trusts are allowed to fulfill the purpose for which they were originally created.

 Internet and Wireless Communication Safety Resolution - 2006

Resolved; That Alaska PTA, its constituents and members shall work with partners and associated organizations to inform and educate students, parents, educators and communities on the dangers associated with internet and wireless communications use; and be it further

Resolved; That Alaska PTA, its constituents and members shall work to insure that appropriate laws, policies and regulations are in place to assure the safety of children and youth when they have access to the internet and wireless communications.

 

Alaska PTA Position Statements

• Full and Early Funding For Public Education – 1989
• School Construction Funding – 1989
• State Funding for Public Education