NY State PTA President Testifies on Role of Families in Education Reform:

NY State PTA President Testifies on Role of Families in Education Reform

Dr. Maria Fletcher, president of the New York State PTA, will testify this morning at the US. House of Representatives Education and the Workforce Committee — Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education.   The hearing, titled "Exploring State Success in Expanding Parent and Student Options," will focus on the role of parents in education reform. Research shows a direct link between family engagement and student achievement. Meaningful family engagement also empowers parent-school partnerships to ensure that every child succeeds and every school in every neighborhood is high quality; we need long-term solutions and not just an immediate alternative. Fletcher is from Long Island and a constituent of U.S. House of Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) who, along with Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA) and U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Christopher Coons (D-DE), introduced the Family Engagement in Education Act (H.R.1821/S.941). The proposed bill incentivizes schools and districts to meaningfully engage families to close the achievement gap. Witnesses scheduled: Kevin Chavous, senior adviser, American Federation for Children Todd Ziebarth, vice president for state advocacy and support, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools Maria A. Fletcher, president, New York State Parent Teacher Association  Gwen Samuel, founder, Connecticut Parents Union The hearing will be broadcast today at 10 a.m. EST. The testimony can be viewed at the following address: http://edworkforce.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=294598 Fletcher's testimony can be downloaded in PDF format.