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Reflections Contest Submission Deadline

For those hosting the Reflections Arts Program at their school, the deadline to submit your winners to LAPTA is January 19, 2025. Use the portal link to submit your entries. It is also posted at LouisianaPTA.org/reflections with directions and video help. Email Rachel Penwell with any questions at Reflections@LouisianaPTA.org.

How to Increase Membership Dues

National PTA voted to increase its dues by $1.00. This increase goes into effect on July 1, 2025. LAPTA will then collect $4.50/person with LAPTA getting $1.25 and National PTA getting $3.25. PTAs can choose to increase their dues to offset this increase. This is done with a Bylaws amendment because the dues are set in the Bylaws. The process requires proper notice to and a vote before the General Membership. When amending the Bylaws, use the following timeline:

  1. Pick the date for the General Membership Meeting that will vote on the Bylaws amendment. Give 20 days' notice to the membership before the meeting.

  2. Present the Bylaws amendment at the General Membership Meeting with a quorum established. Include time for any questions and provide a good explanation for the dues increase. Read more details explaining the increase at The Value of PTA Membership and What National PTA Does to Grow Membership.

  3. Make a motion to accept the Bylaws amendment. Only members can vote. An affirmative two-thirds vote is required.

  4. Email the Bylaws Approval Form which includes a field for the exact wording of the Bylaws amendment to Bylaws@LouisianaPTA.org. LAPTA will review the amendment and email the updated Bylaws back to the PTA.

2024-25 Reflections Theme Contest Winners

National PTA seeks student suggestions for the next Reflections Arts Program's annual theme. LAPTA received students suggests for this contest and voted on the entries blind. We are proud to announce the top five themes that are advancing to the National PTA contest! 

Tied for 1st Place:

The Power of Kindness. Be the "I" in Kind - Audrey Patterson, Mandeville Jr PTA 

My Future is... - Henry Snell, A.C. Steere Elementary PTA

Tied for 3rd Place:​

A World Without Limits - Alice Talbot, Pontchartrain Elementary PTA

Adventure Awaits - Oliver Maillho, Mandeville High PTSA

I Am Enough - Dilan Patel, Tchefuncte Middle PTA

2024-25 LAPTA Literacy Grant Recipients

LAPTA received 10 applications for the $750 Literacy Grants and the Board of Directors scored the entries blind. While we wish we could award all applicants, four winners were chosen. We can't wait to see their ideas in action as they take steps to improve the literacy rate in Louisiana! View the grant entries for ideas on hosting literacy events at your school. As always, National PTA has literacy programs at PTA.org/Programs​. Congratulations to the winners!

  • Woodlake Elementary PTA in St. Tammany Parish​

  • A.C. Steere Elementary PTA in Caddo Parish

  • Fairfield Fundamental Magnet PTA in Caddo Parish

  • Mandeville High PTSA in St. Tammany Parish

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Membership Goals

Louisiana PTA has a 2024-25 goal of 11,000 members for its 102nd year. Membership is at the heart of PTA and plays a vital role in the success of Local PTAs, Louisiana PTA, and National PTA. LAPTA had 10,664 members for 2023-24 year. Thanks to everyone who helped to spread the important message and mission of PTA. ​For your Local PTA Unit's 2024-25 membership goal, download the Local PTA Membership Goals PDF below or contact Peggy Mauer, LAPTA Membership Chair, at Membership@LouisianaPTA.org.

Friends of LAPTA 

Friends of LAPTA financially support LAPTA and our mission and vision of supporting all children and families. To become a Friend of LAPTA, see the different opportunities below. Please support our Friends of LAPTA! Sign up to become a Friend of LAPTA and financially support our goals and mission! We also have Vendors at our training events in August where pricing ranges from $0 to $250. We have 5 levels of support:

  • $1,000 Bronze Beignet Friend

  • $2,000 Silver Cypress Friend

  • $5,000 Gold Gumbo Friend

  • $7,500 Platinum Pelican Friend

  • $10,000 Diamond Fleur de Lis Friend

Mission Partners  

Mission Partners are nonprofits or other groups whose focus is to improve the lives of children and whose mission aligns with the PTA mission. These like-minded associations and coalitions might include a teacher or librarian group, foster care, a mental health group, and so many more. To become a Mission Partner or learn more about it, visit LouisianaPTA.org/missionpartners. Current Mission Partners are:

We live in a world where physical and mental health are not treated the same. Where we know exactly what to do if our child breaks an arm or gets the flu. But watching a child endure a panic attack or struggle with the effects of stress leave us feeling completely helpless. We don’t learn coping skills & breathing exercises until there’s a concern, or even an emergency. And sometimes, it even feels a little too late. Its time to reshape our children’s future. That's where we come in. Visit https://kidsmentalhealthfoundation.org/.

The Seymore D'Fair Foundation is an educator-centric non-profit organization that strongly focuses on serving the underserved preadolescent student population at K-6th grade levels. Recognizing the critical importance of early childhood education, the foundation utilizes its expertise and hands-on classroom experience to design highly effective awareness, education, and prevention initiatives tailored to this specific demographic. The world-renowned Seymore D'Fair, the foundation's brand ambassador, is at the heart of our efforts. Through the combination of engaging content and a recognizable costume and cartoon character, Seymore D'Fair creates a formidable program that resonates with our target student demographic. This unique approach captivates and empowers young minds, making drug awareness and prevention engaging and relatable. Our core mission revolves around fostering collaboration with like-minded organizations to maximize the impact of our initiatives. We firmly believe in the power of partnerships and actively seek synergies with local, state, and national partners to drive positive change in communities across Louisiana and America. Central to our work is the acclaimed "Kiki's Red Ribbon School Celebration" program, a powerful in-school prevention initiative that runs concurrently with the National Red Ribbon Week Campaign. Through this program, we instill crucial life skills in students, promoting a drug-free lifestyle from an early age and setting the foundation for a healthier future. With unwavering dedication and the support of our valued partners, the Seymore D'Fair Foundation remains steadfast in its mission to build a healthier, safer, and drug-free future for the children and youth of Louisiana and America. Together, we strive to create a lasting impact, empowering the next generation to make informed and positive choices, thus fostering a brighter tomorrow for us all.

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The Children & Youth Prevention Coalition of St. Tammany (CYCST) is a dynamic and passionate community-driven coalition committed to promoting the well-being and safety of children and youth in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Our focus revolves around drug prevention, education, and building a supportive network to address the unique challenges faced by our young generation. Our mission is to empower children and youth with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to make positive life choices and lead a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Through innovative programs, initiatives, and strategic partnerships, we strive to create a nurturing environment that fosters resilience and instills values that inspire lifelong success. As a united force, the CYCST collaborates with various stakeholders, including educators, parents, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, and community leaders. By leveraging diverse expertise and resources, we aim to implement evidence-based prevention strategies and interventions that make a lasting impact on the lives of our youth. Central to our efforts is our commitment to networking and collaboration with other coalitions and organizations across Louisiana. By uniting forces with like-minded partners, we expand our reach and effectiveness, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing substance abuse challenges and promoting mental well-being among our young community members. The Children & Youth Prevention Coalition of St. Tammany envisions a future where every child and youth can thrive, free from the detrimental effects of substance abuse. Together, we continue to build a stronger, safer, and more resilient St. Tammany Parish, where our youth can fulfill their potential and lead fulfilling lives.

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The STAR Task Force, with multiple state agency representatives and other critical stakeholders, was established by the State Superintendent of Education in the summer of 2022. The STAR Task Force works to address the following: ● Analyze statewide and system-level attendance and truancy data. ● Understand and provide solutions for several top attendance and truancy critical barriers. ● Establish multi-state agency coordination opportunities to improve structural changes to support attendance and truancy recovery initiatives. ● Research other State Education Agency (SEA) and Local Education Agency (LEA) chronic absenteeism data and initiatives. ● Create a strategic plan with recommendations to address the current attendance and truancy crisis. ● Establish measurable STAR Task Force goals and key performance indicators to progress monitor and report quarterly.

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The Louisiana Department of Education formed the Parent and Family Engagement Task Force in 2024 as a result of House Resolution 239. The task force will provide recommendations to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) for the development and implementation of a state action plan for improving parent and family engagement at the school level. The task force shall: 1) Engage with state and national stakeholders and providers to identify research on best practices relative to effective strategies for increasing parent and family engagement in education. 2) Make recommendations on increasing high quality, effective parent and family engagement in education to improve academic outcomes with an emphasis on private-public partnerships. 3) Explore other considerations with respect to parent and family engagement as determined by the task force.

Contact LAPTA

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