National PTA Expands Reach on Common Core: To Train Thousands Nationwide at State and Local Levels

ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwire - Aug 11, 2011) - National PTA is continuing its push for national education reform and its commitment to ensuring that all children are prepared for college and career.

National PTA will expand its training on Common Core State Standards into Delaware and Michigan, and for the first time, will educate advocates in local school districts in Pinellas County, Florida; Duval County, Florida; Jefferson County, Kentucky; and Springdale, Arkansas, as part of the National PTA's Common Core Standards Initiative. PTA members in each locale will receive training by PTA leaders to better understand the Standards and will learn advocacy skills to support their implementation.

This effort marks the first time PTAs competed by submitting grant applications to receive National PTA training and advocacy support. The successful PTAs were selected based on organizational background, project goals and objectives, organizational capacity, advocacy capacity, member communication and community engagement. In all, 11 states and 12 districts submitted grant applications. The selected PTAs include:

• Delaware PTA
• Michigan PTSA
• Pinellas County Council of PTAs
• 15th District PTA (Jefferson County, Kentucky)
• Duval County Council of PTAs
• Springdale City Council PTAs

"National PTA is making a long-term push for the implementation of Common Core State Standards. With the selection of these additional PTAs, thousands of students nationwide will benefit from the same educational standards which will allow them to compete academically and in an increasingly global economy," said Betsy Landers, National PTA President.

More than 18,000 PTA members have been trained on Common Core State Standards and are working to educate and engage parents, administrators, educators, and decision-makers as the Standards are implemented. Created by teachers, parents, education experts and others from across the country, the Standards provide clear, consistent expectations for what students should be learning at each grade in mathematics and English language arts in order to be prepared for college and career. Forty-five states and the District of Columbia have now adopted the Standards.

National PTA's Common Core State Standards Initiative began in December 2009. Wave I states included Florida, Georgia, New Jersey and North Carolina. Wave II included Washington, Ohio, Minnesota and Mississippi. The National PTA's latest effort in Delaware, Michigan, Jefferson County, KY, Springdale, AR and in Pinellas and Duval Counties in Florida will officially launch on September 17, 2011 in Tampa, FL.