Achievements of the New York State PTA since 1897

1897 National Congress of PTAs organized Feb. 17; New York organizes FIRST state congress.

1898 First convention held; sex education before puberty stressed; inclusion of physical education in the public school curriculum encouraged. (see 1904, 1975)

1899 Petition to Congress for national health bureau (14 years before creation of U.S. Public Health Service); evaluation of juvenile court and probation system. (see 1905, 1931, 1964, 1968)

1900 Initiated legislation for protection of employed children. (see 1909, 1990)

1903 Recognition of needs of handicapped children. (see 1986)

1904 Child labor laws sought; booklet published on sex education.

1905 Juvenile court and probation system endorsed by President T. Roosevelt in message to Congress.

1909 Established committee to investigate child employment conditions.

1910 Urged supervision of motion pictures and vaudeville. (see 1965, 1973)

1911 Recommended that kindergarten be part of the public school system.

1912 PTAs sponsored hot lunch projects in many schools (see 1941, 1946)

1915 Advocated that schools provide education for motherhood and homemaking.

1916 Urged the installation of automatic sprinklers in school buildings in addition to existing fire escapes.

1926 Urged action to eliminate smoking by minors. (see 1964, 1966)

1928 Bureau of Parent Education established.

1931 Submitted to Commissioner of Education resolutions dealing with needs of exceptional children and need for separate juvenile courts and detention homes.

1932 Nutrition project urged printed information on food values.

1941 Inauguration of PTA's nationwide school lunch program.

1946 Legislation enacted for permanent federal school lunch program.

1959 Worked with U.S. Post Office to combat distribution of pornographic materials.

1964 Educating youth on hazards of smoking became an ongoing project; held pilot conference on judicial concern for children in trouble. (see 1968)

1965 Financial support of public schools, control of stimulant and depressant drugs, and moral responsibility of the mass media, all resolutions passed at convention.

1966 Smoking and health project supported by Public Health Service.

1968 Legislation enacted for juvenile delinquency prevention and control.

1969 Child Protection and Toy Safety Act passed.

1972 PTA amended Basic Policy to read: PTAs "...shall seek to participate in the decision-making process establishing school policy..." (see 1992)

1973 Major effort to combat violence on TV begins.

1975 Comprehensive School Health Education Act, a PTA-sponsored bill, introduced in Congress.

1978 PTA starts major education campaign to eliminate corporal punishment as a means of discipline in the schools. (see 1985)

1980 Legislation prohibiting hazing passed.

1983 Campaign against toxic art supplies in schools begins in New York.

1984 Published first report on state aid to non-public schools and testified for public money for public schools. (see 1989)

1985 Regents banned corporal punishment; New York achieved passage of legislation requiring school bus drivers to be screened for criminal history; State Legislature raised alcohol purchase age to 21.

1986 Students completing Individual Education Plans granted right to receive diplomas.

1987 Assumed administration of Parents As Reading Partners (PARP) program.

1989 Opposition to tuition tax credits for non-public education and education tuition vouchers reaffirmed; opposition to non-public school choice established.

1990 Child labor laws strengthened in New York.

1991 Sponsored successful grassroots Education Cuts Don't Heal coalition; urged state financing of public education be increased and distributed equitably; discouraged use of standardized tests below grade three.

1992 Parent involvement established as a PTA priority; Regents amend regulation 100.11 of Education Law to have parent representatives on school-based planning teams be selected by parent organization(s); inclusion of school bus driver safety program in Education Law encouraged; State PTA membership reached 353,800, third largest in the nation.

1994 Legislation enacted to require children under the age of 14 to wear helmets when riding bicycles.

1995 Development and distribution of "Each One Reach One: Strategies for Involving a Diverse Community" program kit for multicultural and diversity education.

1996 Youth member position reinstated on State Board of Managers; 100th Convention and celebration; First Golden Circle of Leadership Awards given; State PTA membership reached over 370,000 members.