NYS PTA President & Valley Stream Resident Dr. Maria Fletcher Testifies on Rep. McCarthy Legislation in Washington, DC

Press Release

Dr. Maria Fletcher, the president of the New York State Parent Teacher Association and a longtime resident and former school board member from Valley Stream, testified in support of Rep. Carolyn McCarthy's (D-NY4) sponsored legislation to encourage family engagement in public schools at a hearing in Washington, DC today.

The Family Engagement in Education Act, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. McCarthy and Pennsylvania Republican Todd Platts, provides incentives to districts and schools to implement family engagement best practices such as holding parent leadership academies, placing family engagement coordinators in schools, and offering professional development for educators on how to partner with families.

Over 40 years of research has shown that partnering with parents, regardless of their socioeconomic status or educational background, improves student achievement and graduation rates.

"I understand the purpose of this hearing is to discuss local and state efforts; however, PTA believes federal leadership is important to ensuring all districts and states are able to meaningfully partner with parents," said Dr. Fletcher, who for 11 years was a trustee of both the District 30 and Valley Stream Central High School Boards of Education. "We are especially thankful to Congresswoman McCarthy and Congressman Platts of this Committee for their leadership via introduction of H.R.1821, The Family Engagement in Education Act, legislation that encompasses recommendations to ensure sustainability of practice while allowing for and rewarding local flexibility. While thankful for the bipartisan attention that family engagement has garnered during the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization process, we strongly urge the Committee to further consider the role of research-based family engagement policies and programming that are both more effective and far-reaching than school choice as communicated through the provisions of H.R. 1821."

Dr. Fletcher's testimony was on behalf of both the New York State and the National PTA. The National PTA, the nation's oldest and largest volunteer child advocacy association, has championed the Family Engagement in Education Act along with leading researchers and practitioners, philanthropic groups, and policy experts in the field of family engagement.

"Family engagement is an essential component of our education system and must be a part of our strategy going forward as we work to close the achievement gap and better prepare our young people to be the leaders of tomorrow," said Rep. McCarthy, a member of the Education & Workforce Committee. "The bipartisan Family Engagement in Education Act is just the kind of community- and family-based solution that could help schools and students across the country in these tough economic times. I'm grateful to Congressman Platts, the PTA and Dr. Fletcher for their support and leadership on this issue."

Source