Call to PTAs: Join Forces!

“Joining forces” is a phrase that PTA members have used as part of their fabric for over 115 years. PTA has joined forces with parents, educators, educational leaders, government leaders and communities in making every child’s potential a reality. This week, PTA takes this phrase to a new level.

Yesterday, April 12th, 2011, PTA was part of the launch of “Joining Forces”; a new initiative of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden. President Obama, Vice President Biden, Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden all talked about the true sacrifices that our Military Families make and how much they depend on our nation for support.

Joining Forces brings together caring, dedicated and thoughtful businesses, agencies and organizations towards the goal of seeing that our military personnel, veterans and their families receive support in addressing educational opportunities, reaching employment goals and seeing that their homes are secure.

In response, National PTA and the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) joined forces to engage military families and support the more than one million grade school-age military children. During her remarks at the ceremony yesterday First Lady Michelle Obama thanked PTA and MCEC for their collective efforts.

PTA and MCEC have solid goals for the future of our initiative. The partnership will work to build connections between military and civilian parents and students through programs and activities in highly military-impacted school districts. We’ll work together to educate state PTA leaders on fostering a common understanding of military child education issues and communicate the role that they can play in supporting these families.

We encourage all of our local PTAs, leaders and members to visit www.joiningforces.gov and get involved in this outstanding movement. Also, look for more information from National PTA about our efforts with MCEC. Together we can Take Action to Serve America’s Military Families.