Every Child in Focus is a campaign of National PTA in its mission to advocate for every child—with one voice—so all families feel invited and welcomed within PTA, and are equipped with the tools to support their child and improve the school, which makes a difference for every child.

Leadership Series  Through its Every Child in Focus initiative, National PTA is hosting a series of webinars for PTA leaders, educators, and family and community engagement professionals to educate about effective family engagement and community outreach strategies.
Each event will feature guest speakers with real-world insights to help parent leaders, educators, and community organizations understand perspectives of families, overcome barriers to family engagement, and deepen relationships in ways that will yield new parent leaders and advocates for children.
Areas of interest have included the Military Child, Children with Special Needs, Immigrant Families, Hispanic Students, and LGBTQ students.
You can access Every Child - Leadership webinars and related support materials at the National PTA website.

National PTA, the nation's oldest and largest child advocacy, adopted a resolution at the 2016 Annual Convention & Expo in Orlando, Florida on the Recognition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Questioning (LGBTQ) Individuals as a Protected Class.  The resolution calls for federal policies that specifically protect LGBTQ youth and local practices that create and maintain safe, affirming and inclusive learning environments for all students.  
"Every child deserves to go to school excited to learn in a safe and nurturing environment, without the fear of bullying, violence or discrimination.  However, the vast majority of LGBTQ students are bullied, physically assaulted and feel unsafe in a school because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or identity.  National PTA delegates have taken a stand to push for policies and protections for LGBTQ youth to make sure they have a positive school experience."
​​-Laura Bay, National PTA President
As outlined in the resolution, National PTA and its constituent associates will advocate for legislation that explicitly recognizes LGBTQ as a protected group and addresses discrimination based upon sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.  The association will also seek to ensure educators have the training to support all students and that health education standards appropriately address the issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
National PTA encourages state, councils and local units nationwide to review district and school policies that address bullying and support revisions and amendments to these policies that specifically discuss sexual orientation and gender identification/expression as they relate to harassment and discrimination.  Assist your school district and schools in establishing practices to ensure every child has the opportunity to receive a great education in a setting free from discrimination, harassment and violence.  
"It has been a top priority of National PTA to make sure all children have a safe, supportive and positive environment in which to thrive and learn.  There is an urgent need for explicit protection of LGBTQ youth.  The adoption of the resolution builds on the associations long-standing position against bullying and is an important step to further direct and inform advocacy efforts of National PTA and PTAs across the country.  The association remains committed to working with policy makers and education leaders at the federal, state and local levels to strengthen protection for all children and improve education."
​- Shannon Sevier, National PTA Vice President of Advocacy
On May 13, 2016, the US Department of Education and Justice released guidance on public schools and districts' obligations under Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 regarding gender identity.  Title IX and its implementing regulations prohibit sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities.  According to the guidance, this means that a school must not treat a transgender student differently from the way it treats other students of the same gender identity under the law.

Resources