Advocacy
News from our PTA Council of Howard County delegates
Cindy LaFollette and Karen McCaulley (ptachc.rep@clespta.org)
Important Board of Education Dates: SY27 Budget
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026 – 4 PM - Presentation of Superintendent's Proposed FY27 Operating Budget
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026 - 1-5 PM – Work Session I – *Supt. Proposed FY 2027 Operating Budget
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2026 - 1-5 PM – Work Session II – *Supt. Proposed FY 2027 Operating/Capital Budgets
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2026 – REGULAR BOARD MEETING & PUBLIC HEARING I ON SUPERINTENDENT’S PROPOSED FY27 OPERATING BUDGET/CAPITAL BUDGET
We will post the registration link when it opens.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2026, 1-5 PM –Work Session III – *Supt. Proposed FY 2027 Operating/Capital Budgets
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2026, 1 PM - Public Work Session IV - *Supt. Proposed FY27 Operating/Capital Budgets
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2026 - REGULAR BOARD MEETING & BUDGET DELIBERATIONS OF FY27 OPERATING & CAPITAL BUDGETS & FY27-32 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2026, 4:30 PM – Virtual Adoption of FY27 Operating & Capital Budgets & FY27-32 Capital Improvement Program
Participate in Advocacy for Our Schools
The PTA receives questions like:
How can we get a new playground and more green space for children to play outdoors in the shade?
Why isn’t Centennial Lane Elementary School on master plan for capital funding in Howard County?
How can we share our thoughts about student cell phone policies?
Why did the Board of Education defer redistricting Centennial Lane Elementary School?
Renovations are needed for the high school our children are districted to attend in a few years; these have been pushed back again. What can we do to advocate for funding for important projects like this to happen sooner?
Whether you’ve asked these questions yourself or have other school-related concerns on your mind, joining the PTA is a great way to stay informed and to work with others to advocate for all students in Howard County.
Starting this school year, we’ll be sending updates at least quarterly to registered PTA members with answers to common questions that families are asking and key points from PTACHC meetings.
The PTA Council of Howard County (PTA-CHC) welcomes our participation on advocacy issues throughout the year. There are usually shortages of community members advocating to fund our school system both at the local (Howard County) and the state level. Multiple issues are raised each year; the PTA-CHC cannot tackle all of them. School PTAs can pursue their own advocacy efforts. Individuals are also encouraged to advocate as needs/concerns arise.
Please contact our PTACHC representatives (ptachc.rep@clespta.org) for any advocacy related ideas or concerns. They can work with you on advocacy issues or bring them up with PTA-CHC. You are also welcome to join a PTACHC meeting at anytime. They are open to the public and the schedule can be found here.
All school community members are welcome to register to speak in person or virtually at school board meetings that are usually held twice monthly. You can register to speak up to 3 minutes at each meeting on almost any topic that you have concerns about. There are also opportunities to speak to the Howard County Council and state legislature. All are welcome.
Get Involved! Join an HCPSS Academic Advisory Council
Interested in improving education in Howard County? Academic and Community Advisory Committees offer opportunities for involvement and are comprised of parents, community members, students, and staff with a desire to work collaboratively to advise the Board of Education. More information here: https://www.hcpss.org/parents/academic-advisory-committees/
Current CLES advisory council members:
Shirley Zhao SECAC (Special Education Citizens Advisory Council)
Cindy LaFollette CAC (Community Advisory Council)
Open CLES advisory council members:
Elementary Curricular (ECAC), Fine Arts, GT/Advanced Programs, Early Childhood, Instructional Tech and Library Media ,Mathematics (MAC), School Health, Science (SAC), Secondary Language Arts, Social Studies, World Language (WLAC)
Contact us.
Cindy LaFollette & Karen McCaulley
CLES PTA representatives to the PTA Council of Howard County