Advocacy in Action
Washington State PTA participates in advocacy year-round about issues impacting children, families, and schools. Washington State PTA also participates in a number of coalitions, workgroups, and committees that align with our mission. This important work ensures that parents have a seat at the table and that their voices are reflected when important decisions are being made.
In addition, Washington State PTA communicates to policymakers by signing on to letters with other education, civic, civil rights, and advocacy organizations to amplify our collective messages to the state and federal legislature.
Letters to policymakers
- Stabilization of School Budgets – February 2024
- Concerns with Additional Graduation Requirements – February 2024
- Letter to Senate Ways & Means Committee in Support of a Significant Increase in MSOC Funding – February 2024
- Letter to House Appropriations Committee in Support of a Significant Increase in MSOC Funding – February 2024
- Letter to Senate Ways & Means Committee in Support of Student Mental Health Legislation – February 2024
- Letter to Governor Inslee on Bond Funding – January 2024
- Letter to Governor Inslee for Digital Equity Investments – November 2023
- Letter to Congress to Request $25 Million for Statewide Family Engagement Centers in FY 2024 – June 2023
- Letter to House and Senate Leadership on WSPTA Legislative Priorities for End of Session – April 2023
- Prioritize Gun Violence Prevention – April 2023
- $15 Million for Professional Development and Technical Assistance for Student Supports – April 2023
- Support Professional Development on Interventions – February 2023
- PTAs Across the Country Urge Congress to Protect Our Children from Gun Violence – June 2022
- Support Statewide Family Engagement Centers – May 2022
- Request to Extend USDA’s Nationwide Waiver Authority Through School Year 2022-2023 – February 2022
- Support of Supplemental Funding for School-based Health Centers [Senate | House] – February 2022
- Addressing the Shortages of School Mental Health and Other Specialized Instructional Support Personnel in FY2022 – December 2021
- $17 Million for Statewide Family Engagement Centers – November 2021
- Healthy Free School Meals for All – June 2021
- Grandmothers Against Gun Violence Foundation – May 2021
- Letter to Budget Negotiators – April 2021
- Letter to Support Assessment Flexibility for Washington’s Students – April 2021
- Letter Addressing the Shortages of School Mental Health and Other Specialized Instructional Support Personnel in FY2022 – April 2021
Coalitions, workgroups, and committees
The following is a list of organizations, coalitions, committees, and workgroups where Washington State PTA is represented:
- Action for Media Education Board
- Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition (COPC)
- College Promise Coalition
- Family Engagement Framework Workgroup
- Early Learning Advisory Council
- Graduation – A Team Effort Partnership Advisory Committee
- Language Access Workgroup
- Military Compact Council (Interstate Compact on Education Opportunities for Military Children)
- Network for Excellence in Washington Schools (NEWS)
- Online Learning Advisory Committee
- Paraeducator Board
- Ready Washington
- Safe Kids Washington Advisory Council
- School-based Behavioral Health and Suicide Prevention (Subcommittee of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group)
- School Safety and Student Wellbeing Advisory Committee
- Social Emotional Learning Committee
- Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
- Teacher Principal Evaluation Program Steering Committee
- Washington Expanded Learning Network/Career Connected Learning Subcommittee
- Washington State Advisory Committee for Gifted Education
- Washington State Governor’s Healthiest Next Generation Advisory Committee
- Washington Healthy Youth Coalition (WHY)
- Youth Suicide Tipline Advisory Committee