Advocacy in Action!
Angela Steck, President of Washington State PTA, testified on January 8 before the House Appropriations Committee, thanking Governor Jay Inslee for investments in school meals and lifting the cap on special education from 15% to 17.25%. Angela also noted that 113 school districts would remain above the 17.25% cap, so it was imperative for lawmakers to remove the artificial threshold altogether.
Listen to Angela here.
The next day, WSPTA Past-President Nancy Chamberlain testified before the legislature on the Governor’s supplemental operating budget. Nancy’s remarks echoed those provided by Angela and urged the Legislature to use any and all tools to stabilize school district finances this session.
Listen to Nancy here.
Finally, on January 10, WSPTA Advocacy Committee member Natalya Yudkovsky testified in favor of SB 5882, a bill that would increase the school funding formula ratios for instructional paraeducators and non-instructional classified staff. Natalya shared a personal story – always a good idea – and asked members of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee to pass the bill.
Listen to Natalya here.