Legislative Principles
The WSPTA Legislative Principles consist of five overarching categories: budget, revenue, and funding; family and community engagement; public education policies; health and well-being of children and youth; and safe and nurturing environments for children and youth. Long-term legislative principles fill the gaps in the short-term issue platform when an emerging issue arises for members to advocate on behalf of children. Amendments to this list are considered for adoption by members at our legislative assembly.
Any PTA member is encouraged to submit a principle that addresses concerns that affect children on a state-wide level.
Budget, Revenue and Funding
Washington State PTA shall identify and initiate education and action on public policy affecting tax policies that are fair, equitable, and provide stable, adequate revenues for public education and for programs that benefit children and youth. The association shall:
- Oppose the expansion of gambling
- Support the passage of state budget bills containing adequate levels of funding for child-related programs
- Oppose tax credits for elementary and secondary school tuition
- Oppose budget policies, deficit reduction efforts, and other legislative proposals that negatively impact funding for child-related programs
- Support restructuring of education funding in Washington state
- Support levy and bond election reform
- Support increased state-match funding for school facilities construction and renovation
- Support ample transportation funding
- Support equitable levy and local effort assistance (LEA) funding per student
Family and Community Engagement
Washington State PTA shall identify and initiate education and action on public policy that increases family and community engagement based on the PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships by advocating for and promoting family and community engagement provisions in state legislation affecting children and youth. This also includes advocating for:
- Pre- and in-service training opportunities on family and community engagement for school personnel
- Employee release time for family and community engagement
- Outreach to all communities to engage parents and families at every level of public policy
- Promoting and cultivating a safe and welcoming school culture where all families and communities are offered a meaningful opportunity to participate
Public Education Policies
Washington State PTA shall identify and initiate education and action on public policy that will strengthen public education for our state’s children and youth. The association shall support:
- Alternative programs for all schools
- K-12 class sizes aligned with best practice research findings
- Continued support for education reform efforts
- Support the state’s redefinition of basic education and continues to build on that foundation.
- Reducing the achievement gap and opportunity gap
- Promotion of early childhood education programs
- Alignment of P-12 and higher education requirements
- Reduction of high school dropout rates
- Equitable school staff salaries
- Ensuring the provision of high quality special education services and accommodations to improve outcomes for all students with disabilities and special needs
Health and Well-Being of Children and Youth
Washington State PTA shall identify and initiate education and action on public policy that protects and promotes the health and welfare of children and youth. The association shall support:
- Increased access to health care for children and youth
- Mental health parity
- Promotion of children’s oral health
- Effective prevention and intervention programs
- Comprehensive medically accurate sexual health programs
- School nutrition and physical fitness
- Services for homeless youth and children in foster care
- Comprehensive juvenile justice programs that focus on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation
- Improvements to safety for students with life-threatening health conditions
- Evidence-based policies that reduce or reverse adverse health effects of indoor or outdoor environmental conditions
- Reduction or elimination of all forms of violence to ensure safety of students, staff, and communities
Safe and Nurturing Environments for Children and Youth
Washington State PTA shall identify and initiate education and action on public policy that provides safe and supportive settings and climates for children and youth. The association shall support:
- Anti-bullying and anti-harassment
- Multi-cultural education
- Student and parent education regarding internet safety
- Media education
- Traffic and pedestrian safety
- Substance abuse prevention
- Safe and healthy schools, which reduce environmental hazards
- Consistent, age-appropriate, unstructured play opportunities
- Prevention of trafficking, sexual exploitation, and abuse of minors
- Social Emotional Learning
- Integration of internet safety and electronic communications into school curriculums
- Anti-racism, anti-discrimination, anti-oppression