Student Programs Submission Dates
The WSPTA student programs submission dates for 2023-2024 have been announced. The submission information for each student program is below. Reflections Due Date – Jan 18 All entries to the state Reflections contest must be submitted via the online application (located here: https://wspta.smapply.io/) by this date. These may only be submitted by council Reflections chairs…
From the Executive Director
Andrew Estep Dear Members, For me, July means Independence Day, barbecues, picnics, and vacations. It also means enjoying friends, family, and community. We get to go to baseball games, enjoy 16+ hours of daylight (in Washington), and celebrate our good fortune to be Americans. I was talking with a college-age student yesterday. Her family had…
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Uncategorized
June 2023 Programs Plug
Laura Peterson Hello fellow WSPTA volunteers, I wanted to say thank you for all your help promoting and participating in our programs. The programs committee has dwindled down quite a bit so please consider signing up to help your new programs director, Betty, continue our work. Thank you to all my volunteers that did stick…
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Leadership
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Programs
Executive Director Annual Report
The last three years have been difficult, but the worst is behind us. The good news is we hit bottom and are heading up. We have much, much better times ahead of us. Washington State PTA is a reasonably barebones operation. We have 4 employees at the office, support from a handful of contractors, and…
Category:
Leadership
Annual Reports
Written reports have been prepared instead of the verbal ones typically presented at the annual business meeting on April 30. Those three reports are linked below. The State of the PTA by Nancy Chamberlain Finance Officer’s Update by Candy Walters Executive Director’s Report by Andrew Estep
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Uncategorized
Week 16 Report: 2023 Legislative Session Summary
Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org As was reported last week, the Washington State Legislature adjourned Sunday, April 23rd, closing the 105-day session with some significant gains, including increased funding for special education, investments from the Climate Commitment Act, and bills designed to prevent and mitigate gun violence. Governor Jay Inslee has until May 16th to sign…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Week 15 Report: Sine Die Edition
Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org April 23rd was the final day of the 105-day 2023 legislative session. The operating budget Conference Committee released the biennial budget Saturday, April 22nd. The Senate and House are expected to approve the budget bills before adjourning sine die[1]. Here’s a quick overview of ESSB 5187, related to the bigger K-12…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
One Week Left in 68th Legislative Session
Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org April 12th was the final day for bills to pass out of the opposite chamber, with just a few exceptions. On Thursday, House and Senate legislators turned their floor action attention to changes made in the opposite chamber. Agreed-to changes were marked and passed for concurrence, sending them along to…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
April 2023 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, Those volunteer leaders who pay close attention to our newsletters may have noticed that we tried something new last fall and then did it again this month. Any ideas? Here’s a hint, it had to do with money. Give up? Fair enough. We published articles on resource development, better known among local and…
Category:
Leadership
Senate Passes Preventing Gun Violence Legislation in Week 13 Report
Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org By a vote of 27-21 (and one excused), the Senate passed legislation that would prohibit the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, or offer for sale, of any assault weapon, with a few exceptions, effective upon the governor’s signature. SHB 1240 passed Saturday afternoon after more than 22 amendments and three hours…
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Advocacy
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Legislative