2021 Focus on Advocacy – February 8 Report
Cutoff week expected to be a busy one Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org This week is expected to be quite busy, as policy committees schedule bills for public hearings and votes in advance of the February 15 deadline for bills to be out of policy committees. Friday marks the last day for…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Weighs in on Universal Broadband – Part 2
Sharing WSPTA’s digital equity position adopted last October at the Legislative Assembly, Nancy Chamberlain addressed the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee February 3 on SB 5383, a bill that would authorize public utilities and ports with retail sales for broadband, but only after a private company does not object to the expansion project. Chamberlain…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies: Computers are like books; should be basic education
The pandemic exposed what many parents and students already knew – that digital equity was not universal across our state and school districts. Speaking in favor of HB 1450, Northshore parent Nancy Chamberlain asked House Education Committee members to think of computers and digital devices like books – they are today’s basic education, said Chamberlain.…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Supports Access to Mental Health Resources
Tanya Aggar, a parent in the 41st legislative district, testified before the House Education Committee on February 2, asking members to pass HB 1373 and to add an amendment to include a website for safe storage of firearms. The bill would direct school districts to make several national mental health webpages available on the school…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Supports Bill To Establish Youth Suicide Review Team
Sharing her personal experience with youth suicide, WSPTA member Melissa Kline spoke in favor of HB 1354, a bill that would create a Washington Youth Suicide Review Team to review the circumstances related to suicides occurring among youth up to age 24. Kline asked the House Children, Youth & Families Committee to consider an amendment…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
February 2021 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, As a life-long learner, I am always taking courses, reading books, and otherwise trying to develop my talents and hone my skills. A few years ago, I took a couple of online courses in executive leadership. At the time, I wanted to learn more about what it meant to be an “executive.” I…
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Leadership
Online Financial Review
Thank you to Northshore Council PTSA 6.10 for allowing WSPTA to share their recent blog post on our site. Governance. Powered by PTA. Financial Reviews right now can be an overwhelming prospect. As a treasurer, you want to make sure your review committee can access all documents easily and smoothly with the added difficulty of…
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Governance
WSPTA Speaks Out Against Gun Violence
SB 5078 would enact limits to high-capacity magazines in an effort to reduce gun violence. Hear Gwen Loosmore, a Mercer Island parent, represent WSPTA on this important bill. Modeling WSPTA best practices to leave them with a few keywords, Dr. Loosmore ends with, “The whole point of high-capacity magazines is to allow the gun to…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Advocates for Youth Reporting System
After serving on a workgroup regarding a youth tip line reporting system, WSPTA member Tanya Aggar was poised to deliver strong testimony in support of SB 5397. Listen here. Aggar also testified the same day on SB 5209, which would develop a 988# line (like 911) for mental health. She requested the committee amend the…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies – Bill would create flexibility in LAP funding
WSPTA member Heidi Bennett spoke in favor January 29 on HB 1208, a bill to increase flexibility for Learning Assistance Program funding. Bennett requested two amendments to provide guidance to districts and clarify parent expectations, specifically because statutes that allow for the use of LAP to be used for dyslexia screening and other best practices…
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Advocacy
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Legislative