2019 WSPTA Convention Wrap-up
On behalf of your Washington State PTA board of directors, thank you to everyone who attended the 106th Annual WSPTA Convention this past weekend. We learned a lot, laughed a lot, and danced a lot, so thank you for joining us! If you were not able to attend this year’s convention, here is a recap…
Category:
Events
2019 Legislative Session Ends on Time – Sine Die!
Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Moments before midnight, it all came together – miraculously! The Senate concurred with the House changes to SB 5313; passed HB 2163, the hold harmless bill, by a margin of 41-7(!), and passed an operating budget in record time. The House also rapidly passed an operating budget and…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Is Your PTA a Clique?
Sometimes, the reason more people don’t join your PTA is because they feel unwelcome. Whether warranted or not, your PTA may have a reputation as a clique. Overcoming this common issue can be challenging because it requires the focus and commitment of your group as a whole. The first obstacle to overcome – and the…
Category:
Membership
Call to Action – Increase the Levy Authority
Dear Washington State PTA member, Please contact your legislators and help advocate to increase funding to support the Washington State PTA’s top 5 issue “Strategic K-12 Investments to Close Gaps”. Too many districts are facing huge shortfalls which penalize students and especially those most at risk. Click here to participate through The Action Network. You can…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Analysis of Assessment Bill HB 1599
Legislative Consultant Marie Sullivan has put together an analysis of the elements of the new state high school assessments legislation. See the bill elements here.
2019 Legislative Session – Week 15
It’s the final countdown Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org The Legislature has one week left in the regular 105-day session and odds are against them finishing on time. In fact, lawmakers haven’t ended a regular budget session on time since 2009, when the state was facing serious cuts to programs to make…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Call to Action – Stop Loss of Funding
Dear Washington State PTA member, Many school districts across Washington are in danger of losing funding next school year because they cannot achieve the required 17:1 class size in Kindergarten through grade 3. We are asking you to send a message now to your State Senator asking them to support a one-year delay in the…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2018-19 WSPTA Men’s Essay Winners Announced
by, Laura Peterson, committee chair For the fifteenth year, Washington State PTA conducted a statewide essay contest so that young people could describe, from their unique perspectives, how males in their lives make a positive difference. Essays were scored based upon the Common Core Standards for Writing and by content of the essay. In the Special…
Category:
Programs
2019 WSPTA//Game Development Competition Results
The WSPTA//Game Development Competition Committee is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s competition. This year, students were directed to create a game with the theme of Time. The first place Team winner with the Best Game is The Rude Goldbergs, with “poTem”. The Rude Goldbergs include Alex Pujol, Rudy Banerjee, and William Erignac,…
Category:
Programs
WSPTA Testifies in Favor of the School Meals Demonstration Bill (HB 1272)
Click to hear Jessica’s testimony Bellevue PTSA Council parent Jessica Smiddy testified on behalf of Washington State PTA Monday, April 9, in favor of the school meals demonstration bill, HB 1272. Jessica was joined by Vancouver parent Caressa Milgrove, and several other speakers who all spoke in favor of the legislation. Despite the comments in…
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Advocacy
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Legislative