Dueling Assessment Bills
Returning to Olympia for floor action May 2, the Senate passed SB 5891 (de-linking the biology end of course) and the House passed HB 1046 (de-linking all state assessments from graduation). Both bills passed unanimously. The House came on the floor at 10 a.m. and passed about a dozen bills, including breakfast after the bell…
Senate Budget Committee Hears Bill on Tax Increases, Bills Signed/Vetoed
On May 1, the Washington State Legislature will enter the second week of a 30-day special session. Senate budget committee heard testimony for and against tax proposals Wednesday, April 26. Parents, social services advocates and those seeking a more “progressive” tax structure testified in favor, while small and large business owners opposed. The Republican-controlled committee…
Parent Advisory Group Needs to Fill Five Vacant Seats
The Department of Early Learning (DEL) is recruiting for five vacant seats on the Parent Advisory Group (PAG) and is accepting applications from qualified and interested individuals. The DEL Parent Advisory Group (PAG) was established in 2007 as a sounding board to bring parent voices into the work of DEL. It is a place to…
Category:
Advocacy
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Leadership
Legislature Adjourns, Budgets/Education Unfinished
After a week of mundane business, punctuated with bill signings in the Governor’s office, the 2017 105-day session adjourned “sine die” Sunday around 11 a.m. Governor Jay Inslee is expected to officially call for a special session Monday. At a press conference April 21st, the Democratic governor expressed frustration that the Senate Republicans and House…
Clock Ticks Down on 2017 Regular Legislative Session
With one week left in the 105-day 2017 regular legislative session, which ends April 23rd, operating budget negotiators have made no progress towards a final budget deal. This mean, yes, a “not so special, special session.” Neither chamber has the requisite 50 or 25 votes needed to pass a budget that also has the revenue…
Push For Action To Help Children in Washington
The advocacy work of Washington State PTA is directed by our member-approved resolutions , principles, and legislative platform. Legislative Platform The Washington State PTA legislative platform is a two-year platform to mirror the Washington state legislative cycle. On the even-numbered years, the new platform is voted on by members at the legislative assembly in the fall.…
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Workgroups Reconvening
Washington state is making progress on an accountability plan for the success of all students OLYMPIA — APRIL 12, 2017 — Three workgroups – two that are reconvening and one that is new – are playing a key role in writing and developing Washington state’s education plan to the federal government. On Jan. 10, Superintendent Chris Reykdal…
Is the New WSPTA Website Meeting Your Needs?
Washington State PTA (WSPTA) would like to thank you, our members, for your past input on what you’d like to see with this new site; especially our Website Task Force that gave us tremendous feedback and advice. We have built this site with you, our members, in mind. In order to keep the website updated with…
Category:
Membership
Breakfast after Bill Passes Major Hurdle
April 4 – Olympia – HB 1508, the Breakfast after the Bell bill, had a public hearing April 3, then passed out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee 20-3. This topic is on the WSPTA’s Top 5 list, and has been on the platform for at least the past three sessions. Advocates tirelessly worked to…
House Ups Ante with $44.9B Spending Plan, Senate Capital Budget Passed
This was a busy week, with a big policy cutoff on March 29. In addition, House Democrats announced their “Families First” budget March 27, increasing policy level spending to a net of $3.2 billion. The two-year spending plan is balanced on $3 billion in new revenues from a combination of sources, $206 million in assumed…