OSPI NEWS RELEASE: Reykdal Adopts Arts Standards
OLYMPIA—MARCH 22, 2017—Compose a song using Dorian mode. Create an advertising campaign for a product for sale. Draw a scene from a movie that show a character’s actions or emotions. All are suggested activities for students to demonstrate their understanding of the state’s new arts standards. The standards were formally adopted today by State Superintendent…
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Education
Parent Testimony In Favor of Breakfast after the Bell and Bond Bills
Heather Lindberg, Vancouver PTA Council 3.7 President, testifying on behalf of simple majority for bond bills. On behalf of Washington State PTA (WSPTA) Vancouver parent and PTA council leader, Heather Lindberg, pulled double duty in Olympia on March 21. She first testified in the Senate education committee in support of HB 1508, Breakfast after the…
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Education
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Legislative
WSPTA Legislative Consultant Testimony
Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, providing testimony on SB 5048. Tuesday, March 21 (Olympia) – Washington State PTA (WSPTA) Legislative Consultant, Marie Sullivan, spoke during the Senate Ways & Means hearing on SB 5048. She walked the Senate through WSPTA’s legislative platform and tied into the association’s over-arching mission and values. Sullivan then spoke about how that’s…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Action Turns Again to Committees, Revenue Up
Action returns to policy and budget committees as the opposite chamber takes up bills that passed the original chamber. Policy committees have until March 29 to hear and act on policy bills; the fiscal cutoff is April 4th. Keep in mind that bills that get changed in the opposite chamber must return to the original chamber…
WSPTA Region 2 FACE Chair Testimony
Thursday, March 16 – During the afternoon Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee public hearing, Jessica Garcia, WSPTA Region 2 Family and Community Engagement Chair/Bellevue PTSA Council President, testified in favor of SHB 1618 (family engagement coordinators). Ms. Garcia spoke with passion about her first-hand experience with family engagement and the great importance it…
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Family Engagement
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Legislative
WSPTA Bill Status & Week 11 Events Report
Monday, March 20 1:30 PM Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1, SHB 1046 – Public Hearing – Concerning certificates of academic and individual achievement. 1:30 PM Education (House) – HHR A SB 5070 – Public Hearing – Concerning para-educators. Tuesday, March 21 1:30 PM Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR…
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Health & Well-being
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Legislative
Levy Cliff Bill Causes Flurry of Last Minute Activity
In a surprise move March 8 before the 5 p.m. deadline, Senate Republicans brought a bill that would extend current local district levy authority through January 1, 2019. The expanded levy authority and linked levy equalization was put in place in the 2010 session, with the thought that the Legislature would have fully funded K-12…
Legislative Session; Week 9
Education (House) – HHR A, JLOB – 3/13 @ 1:30pm SSB 5241 – Public Hearing – Concerning the educational success of youth who are homeless or in foster care. Capital Budget (House) – HHR B, JLOB – 3/14 @ 3:30pm ESSB 5702 – Public Hearing – Improving state funding for school construction, modernization, and asset…
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Education
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Legislative
Statewide Book Fair to Support Reflections
The Washington State PTA Reflections program provides an invaluable service to our children. It’s amazing to see the creativity and effort our children put into their works of art. We’re excited to announce a statewide online book fair with Children’s Bookstore to expand and support Reflections throughout the state. Proceeds from the book fair will…
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Reflections
Senate Advances Bill to Extend Levy Cliff to 2019
As its last bill of the March 8 cutoff, the Senate Wednesday night passed an amended bill on the “levy cliff” (ESB 5023), with all members voting in favor; with the exception of Republican Senator Michael Baumgartner of West Spokane. The Senate ran their version of the bill so they could change the title to…