WSPTA Testifies: Parental Rights and Public Education
Advocacy in Action! WSPTA President Angela Steck shared comments on Initiative 2081, concerning parental rights relating to public school education, at the joint meeting of the House Education and Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committees on Wednesday, February 28. Angela noted that WSPTA had a long history of supporting the health, safety, and welfare…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Less than two weeks to go in 2024 legislative session
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org As reported last week, the House and Senate began releasing their respective 2024 supplemental operating, capital and transportation budget proposals following the February 14th revenue forecast. During the week, budget committees in both chambers heard public testimony on the various proposals and made some changes to the operating budgets during committee…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Testifies: Save the School Construction Assistance Program
Advocacy in Action! WSPTA Advocacy member Susan Baird-Joshi thanked House Capital Budget members for the $55 million investment for indoor air quality, the continued support for the Small District Modernization and Tribal Compact grant program, and the incremental increases to activities that support urgent and emergency repair. Watch Susan here Sharing the WSPTA’s disappointment with…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Testifies: Dual and Tribal Language Education
Advocacy in Action! In a bill-packed day, WSPTA Advocacy member Danica Noble testified in favor of 3SHB 1228, building a multilingual, multiliterate Washington through dual and tribal language education. Danica shared her students’ experiences with a dual language program and encouraged the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee to pass the bill so that…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Testifies: Urging Further Education Investments
Advocacy in Action! WSPTA President Angela Steck testified during the Senate Ways & Means meeting on Monday, February 19 on the proposed 2024 supplemental operating budget, SSB 5950. While the Senate proposal supports a small increase in special education, additional transportation funding for McKinney Vento students, and an increase in ratios for paraeducators, Angela expressed…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
More deadlines hit session, while the latest revenue forecast and Senate budgets are released
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Week Six of the legislative session was a busy one. Bills continued to meet their demise with the February 13 5 PM cutoff for bills to pass out of the chamber in which they started. The Senate finished their work a little early that day, adopting “the Evergreen State” as the…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Testifies: Dual Credit Programs & Graduation Requirements
Advocacy in Action! WSPTA Advocacy Committee member Natalya Yudkovsky testified in support of HB 1146, requiring school districts to provide information about dual credit programs and any financial assistance available to reduce dual credit and exam costs for students and their families. In addition to supporting the bill in the Senate Early Learning & K-12…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Senator Murray concerned about early learning & equitable education funding
By Danica Noble, WSPTA Federal Legislative Committee Last December, I met with Senator Patty Murray’s policy advisor on education in Washington, D.C. as a member of Washington State PTA’s Federal Legislative Committee. We explored common ground, as WSPTA had recently adopted Resolution 18.45 “High-quality Preschool to Third Grade Early Learning,” one of Senator Murray’s priorities.…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Legislature passes halfway point, budgets released soon
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org While the Senate adjourned for the weekend February 9, the House worked into the wee hours last Friday and through late afternoon Saturday in an effort to advance bills before the February 13 deadline by which bills must pass out of the chamber in which they started. See the full 2024 Bill…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Recognized by National PTA for Advocacy Efforts
National PTA President-Elect Dr. William Datema presents the 2024 Outstanding State PTA Advocacy Award to Washington State PTA., represented by Angela Steck and Gwen Loosmore. Washington State PTA is proud to be the 2024 recipient of the Outstanding State PTA Advocacy Award, as recognized by National PTA. This honor is awarded to one state PTA whose…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative