Advocacy in Action! March 23, 2023
WSPTA President Nancy Chamberlain asked members of the Senate Ways & Means Committee to hold firm on their level of funding for students with disabilities when negotiating with the House and to add funding for inclusionary training. Nancy also expressed disappointment that, as a member of the K-12 Salary Rebase work group, the legislature did…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
It’s all About the Budget Now in Week 11 Report
Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Last week the Senate released a proposed 2023-25 capital budget on Monday, March 20th and a proposed 2023-25 operating budget on Thursday, March 23rd. The capital budget public hearing was the same day as the release, while a full day was provided to review the 1,240-page operating budget. That hearing,…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Advocacy in Action! March 22, 2023
Advocacy Committee member Melissa Stone testified Pro on SHB 1658, allowing students to earn up to 2 credits for work. Melissa asked members of the Senate Early Learning & K12 Committee to consider lowering the number of hours required to earn 1 credit from 360 hours (180 hours for 0.5 credit) to 240 hours (120 hours…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Advocacy in Action! March 21, 2023
Advocacy Committee member Natalya Yudkovsky encouraged members of the House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee to pass ESSB 5048, a bill that would cover fees related to College in High School courses. The testimony March 21 also elicited several questions and a discussion about transcript fees, which might become a topic to address next session. Listen…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Advocacy in Action! March 20, 2023
Parent advocate Jennifer Crespi urged members of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee to support E2SHB 1479, relating to isolating and restraint of student. Listen to Jennifer’s testimony at the March 20th hearing here. Also on March 20th, long-time advocate for mitigating gun violence Gwen Loosmore testified in the Senate education committee in support of HB 1230,…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Budget Releases and Revenue Forecasts will Dominate Next Two Weeks in Week 10 Report
Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Monday, March 20th will be a big day in Olympia – the Senate will release its 2023-25 capital budget at 10:30 AM, followed by a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee at 4 PM. That afternoon, the Economic & Revenue Forecast Council will meet at 2:00 PM…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Advocacy in Action! March 15, 2023
WSPTA advocacy committee member Tori Emerson testified as Other on ESHB 1436, the House bill regarding special education funding, before the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee on March 15th. Tori asked senators to consider amending the House bill to remove the cap and increase the multiplier to the levels found in E2SSB 5311. Listen to…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Advocacy in Action! March 14, 2023
Parent advocate Natalya Yudkovsky asked House Education Committee members to support E2SSB 5243, meaningful high school and beyond plans. Natalya shared the elements of the revised HSBP supported by WSPTA, including elements added at the association’s request for student data privacy and making sure technology needs for the platform are covered, including the portability of a…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Advocacy in Action! March 13, 2023
March 13th was a busy day for Washington State PTA, with four members testifying in both the Senate and House education committees. WSPTA past president Michelle Nims shared a personal story about her daughter’s experience in high school to underscore the importance of HB 1308, which would add a performance-based pathway for graduation purposes during a Senate…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
March 8 Deadline Ends Journey for Many Bills in Week 9 Report
Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org After a week of long nights, sometimes into the next day for the House, and some difficult policy discussions in both chambers, the Legislature reached the third major milestone of the session on March 8th – the deadline by which bills needed to pass out of the place in which…
Category:
Advocacy
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Legislative