2021 Focus on Advocacy – January 25 Report
Democrats unveil $2.2 billion relief package Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Friday afternoon, Democratic state legislators announced a $2.2 billion package for COVID-relief, including $688 million for K-12 public schools. Lawmakers use the majority of the second round of federal funding ($1.8 billion) to plug holes in the economy and respond to…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Call to Action – Focus on Safety
Dear Washington State PTA Member, What issues concern you about the physical safety, health and well-being of your student(s) at school? Students and families deserve to be safe and healthy in their schools, homes, and communities, with a livable future for our children. But unfortunately, in Washington state: During the 2018-19 school year, our state…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Call to Action – Support Student Success by Preserving Education Funding
Dear Washington State PTA member, Right now, we need your voice more than ever as our Washington state legislature grapples with funding choices. We know this year is like no other and we need you to speak up. Legislators often comment that they don’t hear enough from parents – you can change that. Please take…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Reopening Schools – Updated Guidance
Download article as PDF. After studying emerging data from other states, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) revised the metrics for when local school districts should consider bringing students back into school buildings,1 and comprehensive health and safety measures for how to resume once it is deemed safe.2 Schools must also follow guidance in…
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Advocacy
Call to Action – Focus on Mental Health
Dear Washington State PTA Member, Insufficient funding for mental health and social emotional learning staff in our schools is an urgent need across our state. For the emotional health of our students, we need decision makers to support legislation that: Increases the state funding model for staffing school mental health professionals. Prioritizes funding to those…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Call to Action – Focus on Equity
Dear Washington State PTA member, Throughout our state, students continue to experience barriers and inequities preventing them from reaching their potential in our state: As of 2020, 68% of districts (urban and rural) report that some students have no access to broadband or smart phone data. When districts had to flip to online learning last…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Call to Action – Focus on Anti-racism
Dear Washington PTA Member, On this day when we honor the work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., WSPTA recognizes that racism is not new and has harmed communities of color for centuries. In October, our membership overwhelmingly voted to not only take a stand against institutional racism, but to take the hard…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2021 Focus on Advocacy – January 18 Report
Work begins in 105-day legislative session Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org The first week of the 2021 legislative session is in the rear-view window. Thank goodness! For the first time, lawmakers convened in Olympia for the start of session with a capitol ringed in chain-link fencing while hundreds of Washington National Guard,…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2021 Focus on Advocacy – January 11 Report
Legislative session opens January 11 Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org When the 67th legislature meets for business January 11, it may be the only day in this 105-day session when legislators are meeting in person, in Olympia, at the State Capitol. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on large gatherings, both House…
Category:
Advocacy
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Legislative
Community, Advocacy, and Membership
Synergy. Powered by PTA. Imagine your PTA as a triangle with Membership, Advocacy, and FACE (Family And Community Engagement) at each of its corners. Imagine all the results of having a PTA at your school or in your community are within the triangle. Now, if one of the points of the triangle didn’t exist, you…