WSPTA Testifies: Close the Funding Gaps
Advocacy in Action On January 22, the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee heard public testimony on bills that would close the funding gaps in what are being called “The Big Three” – special education, school operating costs (MSOC), and student transportation. WSPTA Board Secretary Melissa Stone was part of a panel of education…
WSPTA Testifies: Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence and Suicide
Advocacy in Action! Dr. Gwen Loosmore testified in two committees on January 21st, bringing Washington State PTA’s priority position of preventing and reducing gun violence and suicide to the forefront of bills related to common sense solutions to approach escalating gun violence. In the House Finance Committee, Gwen shared statistics about suicide and gun deaths…
Pomp, Ceremonies, Committees and an Inaugural Ball Kick off 105-day Session
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Newly elected state House of Representative members and Senators were sworn in at opening ceremonies in the House and Senate on January 13, the first day of this long session. On Tuesday, former Governor Jay Inslee, who had served three terms (12 years), addressed a joint session of the House and Senate…
Presidential Transition and the 119th Congress
National PTA recently shared their 2024 Transition Memo regarding the new Administration and 119th Congress to be sworn in next week. You can read their memo here. National PTA will continue to provide resources and materials to empower PTA advocates across the country to work with their elected officials at all levels of government to ensure all children…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies: Disappointment with Operating Budget Proposal
Advocacy in Action! WSPTA President Angela Steck testified in both the House Appropriations and Senate Ways & Means committees on Monday and Tuesday, sharing members’ disappointment with the lack of investments in K-12 education in outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee’s operating budget proposal. Steck focused on the Big 3 – MSOC (materials, supplies, and operating costs),…
69th Legislature Convenes January 13 Amid New Faces, Projected Deficit
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org The Washington State Legislature convenes Monday, January 13th for the first year of the 2025-27 biennium and a 105-day session that is scheduled to end April 27, 2025. Legislators must adopt two-year budgets for operating, capital, and transportation, based on updated revenue forecasts and changes to caseloads since they left town in…
2024 Legislative Assembly Recap
WSPTA held its 46th annual Legislative Assembly on October 26-27, 2024. It was an incredible weekend where members from across the state came together to learn, debate, and vote on the new legislative priorities WSPTA will focus on for the next two years. In addition to the issues the delegates ranked as the top five,…
Washington State PTA Opposes Initiative 2109
Washington State PTA, founded in 1905, is the oldest and largest volunteer child advocacy association in the state with a longstanding history of support for the health, safety, well-being, and education of children and youth. Washington State PTA has been advocating to amply fund public education since at least 1982. Washinton State PTA opposes Initiative…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
FAQs on Opposing Initiatives 2109 and 2117
The WSPTA Board of Directors voted at its June meeting to oppose Initiatives 2109 and 2117, based on positions previously adopted by its members. Below are some FAQs to help PTA leaders and members understand the rules for taking positions on ballot measures and the member-adopted positions which served as the foundation for formally opposing…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Notes from the Capitol: Here’s what WSPTA asked our U.S. representatives
WSPTA advocates Heather Gillette, Angela Steck, Nigar Suleman, and Danica Noble meet Senator Patty Murray’s aide Abby Laver. By Nigar Suleman, Federal Legislative Committee Note: This is part 2 of 2 blog posts covering WSPTA’s experience at the 2024 National PTA Legislative Conference. You can read part 1 here. On the morning of March 6,…