Call to Action – Increase the Levy Authority
Dear Washington State PTA member, Please contact your legislators and help advocate to increase funding to support the Washington State PTA’s top 5 issue “Strategic K-12 Investments to Close Gaps”. Too many districts are facing huge shortfalls which penalize students and especially those most at risk. Click here to participate through The Action Network. You can…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Analysis of Assessment Bill HB 1599
Legislative Consultant Marie Sullivan has put together an analysis of the elements of the new state high school assessments legislation. See the bill elements here.
2019 Legislative Session – Week 15
It’s the final countdown Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org The Legislature has one week left in the regular 105-day session and odds are against them finishing on time. In fact, lawmakers haven’t ended a regular budget session on time since 2009, when the state was facing serious cuts to programs to make…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Call to Action – Stop Loss of Funding
Dear Washington State PTA member, Many school districts across Washington are in danger of losing funding next school year because they cannot achieve the required 17:1 class size in Kindergarten through grade 3. We are asking you to send a message now to your State Senator asking them to support a one-year delay in the…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies in Favor of the School Meals Demonstration Bill (HB 1272)
Click to hear Jessica’s testimony Bellevue PTSA Council parent Jessica Smiddy testified on behalf of Washington State PTA Monday, April 9, in favor of the school meals demonstration bill, HB 1272. Jessica was joined by Vancouver parent Caressa Milgrove, and several other speakers who all spoke in favor of the legislation. Despite the comments in…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2019 Legislative Session – Week 14
Cutoffs continue to claim bills, budget negotiations begin Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Tuesday, April 9th was the deadline for bills to pass out of the fiscal committees to remain under consideration this session. As always, there are exceptions, particularly if funding for a bill has been appropriated in one of the…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies on E2SHB 1139
Click here to hear testimony Everett PTSA Council Advocacy Chair Lizzie Sebring testified in favor of E2SHB 1139, the comprehensive approach to recruiting and retaining professional educators, after waiting nearly 5.5 hours! (Gold stars Lizzie!!!) The bill was before the Senate Ways & Means Committee on April 5. The House budget includes funding for various…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2019 Legislative Session – Week 13
Legislature starts final four: last weeks of session, that is Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org With only four weeks left in the 105-day regular session, lawmakers worked late into the evening in some committees and on the floor, passing out policy and budget bills to meet various deadlines and get budgets into…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies on the Senate Democrats’ Operating Budget Proposal SB 5153
Click to hear Jennifer’s testimony Mercer Island parent Jennifer Flood testified on the Senate Democrats’ operating budget proposal. While the Senate two-year spending plan is better than the House in many areas, investments in special education and additional school staffing to support student safety and well being could be increased. Click here to read Jennifer’s…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies on EHB 1638
Click to hear testimony Lexi Nims, a college student considering a degree in public health, was one of the dozen or so people who testified on EHB 1638 at last Friday’s Senate Health & Long-Term Care committee. Nims testified on behalf of Washington State PTA. National PTA holds a position, which the state Advocacy Committee voted…
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Advocacy
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Legislative