Legislative Session – Week 1 Recap
When the 2018 session opened for business Monday, January 8th, the committee schedule left no doubt that this session’s pace would be more like the Fast and Furious and not Driving Miss Daisy. View the Week 1 Recap here.
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Week 2 Legislative Schedule and Bill Tracker
Week 1 of the Legislative Session was fast and furious! WSPTA members testified 4 times, and one of our top 5 Legislative Priorities, Breakfast After the Bell, was approved by the full House. Keep up with bills and committee hearings related to WSPTA member-generated Legislative Priorities and long-term positions – see the attached report for…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA President Testifies on Governor’s Budget
WSPTA President Michelle Nims testified in support of Governor Inslee’s supplemental operating budget before House and Senate budget committees. Michelle also stressed the importance of funding family and community engagement coordinators at every school, phased in by high-poverty schools first. For a complete review of testimony, click here.
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Weekly Legislative Schedule (topics subject to change)
The following legislative schedule includes information related to committee hearings and legislative action related to WSPTA’s priorities and positions adopted at legislative assemblies and other areas of interest. Week 1 WSPTA
Category:
Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA NEEDS ALL MEMBERS TO ADVOCATE ON PTA PRIORITIES!
Did you know that legislators hear more about the number of chickens allowed in backyards than about K-12 schools? Every year, members decide on our legislative priorities, and WSPTA wants to make it easier for our members to connect with decision-makers to let them know that we care about the success of each and every…
Governor’s 2018 budget would close gap mandated by Court
In his 2018 supplemental operating budget, Democratic Governor Jay Inslee proposed spending $950 million to reach full funding of state salary allocations for educators and school staff in the 2018-19 school year. This would move up the state’s salary phase-in by a year, which would resolve the problem raised by the Supreme Court last month…
WSPTA Invited to Press Conference for the Release of Governor Inslee’s 2018 Supplemental Budget
Flanked by leaders from the Washington State PTA and the Washington Education Association, Governor Jay Inslee released his proposed 2018 supplemental budget Thursday morning. Also invited to speak at the press conference was Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. Hear WSPTA President Michelle Nims’ speech, as she represents over 133,000 members, and the details about…
November 15 Supreme Court McCLeary Ruling Summation from Network for Excellence in Washington Schools (NEWS)
WSPTA is an original member of The Network for Excellence in Washington Schools (NEWS). Below is a summation from NEWS of yesterday’s ruling. The Supreme Court’s November 15, 2017 Order did three things: It unanimously rejected the State’s claim that the 2017 legislature satisfied the court orders in the McCleary case. It unanimously rejected the…
FOCUS DAY SURVEY
In past years, WSPTA has organized a one-day advocacy event in Olympia, in January or February, for a day of issue education and of talking to legislators about our priorities. But we know that Focus Day does not fit the needs of EVERY advocate; WSPTA is a statewide association, and not all our members who…
Guest Post: State PTA Adopts Ambitious Agenda for 2018
By Cami Brix, Inglemoor High School PTSA 6.10.75 Approximately 200 delegates representing 134,000 members from across the state recently attended the Washington State Parent Teacher Association (WSPTA) 39th annual Legislative Assembly in Tacoma, Washington. The body adopted several positions for their existing legislative and public policy platform. Same event, new focus – WSPTA Legislative Director…