House Ups Ante with $44.9B Spending Plan, Senate Capital Budget Passed
This was a busy week, with a big policy cutoff on March 29. In addition, House Democrats announced their “Families First” budget March 27, increasing policy level spending to a net of $3.2 billion. The two-year spending plan is balanced on $3 billion in new revenues from a combination of sources, $206 million in assumed…
Double Parent Testimony for Family Engagement and Social Emotional Learning
Jessica Garcia testifies in support of SHB 1618: Engagement Coordinators Bellevue parent, Jessica Garcia, reprised her testimony in support of the family and community engagement bill, SHB 1618, March 30, but this time with the Senate budget committee. Jessica shared the difference a person equivalent to the FACE coordinator defined in the bill helped the…
Breakfast After the Bell – Action Needed Today! *URGENT*
One of Washington State PTA’s top priorities is passing “Breakfast after the Bell” legislation this session. The bill would require schools with at least 70% poverty to offer breakfast to all students after the bell rings. You know that hungry children can’t learn – this bill will go a long way to helping students focus…
Northshore WSPTA Volunteer Testifies on 2017-19 Biennium Budget
Nancy Chamberlain testifying on sufficient, sustainable, and equitable education funding. OLYMPIA – March 27 – WSPTA volunteer and mother of two, Dr. Nancy Chamberlain, testified in front of the House Appropriations Committee on HB 1067, which focuses on the 2017-19 fiscal biennium operating appropriations. She explained the mission of Washington State PTA and the vision of…
WSPTA Board Member Testifies for Social Emotional Learning
WSPTA Area D Vice President, Amanda Shipman testifies in favor of a SHB 1377 supporting social emotional learning. OLYMPIA – March 27 – Yakima parent and WSPTA Area D Vice President, Amanda Shipman, testified in favor of SHB 1377; a bill designed to support student social emotional learning and collaboration among school psychologists, social workers,…
Legislative Session: Week 12 Events Report
Below is next week’s schedule and testimony opportunities. 3/27 @ 1:30pm: Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1, JACB SHB 1377 – Public Hearing – Improving students’ mental health by enhancing non-academic professional services. 3/27 @ 3:30pm: Appropriations (House) – HHR A, JLOB HB 1067 – Public Hearing – Making 2017-2019 fiscal…
WSPTA Testimony in Favor of College Bound Scholarship
Parent advocate, Heidi Bennett, testifying in favor of expanding the College Bound Scholarship. Thursday, March 23 (Olympia) – Long-time parent advocate Heidi Bennett spoke to the Senate Higher Education Committee in favor of expanding eligibility for the College Bound scholarship in HB 1512. “I’m also a first generation college graduate who relied on state aid…
WSPTA Legislative Consultant Testimony
Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, providing testimony on SB 5048. Tuesday, March 21 (Olympia) – Washington State PTA (WSPTA) Legislative Consultant, Marie Sullivan, spoke during the Senate Ways & Means hearing on SB 5048. She walked the Senate through WSPTA’s legislative platform and tied into the association’s over-arching mission and values. Sullivan then spoke about how that’s…
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Levy Cliff Bill Causes Flurry of Last Minute Activity
In a surprise move March 8 before the 5 p.m. deadline, Senate Republicans brought a bill that would extend current local district levy authority through January 1, 2019. The expanded levy authority and linked levy equalization was put in place in the 2010 session, with the thought that the Legislature would have fully funded K-12…
Senate Advances Bill to Extend Levy Cliff to 2019
As its last bill of the March 8 cutoff, the Senate Wednesday night passed an amended bill on the “levy cliff” (ESB 5023), with all members voting in favor; with the exception of Republican Senator Michael Baumgartner of West Spokane. The Senate ran their version of the bill so they could change the title to…