Learn More About the Community Your PTA Serves
PTA represents parents, caregivers, educators and communities of all children, which enables us to best achieve PTA’s mission to make every child’s potential a reality. Our collective backgrounds, perspectives and ideas allow us to create the strongest future and direction for PTA. To more effectively serve ALL children and families, we need to understand who…
Share Your PTA’s Good Work During Inclusive Schools Week
Inclusive Schools Week celebrates the progress that schools have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population, including students who are marginalized due to disability, gender, socioeconomic status, cultural heritage, language preference, and other factors. In recognition of this year’s Inclusive Schools Week theme, “Every Voice Matters,” WSPTA wants…
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Family Engagement
2024 Washington Legislative Page Applications are Open
Last day to apply is February 9, 2024 During the legislative session, students from across Washington come to Olympia to serve as pages for the Washington State Legislature. Each week, the House and Senate provide pages the opportunity to take part in the legislative process and observe the Legislature and other branches of state government…
How Will You Use New Standards for Family-School Partnerships?
On November 17, National PTA released the newly updated National Standards for Family-School Partnerships. The town hall was recorded and is up on the National PTA’s YouTube. The Standards provide us with guidance for equitable family engagement practices across the education system, complementing important work such as the Dual Capacity-Building Framework for Family-School-Community Partnerships.…
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Family Engagement
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Audit Update – November 30, 2022
In January of this year, AV Consulting began a statewide DEI audit process for Washington State PTA. Additionally, the WSPTA Board of Directors committed to implementing the recommendations of the DEI Audit and to transform its organizational practices and support for its constituencies in alignment with the elements of Resolution 2.26: Dismantling Institutional and Systemic Racism. View Resolution 2.26: Dismantling Institutional and Systemic Racism…
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Family Engagement
Start the Conversation – Student Advocacy
Guest post provided by 2022 WSPTA Student Advocate award winner Kellen Hoard At the beginning of every school year, I encourage students I meet of all ages to be on the lookout. I tell them to pay attention to their surroundings—at school, in their town, and across their state. I tell them to listen closely…
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Advocacy
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Family Engagement
An Interview with Beenish Iqbal
Guest post provided by WSPTA Family and Community Engagement Director Shelby Reynolds In my first eight months as WSPTA’s Family and Community Engagement Director, I’ve had the good fortune to meet some really fabulous people from local PTAs and councils who are doing amazing work in their communities. Recently I had a chance to sit…
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Family Engagement
Family and Community Engagement News
Hello PTA Friends and Colleagues! As we enter a very busy and festive holiday season, I encourage all of you to consider how to make your PTA’s winter events, meetings, and communications inclusive. Inclusivity and diversity are terms that are often used interchangeably but mean different things. Our friends at National PTA have shared a…
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Family Engagement
The Shape of Our Families
We all know that families come in many shapes and sizes. Some families are large, with lots of children. Some are small. Some families have one parent, some have several parents. Some families are headed by grandparents or foster parents, two moms, two dads. Some families have welcomed adopted children or foster children in addition…
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Family Engagement
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion: How to Make Your PTA a Welcome Place for Every Parent
Guest post provided by Platinum Sponsor, Association Insurance Management Inc (AIM) As our communities become more diverse, we should take extra care to ensure our PTAs are an open and welcoming place for all parents. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are necessary components for continued group success. The benefits of creating an inviting environment only further…
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Family Engagement