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
2019 Legislative Session – Week 12
Budgets released during whirlwind week, House unveils levy proposal Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Within the span of the week, House Democrats released operating, capital and transportation budgets, holding hearings and passing two of the three off the House floor by Friday evening. (Listen to the House Democrat announcement here.) Not to…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2019 Legislative Session – Week 11
Snow gives way to sun as legislative pace quickens Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Sunglasses, sandals and short sleeves graced the Capitol last week, as temperatures hit the mid-70s and snow piles in parking lots finally melted. Spring was in the air, and committees resumed action, scheduling full hearings of bills from…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Legislative Session – Week 10
Legislature past half-way point but many bills remain Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Wednesday, March 13th at 5 PM was the deadline for bills to have passed the chamber in which they started. In other words, House bills needed to pass the House, and Senate bills needed to have passed the Senate…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies on Social Emotional Learning and Anti-Harassment
Tacoma parent Lisa Keating traveled to Olympia March 14 to testify in favor of two bills supported by the Washington State PTA: SB 5082 (social and emotional learning) and SB 5689 (anti-harassment, intimidation and bullying related to transgender students). On SB 5082 Lisa shared her experience working with Tacoma youth to improve social emotional learning…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Legislative Session – Week 9
Floor action a flurry of education policy and funding bills Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Lawmakers hit the floor last week for bill action, starting early in the day and going late many nights to address a variety of bills that range in topics from education bills we’re watching to issues to…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies to the Senate Ways and Means Committee
Auburn parent Michelle Rylands testified in the Senate Ways and Means committee February 28 in favor of expanding eligibility for the state’s early learning programs (SB 5437 – testimony) and increasing staffing ratios for school counselors, nurses, social workers and psychologists (SB 5315 – testimony). Both issues are on WSPTA’s 2019 legislative platform.
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies on multiple legislative priorities
Click here to hear Corina’s testimony SHB 1216 Northshore parent Corina Pfeil testified in the House Appropriations Committee on February 25th in favor of SHB 1216, the comprehensive school safety bill. The bill addresses safe school plans and adds family/student reunification to school safety plans and communication, which were adopted by members at the 2018 Legislative…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2019 Legislative Session – Week 8
Many PTA bills advance through fiscal cutoff, levy “lift” hits snag Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Several priority bills for Washington State PTA have passed Friday’s fiscal cutoff, including bills that would increase special education funding; increase student staffing ratios; expand early learning program eligibility; pilot 20-minute seated lunch times in at…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies on SSB 5313 regarding Enrichment Levies
Click here to hear Lisa’s testimony Speaking in favor of giving communities a voice regarding enrichment levies, Tacoma parent Lisa Keating told Senate Ways & Means committee members on February 25th that Washington State PTA supports a choice of increased levy authority or maximum per pupil spending, and increasing the ceiling for LEA, this session. …
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Advocacy
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Legislative