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February 10, 2025

Week 4 is done, two weeks to go for policy cutoff

By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Click here to view our comprehensive Week 5 Bill Tracker We are one month into the 105-day session and policy committees are really digging into hearings and voting on the bills in their committees before the first deadline for bills to remain under consideration – February 21st. Bills on “the Big…
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Category: Advocacy , Education , Legislative , News

February 4, 2025

WSPTA Testifies: Closing the Funding Gaps

Advocacy in Action! On Monday, February 3, WSPTA President Angela Steck testified in favor of HB 1338, a bill that would close the gaps between what the state funds and what it costs to operate schools across the state. Angela asked House Appropriations Committee members to pass the bill and pointed out that PTAs have…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative , News

February 3, 2025

Week Four: Big 3 Bills Continue to Advance

By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Click here to see the week four bill tracker. Last week the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee advanced three bills related to special education funding, Materials, Supplies & Operating Costs (MSOC), and student transportation. SB 5187 would direct OSPI to update the student transportation funding formula (report due June 1,…
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Category: Advocacy , Education , Legislative , News , Special Education

January 29, 2025

WSPTA is pleased to announce the 2025-2027 slate of officers and call for self-declared candidates

The 2024-2026 Washington State PTA nominating committee hereby places the following names into nomination: The nominating committee has confirmed that all nominees have been a member of a PTA for at least 15 days prior to the election, and meet other requirements as stated in the WSPTA Uniform Bylaws. Respectfully submitted, Teri Davis, Chair Liz…
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Category: Governance , News

January 28, 2025

Gov. Bob Ferguson creates rapid response team to support children facing separation

Last week, National PTA released a statement on the importance of protecting children regardless of immigration status. The following is the text of a press release published this week by the Office of Washington Governor Bob Ferguson. January 27, 2025 Executive Order brings agencies, schools together to support kids separated from parents or caregivers OLYMPIA…
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Category: Advocacy , News

January 27, 2025

Big 3 bills heard in Senate Ed, Special Education bills to be heard this week

By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org You can access the Week 3 Bill Tracker here. The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee heard testimony on four bills related to what is being informally called “The Big 3.” These bills seek to close the funding gaps that have widened in three specific basic education and constitutionally protected areas:…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative , News

January 24, 2025

National PTA Statement on Protecting Children Regardless of Immigration Status

Statement from National PTA: On Monday, the new Trump-Vance Administration assumed office, and the National PTA has been closely tracking the decisions and policy changes issued by the Administration as they are released. National PTA believes that all children residing in the United States, regardless of their immigration status, have the right of access to…
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Category: Advocacy , News , Safety

January 23, 2025

WSPTA Testifies: Close the Funding Gaps

Advocacy in Action On January 22, the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee heard public testimony on bills that would close the funding gaps in what are being called “The Big Three” – special education, school operating costs (MSOC), and student transportation. WSPTA Board Secretary Melissa Stone was part of a panel of education…
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Category: Advocacy , Education , Legislative , News

January 22, 2025

WSPTA Testifies: Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence and Suicide

Advocacy in Action! Dr. Gwen Loosmore testified in two committees on January 21st, bringing Washington State PTA’s priority position of preventing and reducing gun violence and suicide to the forefront of bills related to common sense solutions to approach escalating gun violence. In the House Finance Committee, Gwen shared statistics about suicide and gun deaths…
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Category: Advocacy , Education , Legislative , News

January 20, 2025

Pomp, Ceremonies, Committees and an Inaugural Ball Kick off 105-day Session

By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Newly elected state House of Representative members and Senators were sworn in at opening ceremonies in the House and Senate on January 13, the first day of this long session. On Tuesday, former Governor Jay Inslee, who had served three terms (12 years), addressed a joint session of the House and Senate…
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Category: Advocacy , Education , Legislative , News