WSPTA Testifies: Fully Fund Special Education and Student Transportation
Advocacy in Action! President Angela Steck testified in favor of SSB 5263, a bipartisan bill that would increase funding for special education services. Angela also asked for funding to support inclusionary practices and a study that would identify how other states fund programs to support students with disabilities. Listen to Angela here. Angela also spoke…
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…
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…
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,…
WSPTA Testifies: Establishing a Statewide Network for Student Mental and Behavioral Health
Advocacy in Action! Dr. Gwen Loosmore, long-time WSPTA Advocacy Committee member, testified in favor of SB 5126, establishing a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health at the January 29th Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee meeting. With student mental health at the top of WSPTA’s priorities again this year, Gwen welcomed the…
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:…
WSPTA Testifies: Graduation Requirements
Advocacy in Action! Parent advocate Natalya Yudkovsky testified in the House Education Committee January 23 on HB 1285, making financial education instruction a requirement for the graduating class of 2031. Natalya expressed WSPTA concerns about creating a new graduation requirement before the State Board of Education has finished its work considering what tomorrow’s graduates need…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
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…
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…
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…