Call to Action – Increase the Levy Authority
Dear Washington State PTA member, Please contact your legislators and help advocate to increase funding to support the Washington State PTA’s top 5 issue “Strategic K-12 Investments to Close Gaps”. Too many districts are facing huge shortfalls which penalize students and especially those most at risk. Click here to participate through The Action Network. You can…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2019 Legislative Session – Week 15
It’s the final countdown Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org The Legislature has one week left in the regular 105-day session and odds are against them finishing on time. In fact, lawmakers haven’t ended a regular budget session on time since 2009, when the state was facing serious cuts to programs to make…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies in Favor of the School Meals Demonstration Bill (HB 1272)
Click to hear Jessica’s testimony Bellevue PTSA Council parent Jessica Smiddy testified on behalf of Washington State PTA Monday, April 9, in favor of the school meals demonstration bill, HB 1272. Jessica was joined by Vancouver parent Caressa Milgrove, and several other speakers who all spoke in favor of the legislation. Despite the comments in…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2019 Legislative Session – Week 14
Cutoffs continue to claim bills, budget negotiations begin Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Tuesday, April 9th was the deadline for bills to pass out of the fiscal committees to remain under consideration this session. As always, there are exceptions, particularly if funding for a bill has been appropriated in one of the…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2019 Legislative Session – Week 13
Legislature starts final four: last weeks of session, that is Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org With only four weeks left in the 105-day regular session, lawmakers worked late into the evening in some committees and on the floor, passing out policy and budget bills to meet various deadlines and get budgets into…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
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