Call to Action: Paraeducator Funding
Dear Washington State PTA member, Paraeducators are the only educators who spend their entire workday with students, directly assisting them in learning, growing and navigating the world around them. Many paraeducators begin as PTA volunteers and continue to develop their relationships with these students in their own communities. We are asking you to contact your…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
House Ups Ante with $44.9B Spending Plan, Senate Capital Budget Passed
This was a busy week, with a big policy cutoff on March 29. In addition, House Democrats announced their “Families First” budget March 27, increasing policy level spending to a net of $3.2 billion. The two-year spending plan is balanced on $3 billion in new revenues from a combination of sources, $206 million in assumed…
Northshore WSPTA Volunteer Testifies on 2017-19 Biennium Budget
Nancy Chamberlain testifying on sufficient, sustainable, and equitable education funding. OLYMPIA – March 27 – WSPTA volunteer and mother of two, Dr. Nancy Chamberlain, testified in front of the House Appropriations Committee on HB 1067, which focuses on the 2017-19 fiscal biennium operating appropriations. She explained the mission of Washington State PTA and the vision of…
Legislative Session: Week 12 Events Report
Below is next week’s schedule and testimony opportunities. 3/27 @ 1:30pm: Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1, JACB SHB 1377 – Public Hearing – Improving students’ mental health by enhancing non-academic professional services. 3/27 @ 3:30pm: Appropriations (House) – HHR A, JLOB HB 1067 – Public Hearing – Making 2017-2019 fiscal…
Action Turns Again to Committees, Revenue Up
Action returns to policy and budget committees as the opposite chamber takes up bills that passed the original chamber. Policy committees have until March 29 to hear and act on policy bills; the fiscal cutoff is April 4th. Keep in mind that bills that get changed in the opposite chamber must return to the original chamber…
WSPTA Bill Status & Week 11 Events Report
Monday, March 20 1:30 PM Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1, SHB 1046 – Public Hearing – Concerning certificates of academic and individual achievement. 1:30 PM Education (House) – HHR A SB 5070 – Public Hearing – Concerning para-educators. Tuesday, March 21 1:30 PM Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR…
Category:
Health & Well-being
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Legislative
2017 Session Starts with Pomp, Work Sessions and Hearings
The 65th Washington State Legislature kicked off a 105-day session January 9, swearing in 18 new House and 12 new Senate members, one of the largest freshman classes for both chambers in many election cycles. The Senate is controlled by a Republican majority of 25-24, while the House majority is 50 Democrats to 48 Republicans.…
Erika Kapur Testifies before Senate Budget Committee
Erika Kapur, a 45th legislative district constituent and Washington State PTA (WSPTA) Region 2 Legislative Chair, testified yesterday afternoon in support of Governor Inslee’s proposed education budget. Her testimony can be found at 1 hour, 30 minutes into the Senate Ways & Means committee hearing; watch her testimony here. “This budget addresses many of the important…