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
WSPTA Testifies on E2SHB 1139
Click here to hear testimony Everett PTSA Council Advocacy Chair Lizzie Sebring testified in favor of E2SHB 1139, the comprehensive approach to recruiting and retaining professional educators, after waiting nearly 5.5 hours! (Gold stars Lizzie!!!) The bill was before the Senate Ways & Means Committee on April 5. The House budget includes funding for various…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies on the Senate Democrats’ Operating Budget Proposal SB 5153
Click to hear Jennifer’s testimony Mercer Island parent Jennifer Flood testified on the Senate Democrats’ operating budget proposal. While the Senate two-year spending plan is better than the House in many areas, investments in special education and additional school staffing to support student safety and well being could be increased. Click here to read Jennifer’s…
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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
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 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
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
WSPTA Testifies on HB 2108
Click to hear Andy’s testimony HB 2108 would delay the requirement for school districts to be in compliance with a straight 17:1 class size ratio. As PTA parent Andy Jensen points out, the association clearly supports smaller K-3 class sizes. But members also adopted an element in school construction to support K-3 classroom grants in…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testimony to Senate Ways and Means Committee
Thursday, February 20 was education day in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Traveling to Olympia to testify on behalf of Washington State PTA were President Michelle Nims and Advocacy Director Nancy Chamberlain. Here are their TVW clips: Aligning with the teacher shortage priority, Nancy testified in support of SB 5801, a bill that would…
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Advocacy
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Legislative