And That’s a Wrap: Legislature Adjourns
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org After an exceptionally tough and challenging session, the Washington State Legislature adjourned around 6:30 PM on April 27th, the final day of the regularly scheduled 105-day session. When the 2025-27 operating budget was revealed by the Conference Committee on Saturday, April 26th, one of the best bits of news was that…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
State Association Letter to Legislators on School Funding
Washington State PTA and state K-12 education associations sent a letter to the legislature expressing their disappointment and frustration with the lack of significant investment this session in public schools and our state’s 1.1 million students. PTAs are encouraged to borrow liberally from the letter and/or send your own stories to legislators before they adjourn…
Advocacy in Action: No Harmful Budget Gimmicks
Advocacy in Action! Danica Noble testified against HB 2050, a bill that would shift apportionment payments from February, March, and April and replace the funds in August. This budget gimmick would help the state balance its fiscal issues, but will create a cash flow problem for school districts, and worsen their financial instability. Listen to Danica here.
Week 14 Legislative Review: It’s the Final Countdown
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org View our comprehensive bill tracker for Week 15 ahead here. Wednesday, April 16 was the final day for bills to pass out of the opposite chamber, with the exception of bills that save the state money or raise money. Starting the next day, both the House and Senate began working on…
Advocacy in Action: Increase Capital Gains and Estate Taxes to Fund Education
Washington State PTA weighed in on SB 5813, increasing funding to the Education Legacy Trust Account (ELTA), on Wednesday, April 16. The bill was one of many being proposed to fill in the approximately $16 billion shortfall facing the state over the next four years. Former Advocacy Director Lizzy Sebring shared WSPTA’s support for increases…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Week 14: Another one bites the dust and only one cutoff remains
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org See our comprehensive bill tracker for week 14. April 8th marked the date by which bills from the opposite chamber needed to be passed out of fiscal committees. Starting the next day, work turned to floor action, with the Senate finishing business Friday night and the House working through Saturday. The…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Week 13: Capital Budgets Released, Governor Says “No Go” on Wealth Tax
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org View our comprehensive bill tracker looking ahead to week 13 here. Over the past few weeks, lawmakers have been focused on releasing their proposed House and Senate biennial budgets for operations, transportation and construction and narrowing down the number of bills under consideration that will make it to Governor Bob Ferguson’s…
Week 12: House and Senate offer differing operating budget proposals for K-12 education
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org View our comprehensive bill tracker looking ahead to week 12 here. House and Senate Democrats released their proposed 2025-27 operating and transportation budgets on Monday, March 24th, held public hearings on Tuesday, and accepted amendments on Thursday. On Saturday, the Senate passed the operating budget (ESSB 5167) by a vote of…
April Checklist for Councils Supporting Local PTAs
Ongoing Tasks Offer support to local PTAs who may be struggling with any of the SOA requirements. Encourage local PTAs in their membership campaigns. Work with your region director to support any local PTAs with fewer than 25 members. Work with your region director to support any local PTAs on the “no president list”. Remind…
Category:
Leadership
April Checklist for Running Your PTA
Ongoing Tasks Attend any board and membership meetings Read meeting minutes and offer corrections Prepare reports for board and membership meetings Get educated: take advantage of in-person and online training opportunities Be familiar with your responsibilities and fulfill them Review and ask questions about monthly financial report Actively engage in a plan for membership growth…
Category:
Leadership