Awards of Excellence Changes for 2025-2026
The Awards of Excellence Program recognizes local PTAs, community PTAs, and councils whose level of effort in specific areas help them make a difference in their communities. The Awards of Excellence committee has been working hard to update the awards information and judging rubric based on feedback we received through surveys. Please see below for…
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Uncategorized
A Message from our Outstanding Primary PTA of the Year 2024-2025: Pope PTA
Pope PTA is absolutely delighted to be recognized by the Washington State PTA as the Outstanding Primary PTA of the Year for 2025! As are ALL PTA members, we are a team of dedicated volunteers who strive to support and advocate for our children. This award reflects our strong collective commitment to positively impacting our children’s lives.…
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Awards
Why PTA Requires Membership: Because It’s Powered by You
The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is more than just a school-based group—it’s a member-driven nonprofit organization with a mission to make every child’s potential a reality through advocacy, family engagement, and community-building. And at every level—local, state, and national—membership is the foundation of how that work happens. What It Means to Be Member-Driven PTA operates as a…
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Membership
Keep Your PTA Connected: Update Your Officers and Membership Link in Givebacks
As we kick off a new school year, it’s essential to make sure your PTA is set up for success—and that starts with the basics: updating your officer information and confirming your membership join link in the Givebacks database. Why It Matters Keeping your PTA officer roster current in Givebacks ensures that your leaders receive important updates, state and…
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Membership
WSPTA Requests Vetoes from Governor Ferguson
Washington State PTA joined other statewide associations to request a veto of a bill that would reduce state funding to students enrolled in Alternative Learning Experience programs in eight school districts and a “section veto” of a bill that would make the inflationary growth rates different for per student enrichment levies and per student local…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
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…
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Advocacy
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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
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Legislative