Protect Your School’s Title 1 Status and Encourage Families to submit their 2021-2022 Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) Applications
Did you know that the percentage of Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) students qualifies your school and district for federal Title 1 funds, as well as, the Washington State Learning Assistance Program (LAP) and Washington High Poverty LAP benefits? Applications for this 2021-2022 school year will affect next year’s allocations. So, it’s critical for families…
Category:
Advocacy
WSPTA Testifies in Support of Simple Majority for Bonds
Parent Advocate Liz Nord shared her support for HB 1226, a bill that would authorize simple majority for bonds if Washington state voters approved a constitutional amendment in the next general election. Quite a discussion was had regarding the concept that HJR 4200 could run prior to the policy bill. Listen here. Unfortunately, the bill…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Tip of the Week – February 3
Make sure your local PTA or council’s nominating committee is elected and up and running The nominating committee is arguably the most important committee for your PTA. The committee’s charge, to select candidates to fill officer positions, is key to the success and sustainability of your PTA. Committee members must maintain confidentiality and work to…
Category:
Leadership
2022 Focus on Advocacy – February 7 Report
Half-way there: legislature winnows bills Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org February 3 marked the first deadline for bills to remain under consideration this session. Bills that cleared this hurdle and were sent to a budget committee have until the end of the day February 7 to pass out of those committees, so…
Category:
Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Advocate Testifies
Speaking in favor of a bill that would phase in funding to support additional school nurses, counselors, psychiatrists and social workers, WSPTA Advocacy Committee member Mike Uehara-Bingen urged legislators to pass SHB 1664. Listen to Mike’s testimony here.
Category:
Advocacy
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Legislative
Council Spotlight – February 2022
This month we want to spotlight some of the work we’ve seen councils doing across the state with regards to bond and levy campaigns. If January wasn’t busy enough for council leaders, many of you have school districts with bond and levies on the February 8 ballot. Sharing informational posts, promoting civic engagement, attending local…
Category:
Leadership
Testimony by WSPTA Advocates
Monday, January 31, was a big day for testimony on Washington State PTA’s legislative priorities, spanning topics of enrollment stabilization, increasing school staffing, and funding school seismic safety upgrades. Listen here as WSPTA parent advocates spoke in favor of these bills: Natalya Yudkovsky on SB 5563, stabilizing funding due to enrollment decline (listen here); Heidi…
Changes to WSPTA Uniform Bylaws
The WSPTA Uniform Bylaws is a contract between our members and WSPTA and local PTAs for how our associations are run. Our members have the authority to change the WSPTA Uniform Bylaws at the annual meeting that takes place during the WSPTA Convention. Since it is important that the WSPTA Uniform Bylaws do not conflict…
Category:
Governance
2022 Focus on Advocacy – January 31 Report
Whose bills are on the chopping block? Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org During 60-day sessions, deadlines to move legislation out of policy and fiscal committees are compressed. February 3 represents the day bills need to pass out of policy committees to remain under consideration this session. While there are always exceptions, some…
Category:
Advocacy
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Legislative
Tip of the Week – January 27
Membership Awards – Don’t Miss Out There are two types of membership awards – membership growth awards and membership achievement awards. Membership growth awards are automatically calculated and awarded to PTAs that reach the required criteria levels for bronze, silver, gold or platinum recognition. Your PTA has already done the important work of gaining the…
Category:
Leadership