Week Four: Big 3 Bills Continue to Advance
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Click here to see the week four bill tracker. Last week the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee advanced three bills related to special education funding, Materials, Supplies & Operating Costs (MSOC), and student transportation. SB 5187 would direct OSPI to update the student transportation funding formula (report due June 1,…
WSPTA Testifies: Establishing a Statewide Network for Student Mental and Behavioral Health
Advocacy in Action! Dr. Gwen Loosmore, long-time WSPTA Advocacy Committee member, testified in favor of SB 5126, establishing a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health at the January 29th Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education committee meeting. With student mental health at the top of WSPTA’s priorities again this year, Gwen welcomed the…
WSPTA is pleased to announce the 2025-2027 slate of officers and call for self-declared candidates
The 2024-2026 Washington State PTA nominating committee hereby places the following names into nomination: The nominating committee has confirmed that all nominees have been a member of a PTA for at least 15 days prior to the election, and meet other requirements as stated in the WSPTA Uniform Bylaws. Respectfully submitted, Teri Davis, Chair Liz…
Category:
Governance
,
News
Gov. Bob Ferguson creates rapid response team to support children facing separation
Last week, National PTA released a statement on the importance of protecting children regardless of immigration status. The following is the text of a press release published this week by the Office of Washington Governor Bob Ferguson. January 27, 2025 Executive Order brings agencies, schools together to support kids separated from parents or caregivers OLYMPIA…
Reconciling with Givebacks
This blog is meant to help guide a treasurer through reconciling the PTA bank account and printing an acceptable receipt for showing the ACH payments and Stripe deposits done through our membership database, Givebacks. Recording Expenses: To find and print ACH payments made to WSPTA through Givebacks for membership dues follow these steps: Log in…
Category:
Membership
,
Training
Big 3 bills heard in Senate Ed, Special Education bills to be heard this week
By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org You can access the Week 3 Bill Tracker here. The Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee heard testimony on four bills related to what is being informally called “The Big 3.” These bills seek to close the funding gaps that have widened in three specific basic education and constitutionally protected areas:…
National PTA Statement on Protecting Children Regardless of Immigration Status
Statement from National PTA: On Monday, the new Trump-Vance Administration assumed office, and the National PTA has been closely tracking the decisions and policy changes issued by the Administration as they are released. National PTA believes that all children residing in the United States, regardless of their immigration status, have the right of access to…
WSPTA Testifies: Graduation Requirements
Advocacy in Action! Parent advocate Natalya Yudkovsky testified in the House Education Committee January 23 on HB 1285, making financial education instruction a requirement for the graduating class of 2031. Natalya expressed WSPTA concerns about creating a new graduation requirement before the State Board of Education has finished its work considering what tomorrow’s graduates need…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Testifies: Close the Funding Gaps
Advocacy in Action On January 22, the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee heard public testimony on bills that would close the funding gaps in what are being called “The Big Three” – special education, school operating costs (MSOC), and student transportation. WSPTA Board Secretary Melissa Stone was part of a panel of education…
WSPTA Testifies: Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence and Suicide
Advocacy in Action! Dr. Gwen Loosmore testified in two committees on January 21st, bringing Washington State PTA’s priority position of preventing and reducing gun violence and suicide to the forefront of bills related to common sense solutions to approach escalating gun violence. In the House Finance Committee, Gwen shared statistics about suicide and gun deaths…