Reykdal Describes Education Vision; 2nd Special Session Called
At a 9 a.m. press conference Wednesday, May 24, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal outlined steps the Legislature could take to meet the Supreme Court’s McCleary decision, and described a vision of education that is “bigger than the court case.” To get to “ample,” the state needs to increase its funding for public education…
Washington State Board of Education May Meeting Highlights
Highlights from the May 2017 State Board of Education meeting are below. You can find packet materials through links in the text, or review all meeting and additional materials online. You can also watch videos of the meeting, by agenda section, online. SBE voted on the following business items: The Board approved the list of Private Schools…
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Education
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Legislative
Little Action in Legislature
With less than 10 days left in the first special session, legislators don’t have much to show in the way of progress. Yes, both chambers returned May 2 and passed bills, and yes, the Governor continues to sign bills that passed in the regular session. But Senate Republicans continue to refuse to meet with House…
State Board of Education Adopts Resolution on Biology Graduation Requirement
Washington State PTA has supported efforts that would eliminate the state-mandated requirement to pass high school assessments in order to graduate, and has actively supported legislation in the 2017 session to “delink” the test passing requirement from graduation. The State Board of Education (SBE) recently adopted a clear position to remove the requirement to pass…
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Education
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Legislative
104th Annual #WSPTAconvention Summary
It was such a pleasure to welcome so many members to our 104th Annual #WSPTAconvention! Enthusiasm and energy filled the days and helped make this year’s event fun and gratifying. As in years past, we developed a program full of opportunities for PTA leaders to learn and grow in their leadership skills, discover the power of…
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Advocacy
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Awards
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Education
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Events
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Family Engagement
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Leadership
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Legislative
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Membership
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Programs
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Reflections
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Training
OSPI Receives Prestigious Washington State PTA Friend of Children Award
Tacoma, WA (May 3, 2017): The Washington State Parent Teacher Association (WSPTA) held its 104th Annual Convention the weekend of April 28-30 in Seattle, Washington, with over 850 state leaders in attendance. There, participants attended classes and honored those who continue to serve and support the vision of the association: “Making every child’s potential a…
Dueling Assessment Bills
Returning to Olympia for floor action May 2, the Senate passed SB 5891 (de-linking the biology end of course) and the House passed HB 1046 (de-linking all state assessments from graduation). Both bills passed unanimously. The House came on the floor at 10 a.m. and passed about a dozen bills, including breakfast after the bell…
Senate Budget Committee Hears Bill on Tax Increases, Bills Signed/Vetoed
On May 1, the Washington State Legislature will enter the second week of a 30-day special session. Senate budget committee heard testimony for and against tax proposals Wednesday, April 26. Parents, social services advocates and those seeking a more “progressive” tax structure testified in favor, while small and large business owners opposed. The Republican-controlled committee…
Parent Advisory Group Needs to Fill Five Vacant Seats
The Department of Early Learning (DEL) is recruiting for five vacant seats on the Parent Advisory Group (PAG) and is accepting applications from qualified and interested individuals. The DEL Parent Advisory Group (PAG) was established in 2007 as a sounding board to bring parent voices into the work of DEL. It is a place to…
Category:
Advocacy
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Leadership
Legislature Adjourns, Budgets/Education Unfinished
After a week of mundane business, punctuated with bill signings in the Governor’s office, the 2017 105-day session adjourned “sine die” Sunday around 11 a.m. Governor Jay Inslee is expected to officially call for a special session Monday. At a press conference April 21st, the Democratic governor expressed frustration that the Senate Republicans and House…