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February 20, 2024

WSPTA Testifies: Urging Further Education Investments

Advocacy in Action! WSPTA President Angela Steck testified during the Senate Ways & Means meeting on Monday, February 19 on the proposed 2024 supplemental operating budget, SSB 5950. While the Senate proposal supports a small increase in special education, additional transportation funding for McKinney Vento students, and an increase in ratios for paraeducators, Angela expressed…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative


February 15, 2024

WSPTA Testifies: Dual Credit Programs & Graduation Requirements

Advocacy in Action! WSPTA Advocacy Committee member Natalya Yudkovsky testified in support of HB 1146, requiring school districts to provide information about dual credit programs and any financial assistance available to reduce dual credit and exam costs for students and their families.  In addition to supporting the bill in the Senate Early Learning & K-12…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 12, 2024

Senator Murray concerned about early learning & equitable education funding

By Danica Noble, WSPTA Federal Legislative Committee Last December, I met with Senator Patty Murray’s policy advisor on education in Washington, D.C. as a member of Washington State PTA’s Federal Legislative Committee. We explored common ground, as WSPTA had recently adopted Resolution 18.45 “High-quality Preschool to Third Grade Early Learning,” one of Senator Murray’s priorities.…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 12, 2024

Legislature passes halfway point, budgets released soon

By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org While the Senate adjourned for the weekend February 9, the House worked into the wee hours last Friday and through late afternoon Saturday in an effort to advance bills before the February 13 deadline by which bills must pass out of the chamber in which they started. See the full 2024 Bill…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 8, 2024

WSPTA Recognized by National PTA for Advocacy Efforts

National PTA President-Elect Dr. William Datema presents the 2024 Outstanding State PTA Advocacy Award to Washington State PTA., represented by Angela Steck and Gwen Loosmore. Washington State PTA is proud to be the 2024 recipient of the Outstanding State PTA Advocacy Award, as recognized by National PTA. This honor is awarded to one state PTA whose…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 7, 2024

WSPTA Testifies: Increased Allocation for Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs

Advocacy in Action! Shoreline School District parent advocate Michelle Harris testified on behalf of Washington State PTA in strong support of HB 2494, increasing the allocation for Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs. Michelle shared that for her district, skyrocketing insurance increases will cost $2 million or about 8% of the enrichment levy. Watch Michelle here.…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 6, 2024

Mid-Week Update: Fiscal cutoff spells end for more bills

By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Monday, February 5 was the final day for bills to pass out of the fiscal committees in the chamber in which they started. The exceptions to this are revenue bills and any bills labeled Necessary to Implement the Budget or NTIB. And, as a reminder, no bill is ever officially done…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

February 6, 2024

Summer EBT Food Program Requires Support from Olympia

by Nigar Suleman, WSPTA Federal Legislative Committee, and Susan Baird-Joshi, WSPTA Federal Legislative Chair  Due to the Public Health Emergency expiring, 2023 was the last year for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) food benefits. Now, thanks to new federal funding initiatives, benefits that aim to reduce child hunger when school is not in session will…
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Category: Advocacy , Health & Well-being , Legislative

February 4, 2024

Bills advance, falter as Legislature reaches committee cutoffs

By Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastate.pta January 31st was the first cutoff of the session, signaling the start of deadlines that will become more compressed as the Legislature heads towards Sine Die on March 7th. The next cutoff is Monday, February 5th which is the last day for bills to pass out of the fiscal committees to…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative