Northshore WSPTA Volunteer Testifies on 2017-19 Biennium Budget
Nancy Chamberlain testifying on sufficient, sustainable, and equitable education funding. OLYMPIA – March 27 – WSPTA volunteer and mother of two, Dr. Nancy Chamberlain, testified in front of the House Appropriations Committee on HB 1067, which focuses on the 2017-19 fiscal biennium operating appropriations. She explained the mission of Washington State PTA and the vision of…
WSPTA Board Member Testifies for Social Emotional Learning
WSPTA Area D Vice President, Amanda Shipman testifies in favor of a SHB 1377 supporting social emotional learning. OLYMPIA – March 27 – Yakima parent and WSPTA Area D Vice President, Amanda Shipman, testified in favor of SHB 1377; a bill designed to support student social emotional learning and collaboration among school psychologists, social workers,…
Legislative Session: Week 12 Events Report
Below is next week’s schedule and testimony opportunities. 3/27 @ 1:30pm: Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1, JACB SHB 1377 – Public Hearing – Improving students’ mental health by enhancing non-academic professional services. 3/27 @ 3:30pm: Appropriations (House) – HHR A, JLOB HB 1067 – Public Hearing – Making 2017-2019 fiscal…
WSPTA Testimony in Favor of College Bound Scholarship
Parent advocate, Heidi Bennett, testifying in favor of expanding the College Bound Scholarship. Thursday, March 23 (Olympia) – Long-time parent advocate Heidi Bennett spoke to the Senate Higher Education Committee in favor of expanding eligibility for the College Bound scholarship in HB 1512. “I’m also a first generation college graduate who relied on state aid…
Parent Testimony In Favor of Breakfast after the Bell and Bond Bills
Heather Lindberg, Vancouver PTA Council 3.7 President, testifying on behalf of simple majority for bond bills. On behalf of Washington State PTA (WSPTA) Vancouver parent and PTA council leader, Heather Lindberg, pulled double duty in Olympia on March 21. She first testified in the Senate education committee in support of HB 1508, Breakfast after the…
Category:
Education
,
Legislative
WSPTA Legislative Consultant Testimony
Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, providing testimony on SB 5048. Tuesday, March 21 (Olympia) – Washington State PTA (WSPTA) Legislative Consultant, Marie Sullivan, spoke during the Senate Ways & Means hearing on SB 5048. She walked the Senate through WSPTA’s legislative platform and tied into the association’s over-arching mission and values. Sullivan then spoke about how that’s…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Action Turns Again to Committees, Revenue Up
Action returns to policy and budget committees as the opposite chamber takes up bills that passed the original chamber. Policy committees have until March 29 to hear and act on policy bills; the fiscal cutoff is April 4th. Keep in mind that bills that get changed in the opposite chamber must return to the original chamber…
WSPTA Region 2 FACE Chair Testimony
Thursday, March 16 – During the afternoon Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee public hearing, Jessica Garcia, WSPTA Region 2 Family and Community Engagement Chair/Bellevue PTSA Council President, testified in favor of SHB 1618 (family engagement coordinators). Ms. Garcia spoke with passion about her first-hand experience with family engagement and the great importance it…
Category:
Family Engagement
,
Legislative
WSPTA Bill Status & Week 11 Events Report
Monday, March 20 1:30 PM Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR 1, SHB 1046 – Public Hearing – Concerning certificates of academic and individual achievement. 1:30 PM Education (House) – HHR A SB 5070 – Public Hearing – Concerning para-educators. Tuesday, March 21 1:30 PM Early Learning & K-12 Education (Senate) – SHR…
Category:
Health & Well-being
,
Legislative
Levy Cliff Bill Causes Flurry of Last Minute Activity
In a surprise move March 8 before the 5 p.m. deadline, Senate Republicans brought a bill that would extend current local district levy authority through January 1, 2019. The expanded levy authority and linked levy equalization was put in place in the 2010 session, with the thought that the Legislature would have fully funded K-12…