Governor’s 2018 budget would close gap mandated by Court
In his 2018 supplemental operating budget, Democratic Governor Jay Inslee proposed spending $950 million to reach full funding of state salary allocations for educators and school staff in the 2018-19 school year. This would move up the state’s salary phase-in by a year, which would resolve the problem raised by the Supreme Court last month…
WSPTA Invited to Press Conference for the Release of Governor Inslee’s 2018 Supplemental Budget
Flanked by leaders from the Washington State PTA and the Washington Education Association, Governor Jay Inslee released his proposed 2018 supplemental budget Thursday morning. Also invited to speak at the press conference was Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. Hear WSPTA President Michelle Nims’ speech, as she represents over 133,000 members, and the details about…
November 15 Supreme Court McCLeary Ruling Summation from Network for Excellence in Washington Schools (NEWS)
WSPTA is an original member of The Network for Excellence in Washington Schools (NEWS). Below is a summation from NEWS of yesterday’s ruling. The Supreme Court’s November 15, 2017 Order did three things: It unanimously rejected the State’s claim that the 2017 legislature satisfied the court orders in the McCleary case. It unanimously rejected the…
FOCUS DAY SURVEY
In past years, WSPTA has organized a one-day advocacy event in Olympia, in January or February, for a day of issue education and of talking to legislators about our priorities. But we know that Focus Day does not fit the needs of EVERY advocate; WSPTA is a statewide association, and not all our members who…
Guest Post: State PTA Adopts Ambitious Agenda for 2018
By Cami Brix, Inglemoor High School PTSA 6.10.75 Approximately 200 delegates representing 134,000 members from across the state recently attended the Washington State Parent Teacher Association (WSPTA) 39th annual Legislative Assembly in Tacoma, Washington. The body adopted several positions for their existing legislative and public policy platform. Same event, new focus – WSPTA Legislative Director…
Guest Post: Legislative Assembly – A Student Advocate Experience
By Skylar Pfeil, Inglemoor High School PTSA 6.10.75 Preparing for Legislative Assembly I was honestly afraid and nervous about this new experience. After my mom and I arrived, everything seemed to move along at a fast pace. At the first general assembly, we learned about how the voting would work and the process to use…
Guest Post: Why Should Students Attend Legislative Assembly?
By Emily McKenzie, 5th grade student, Kokanee PTA 6.10.22 Why should students attend legislative assembly? Because even a 5th grader can make a contribution. Hello, I am Emily McKenzie and I attend Kokanee Elementary in Woodinville, Washington. When both my parents decided to attend the WSPTA Legislative Assembly on October 20 and 21, 2017, I…
State Assistant Attorney General asks Supreme Court to End McCleary Case
Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org In oral arguments before the Supreme Court on October 24, 2017, state Assistant Attorney General Alan Copsey asked the Court to find that the state is in compliance with amply funding education and to close the case. In the event the Court was concerned about the two-biennium…
2017 WSPTA Legislative Assembly Recap
Delegates from across the state gathered for inspiration, advocacy education, networking, and to consider the addition of new positions to the policy platform, as Washington State PTA held its 39th annual Legislative Assembly, October 20-21. Some highlights of the WSPTA Legislative Assembly included an insightful and detailed update on the 2017 legislative session from WSPTA…
Governor Jay Inslee has declared October to be Dyslexia Awareness Month.
WSPTA members adopted Resolution 18.32, “Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, and Dyspraxia” in 2016 to support early screening for signs and symptoms of language processing disorders including but not limited to dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, with parental notification; and to support legislation for funding to support training of parents, teachers and other school personnel in early identification…
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