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…
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…
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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…
Senate Advances Bill to Extend Levy Cliff to 2019
As its last bill of the March 8 cutoff, the Senate Wednesday night passed an amended bill on the “levy cliff” (ESB 5023), with all members voting in favor; with the exception of Republican Senator Michael Baumgartner of West Spokane. The Senate ran their version of the bill so they could change the title to…
2017 Session Starts with Pomp, Work Sessions and Hearings
The 65th Washington State Legislature kicked off a 105-day session January 9, swearing in 18 new House and 12 new Senate members, one of the largest freshman classes for both chambers in many election cycles. The Senate is controlled by a Republican majority of 25-24, while the House majority is 50 Democrats to 48 Republicans.…
Erika Kapur Testifies before Senate Budget Committee
Erika Kapur, a 45th legislative district constituent and Washington State PTA (WSPTA) Region 2 Legislative Chair, testified yesterday afternoon in support of Governor Inslee’s proposed education budget. Her testimony can be found at 1 hour, 30 minutes into the Senate Ways & Means committee hearing; watch her testimony here. “This budget addresses many of the important…
WSPTA FACE Director Testifies in Favor of Governor Inslee’s Proposed Education Budget
Judy East, WSPTA Family and Community Engagement Director, testified Monday in the House Appropriations Committee in support of Governor Inslee’s proposed operating budget. In particular, Judy said: “This budget addresses many of the important elements of WSPTA’s two-year platform, as voted on by our membership. These include: A focus on social and emotional health with…
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Advocacy
WSPTA FACE Director Testifies in Favor of Governor Inslee’s Proposed Education Budget
Judy East, WSPTA FACE Director, testifying in Olympia Judy East, WSPTA Family and Community Engagement Director, testified Monday in the House Appropriations Committee in support of Governor Inslee’s proposed operating budget. In particular, Judy said: “This budget addresses many of the important elements of WSPTA’s two-year platform, as voted on by our membership. These include:…
PRESS RELEASE: State’s Largest Parents’ Association Applauds Inslee Education Budget
Tacoma, WA (December 15, 2016): After the release of Governor Jay Inslee’s education budget spending plan on Tuesday, Washington State PTA President Barbara Martin issued the following statement: “Governor Inslee’s investments in K-12 education to support a high-quality teacher in every classroom and a skilled principal in every school are a great step forward in…