Focus on Advocacy

Your voice matters!

We need your stories, we need your voice, and we need you! PTA’s legacy is strong because of passionate advocates just like you building our legislative platform, one resolution at a time.

Focus on Advocacy Week occurred January 17-21, 2022, and many advocates met with their legislators and participated in the daily call to actions. However, we know that advocacy is not a one-day event; it is an everyday action. And so, we encourage members to continue to stay informed and engaged throughout the legislative session, keeping our efforts focused on the mission. #WSPTAOneVoice

Focus on Advocacy Toolkit

Here are useful resources for advocating:

• School District x Legislative District 2022 spreadsheet – Many school districts are represented by legislators from more than one legislative district, and they all need to hear your concerns and stories. Use this spreadsheet to find their names and contact information.
• How To Find Your Legislators
• Subscribe to WSPTA Action Network
• How To Make Appointments With Legislators 
• How to Have a Successful Meeting with Legislators
• Zoom Background – For legislator meetings and testifying.
• Talking Points for Focus on Advocacy Meetings
• Virtual Focus on Advocacy Day Checklist 
• WSPTA Legislator Meeting Summary Form– Use this form to tell us how things went in your meetings during the Focus on Advocacy week as well as throughout the legislative session.
• Focus on Advocacy Newsletter – This is a weekly newsletter. It runs through the legislative session and provides tips and ideas for advocacy as well as a quick overview of what is happening in Olympia each week. To subscribe please contact support@wastatepta.org.

WSPTA Legislative Priorities

To learn more about the WSPTA legislative priorities:

• WSPTA Advocacy page – where you can find one-pagers about all of our 2022 issues
• 2020-22 Legislative Priorities
• WSPTA Legislative Priorities Graphic
• WSPTA Resolutions
• WSPTA Legislative Principles
• WSPTA Federal Legislation

Additional Information and Links

Here are additional resources you can use for successful year-round advocacy:

• Tips for Testifying Virtually on Bills
• Remote Testimony, Written Testimony & Positions – Screen shots walk members through the process of participating in public hearings during committee proceedings.
• WSPTA Blog – The WSPTA blog has helpful information about everything from PTA leadership and governance, advocacy, membership, events, news, and much more! Throughout the legislative session, PTA advocates testify to the legislature on bills that align with our legislative priorities. Information about the testimony is posted in the WSPTA blog, search on the tag “testimony” to see the full list of posts.
• Understanding the Legislative Process – English version | Spanish version
• WSPTA Understanding the Legislative Process in Olympia video
• Citizen’s Guide to Effective Legislative Participation
• Guide to Reading a Bill
• Legislative Hotline 1-800-562-6000 – You can ask questions or send a message to a legislator via the legislative hotline.
• Subscribe to individual bill and bill topic feeds

Focus on Advocacy Engagement