Resolutions
Resolutions guide our advocacy work from the local to the state level. They may be amended and updated, or retired, and are usually broader in scope than legislative issues. Washington State PTA (WSPTA) considers resolutions submitted in May for adoption or amendment at our legislative assembly in the fall, and those submitted in November for adoption or amendment at our annual convention in the spring. Any PTA member is encouraged to submit a resolution that addresses concerns that affect children on a state-wide level. WSPTA resolutions provide support on issues that are not currently covered by National PTA. WSPTA resolutions may not conflict with National PTA resolutions.
The following is a list of WSPTA resolutions by topic. In addition, you can view the WSPTA Board Positions and Resolutions in detail. A list of retired resolutions whose objectives have been met can be found here.
WSPTA Resolutions List
Alcohol and Drugs (Section 1)
1.8 Substance Use Disorder Education and Prevention
1.9 Furnishing Alcohol to Minors
1.10 Adolescent Marijuana Use Prevention
Child Safety and Protection (Section 2)
2.1 Safe Travel Routes and Parking Lots
2.2 Child Identification Program
2.8 Bicycle Helmet Safety Education
2.9 Emergency Preparedness
2.11 Promoting the Safety / Well-Being of Children through Decreased Exposure to Violence
2.13 Youth Suicide Prevention
2.14 Child Abuse Prevention Supports
2.15 E-911 Safety Training for Youth
2.16 Water Safety and Instruction
2.17 Child Sex Trafficking
2.18 Trauma Informed Care
2.19 LGBTQ+ Inclusion
2.21 Sexual Violence and Harassment Prevention and Survivor Supports
2.22 Digital and Internet Safety
2.23 Gun Violence Prevention and Safety – Students and School Staff
2.24 Furniture Tip-Over Prevention
2.25 Restorative Justice and Improving Student Outcomes
2.26 Dismantling Institutional and Systemic Racism
2.26 Desmantelar el Racismo Institucional y Sistemico
2.27 Improving Outcomes for Children and Youth in Highly Mobile Populations
Cooperative Role of Parents and Educators (Section 4)
4.3 Excellence in our Education System
4.7 Public School Dropout Prevention/Retrieval
4.12 Family and Community Engagement in Education *retired October 2022*
4.13 Subsidizing Certificated and Classified Staff Salaries
4.14 Vital Impact of Membership on PTA’s Sustainability
4.15 Mission-Focused Fundraising
4.16 Equitable and Impactful Family Engagement in Education
Health and Nutrition (Section 11)
11.1 Students with Diabetes
11.11 Indoor Air Standards
11.17 Tobacco Settlement Money
11.20 Energy Drinks
11.21 Alignment of Sleep Requirement for Optimum Health with School Start Times
11.22 Allergies and Asthma
11.23 Access to Health and Dental Care
11.24 Paid Sick and Family Leave
11.25 Mitigating Environmental Hazards and Contaminants in Schools
11.26 Supporting the Mental and Behavioral Health Needs of Children and Youth
11.28 Mitigating the Health Effects of Climate Change
11.29 School Nutrition, Breakfast and Lunch Policies
11.30 Equitable Access to Recess, Play, Unstructured Time, and Physical Activity
11.31 Social Emotional Learning and Student Success
Support for Public Education (Section 18)
18.5 Funding for Basic Education
18.6 Uninterrupted Operation of Schools
18.9 Participation and Oversight in Education Budgets
18.11 Common School/Construction Funding
18.13 Student Assessment and Testing
18.18 Reduction in Class Size
18.20 School Construction Bond Reform
18.22 Children with Special Needs *retired October 2022*
18.24 Meaningful High School Diploma
18.25 Rights And Services For Undocumented Children And Youth
18.26 Levies and Local Effort Assistance
18.28 Increasing Revenue to Support our Legislative Principles
18.31 Financial Literacy
18.32 Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia
18.34 Universal Design for Learning
18.36 Equitable Access to Highly Capable Services
18.37 Arts in Education
18.38 Equitable Education Opportunities to Close Gaps Across the Achievement Spectrum
18.39 Cultural Access Programs and Expanded Learning Opportunities
18.40 Equitable Access and Improved Outcomes for Students with Disabilities
18.41 Supporting K-12 Career and Technical Education
18.42 Improving Literacy and Educational Outcomes
18.43 Increasing Access and Affordability of Post-Secondary Education
Retired Resolutions
1.7 TV Programming and Advertising Promoting Alcohol Use / Alcohol and Drugs
2.7 Sexually Explicit Phone Services / Child Safety and Protection
2.20 Improving Outcomes for Foster and Homeless Youth / Child Safety and Protection
4.5 Non-Custodial Parent Rights to School Records / Cooperative Role of Parents and Educational Professionals
4.12 Family and Community Engagement in Education / Cooperative Role of Parents and Educational Professionals
11.4 Comprehensive School Health Education / Health and Nutrition
11.13 HIV/AIDS Education / Health and Nutrition
11.14 People Living with HIV, AIDS / Health and Nutrition
11.18 Food Safety / Health and Safety
11.19 School Nutrition / Health and Safety
11.27 Best Practices – Recess and Physical Activity / Health and Safety
14.2 Television Programming / Mass Media
18.4 Excellence in Education / Support for Public Education
18.17 Education Reform: Defining Our Role / Support for Public Education
18.19 High School Graduation, College Preparation and Access / Support for Public Education
18.21 Career and Technical Education / Support for Public Education
18.22 Children with Special Needs / Support for Public Education
18.23 Third Credit of Math Graduation Requirement / Support for Public Education
18.27 No Child Left Behind and the 1% / Support for Public Education
18.29 Equitable Educational Opportunities / Support for Public Education
18.30 Access to General Education for Students with Disabilities / Support for Public Education
18.33 Increasing Access and Affordability of Post-Secondary/Higher Education and Certificates / Support for Public Education
18.35 Improving Outcomes in Special Education / Support for Public Education
19.3 Support for Children with Economic Disadvantages / Legislative Program
Board Positions
There are currently no active board positions.
Submit a Resolution Proposal
Steps in the Submission Process
- Before beginning the process, submitters are encouraged to review the resolutions webpage for the following:
• online resolution proposal form
• resolution review checklist for new and amended resolutions
• full list of existing resolutions
• Savvy Submitter’s Guide video series. There is an overview video, a resolutions video and a video detailing the steps after submission. - Email the draft resolution title (for new and amended resolutions) to the WSPTA Resolutions Chair at resolutions@wastatepta.org no later than May 1, 2023.
- Complete the online resolution proposal form no later than 12:00 PM on June 1, 2023.
PLEASE NOTE: You are NOT able to save an in-progress resolution proposal form once you have begun. If you close your browser or go back, your proposal form will not be recorded. You must complete the proposal form in one sitting. We recommend that you review this proposal form in advance and save your answers in a separate Word document you will later email. - Email the required Word document to 0cde43e7.washingtonstatepta.onmicrosoft.com@amer.teams.ms no later than 12:00 PM on June 1, 2023, that includes the required resolution title, whereas clauses, resolved clauses, persuasive statement, citations, and facts and evidence. PDF and other noneditable file types will not be accepted. If you have any problems with your submission, please email support@wastatepta.org.
Deadlines
- Email the draft resolution title (for new and amended resolutions) to the WSPTA Resolutions Chair at resolutions@wastatepta.org no later than May 1, 2023.
- Complete the online resolution proposal form no later than 12:00 PM on June 1, 2023.
PLEASE NOTE: You are NOT able to save an in-progress resolution proposal form once you have begun. If you close your browser or go back, your proposal form will not be recorded. You must complete the proposal form in one sitting. We recommend that you review this proposal form in advance and save your answers in a separate Word document you will later email.
Review Resources Prior to Submitting
- 2023 Resolution Proposal Form
- Resolution Proposal Instructions
- Resolution Review Checklist – New Resolutions
- Resolution Review Checklist – Amended Resolutions
- The Savvy Submitter’s Guide to Issues, Resolutions and Principles – Part 1 – Overview
- The Savvy Submitter’s Guide to Issues Resolutions and Principles – Part 3 – Resolutions
- The Savvy Submitter’s Guide to Issues Resolutions and Principles – Part 5 – You’ve Completed Your Submission, Now What?
Resolution Submitter Requirements
- Be a current Washington State PTA member.
- Submit a completed resolution proposal (including the online resolution proposal form and an emailed Word document) by the deadline above and include all links/references so the information is verifiable.
- Be available by email and phone to work with the resolution committee member assigned to review your resolution to provide clarification or additional information as needed.
- In the case where more than one resolution submitted is of similar scope, agree to work with others to combine resolutions.
- Register for and attend WSPTA Legislative Assembly or the business meeting of convention (or send a representative) to present your resolution to attendees to encourage adoption. Any representative should understand the resolution submitted and be prepared to speak on it during caucusing and debate. Please note that you must be a voting delegate to speak during debate.
- Additional items may be requested such as an education PowerPoint to share with delegates and an opening persuasive statement for the debate.
- All resolution submitters must sign the submitter team code of conduct. The resolutions committee will review the resolutions using the resolutions review checklist and make recommendations to the board of directors. Following the board meeting, you will be notified if your resolution will be forwarded to the members.
Resolution Proposal Form
Each submitter shall complete the resolution proposal form and submit by the deadline. If the directions are not followed and/or deadlines are not met, it may prevent your resolution from being considered and/or moving forward.
Submitter Information:
- Identify whether the submission is being offered by an individual PTA member, local PTA/PTSA (in good standing), council (in good standing), or WSPTA committee.
- Provide primary submitter contact information including name, PTA/PTSA name and number, mobile number, and email.
- Provide additional submitter contact (if applicable) including name, PTA/PTSA name and number, mobile number, and email.
- Identify if you are available to attend WSPTA Legislative Assembly or the business meeting at WSPTA Convention and willing and able to participate in future advocacy.
- Identify if you are submitting a new resolution, amending an existing resolution, or retiring an existing resolution.
- For new resolutions only:
• Work in progress – Are any legislators and/or groups or coalitions currently working on this topic?
• Is this topic a current or past position of PTA? – List the WSPTA, other state PTA congress, or National PTA positions, principles, issues or resolutions that align with your proposed new resolution. Cite the position or resolution title and year, if known.
New Resolutions: When you have completed and submitted the online form, email the required Word document to 0cde43e7.washingtonstatepta.onmicrosoft.com@amer.teams.ms that includes the required resolution title, whereas clauses, resolved clauses, persuasive statement, citations, and facts and evidence. PDF and other noneditable file types will not be accepted.
- Resolution title – In 60 characters or less, including spaces, provide a proposed title for your new resolution. The title should concisely and accurately describe the resolution.
- Resolution whereas clauses – New resolutions may have up to 10 whereas clauses if necessary. Whereas clauses fall under the purview of the resolutions committee and shall be edited as needed by the committee. If the proposal moves forward, the proposed changes to the whereas clauses will be shared with voting delegates to provide them additional information to inform their vote, but they are not voted on by delegates.
- Resolution resolved clauses – New resolutions may have up to 4 resolved clauses if necessary.
- Persuasive statement – Provide a persuasive statement for this new resolution, up to a maximum of 250 words.
- Citations – Citations are required to provide evidence to support each whereas clause and each fact quoted in the persuasive statement. Please provide the hyperlink to the actual webpage or document, not just a footnote without a hyperlink. Put the citation number in parenthesis at the end of the statement and add the numbered list of citations immediately after the issue/resolution/legislative principle. Please do not use the footnote feature.
- Facts and evidence – Provide the facts and evidence that lead you to propose this new resolution. Limit your response to no more than 5 pages.
Amendments to Existing Resolutions: When you have completed and submitted the online form, email the required Word document to 0cde43e7.washingtonstatepta.onmicrosoft.com@amer.teams.ms that includes the required resolution title, whereas clauses, resolved clauses, persuasive statement, citations, and facts and evidence. PDF and other noneditable file types will not be accepted.
- Current resolution title and number – Provide the current title and number of the existing resolution to be amended.
- Resolution title amendments – Indicate your proposed amendments to the current title, if any. The title, as you propose it would read, must be 60 characters or less, including spaces. Use
strikethroughto note deletions and bold/underline to show additions. The title should concisely and accurately describe the amended resolution. - Whereas clause amendments – Indicate your proposed amendments to the current whereas clauses. Use
strikethroughto note deletions and bold/underline to show additions. Amended resolutions may have up to 10 whereas clauses if necessary. Reminder: whereas clauses fall under the purview of the resolutions committee and shall be edited as needed by the committee. If the proposal moves forward, the proposed changes to the whereas clauses will be shared with voting delegates to provide them additional information to inform their vote, but they are not voted on by delegates. - Resolved clause amendments – Indicate your proposed amendments to the current resolved clauses. Use
strikethroughto note deletions and bold/underline to show additions. Amended resolutions may have up to 4 resolved clauses if necessary. - Persuasive statement – Provide a persuasive statement for the amendment of this resolution, up to a maximum of 250 words.
- Citations – Citations are required to provide evidence to support each new or amended whereas clause and each fact quoted in the persuasive statement. Please provide the hyperlink to the actual webpage or document, not just a footnote without a hyperlink. Put the citation number in parenthesis at the end of the statement and add the numbered list of citations immediately after the issue/resolution/legislative principle. Please do not use the footnote feature.
Retiring Existing Resolutions: When you have completed and submitted the online form, email the required Word document to 0cde43e7.washingtonstatepta.onmicrosoft.com@amer.teams.ms that includes the required resolution title, whereas clauses, resolved clauses, persuasive statement, citations, and facts and evidence. PDF and other noneditable file types will not be accepted.
- Current resolution title and number – Provide the current title and number of the existing resolution to be retired.
- Persuasive statement – Provide a persuasive statement for the retirement of this resolution, up to a maximum of 250 words.
- Citations – Citations are required to provide evidence to support each fact quoted in the persuasive statement. Please provide the hyperlink to the actual webpage or document, not just a footnote without a hyperlink. Put the citation number in parenthesis at the end of the statement and add the numbered list of citations immediately after the issue/resolution/legislative principle. Please do not use the footnote feature.