WSPTA Testimony to Senate Ways and Means Committee
Thursday, February 20 was education day in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. Traveling to Olympia to testify on behalf of Washington State PTA were President Michelle Nims and Advocacy Director Nancy Chamberlain. Here are their TVW clips: Aligning with the teacher shortage priority, Nancy testified in support of SB 5801, a bill that would…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies on Anti-bullying Bill – SB 5689
Northshore parent Corina Pfeil testified on behalf of Washington State PTA in support of SB 5689 in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee February 18th. The bill would require school districts to adopt a transgender student policy and procedures, and to designate a primary point of contact within schools for policy implementation and…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2019 Legislative Session – Week 6
Olympia digs out from the snow, first cutoff looms Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org In unprecedented action, the Legislature cancelled committee meetings Monday, February 11, due to historic amounts of snow that had fallen since the previous Friday. Most Monday committee meetings were rescheduled for later in the week. On the 11th,…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies on School Construction and Simple Majority for Bonds
Sherry Rudolph showed some love for two bills that were heard February 14, including SB 5853, which would increase the 40-year old student space allocation and cost allowance formulas to more current standards, with a phased-in approach. The bill was part of the Senate Ways & Means Committee meeting. Here’s her testimony in support of…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies on HB 1272 – School Lunch
Amy Ulrich, lead on the Best Practices for School Meals – Lunch position adopted last fall, testified in favor of HB 1272, which would direct OSPI to identify six demonstration sites to support a 20-minute seated lunch period. Amy’s testimony: Testimony on HB 1272 2/5/2019 3:30 p.m., House Education, HHR A Good afternoon, Madam…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2019 Legislative Session – Week 5
Snowmageddon strikes but Advocacy Week continues Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Even before forecasts of large snowstorms across the state were announced for February 8th through the weekend and Governor Jay Inslee declared an emergency, Olympia started the week with a dusting of snow. Schools were closed or delayed, people were encouraged…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2019 Legislative Session – Week 4
School safety top issue in education committees this week Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org House Education Committee members held a work session on school safety and security January 29th, hearing about the tragic Sandy Hook shooting from Alissa Parker, a parent whose daughter was among the 20 children killed that day. Parker,…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
Testimony on SB 5315 and SB 5317
Northshore parent Robin Zaback testified on behalf of WSPTA January 30, 2019, in support of SB 5315, which would increase the ratios of nurses, social workers, guidance counselors and school psychologists in schools, starting with districts above 50% eligibility of students in the Free or Reduced Price Meals program. Robin asked for one change –…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Members Testify on Dual Credits and Early Learning
On January 29 two WSPTA members testified. Seattle PTSA Council member Heidi Bennett testifiedin the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee in support of SB 5410, a bill that would increase predictability for students seeking college-awarded credits through IB and Cambridge courses when certain scores are hit on the exams. Sylvia Gil from the…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Testifies on HB 1384 Regarding High Poverty LAP Funding
On January 28, 2019, WSPTA Advocacy Director Nancy Chamberlain testified in strong support of HB 1384, which would lower the threshold for schools to qualify for High Poverty Learning Assistance Program funding, from 50% free and reduced lunch program (FRLP) participation to the statewide average for FRLP (approx. 43%). This change would give additional funding…
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Advocacy
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Legislative