WSPTA Student Voices Testify for Financial Literacy
At the request of Washington State PTA, two students testified January 18 in favor of financial literacy in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Committee. Jackson Adams is a student in the Walla Walla School District and Kellen Hoard is a student in the Northshore School District. Hear their testimony here and here. Both students…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Speaks in favor of Simple Majority for Bonds
Speaking in favor of WSPTA’s long-standing position in support of simple majority for bonds, Melissa Stone urged legislators to pass HB 1226 and HJR 4200 to build a foundation that supports student success. The bills were being heard in the House Education Committee and are scheduled for executive action Friday, January 21.
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Testifies in Favor of SB 5217
On Monday, Martin Luther King Jr., Day, it was fitting for Dr. Gwen Loosmore to testify in favor of SB 5217, urging legislators to adopt a common sense approach to reduce and prevent gun violence. The issue remains one of WSPTA’s top legislative priorities this session.
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA tells Senate budget committee to “get the lead out”
Speaking in favor of ESHB 1139 (acting on lead in drinking water), Gwen Loosmore encouraged members of the Senate Ways & Means Committee to pass the bill out of committee before the cutoff and to provide the funding necessary to help school districts replace fixtures with lead contamination. Hear Gwen’s testimony here. In addition, thanks…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
House School Seismic Safety Retrofit Gets Praise
Registered professional engineer and WSPTA parent advocate DaleAnn Baker thanked House Capital Budget Committee members for their $65 million investment in the school seismic safety retrofit program. The Senate was not as generous, with a proposal of only $3.1 million. Seismic safety is one element of the legislative platform adopted last fall by members at…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Stabilizing K-12 Funding a Priority This Session
Last fall members adopted a position in support of preserving K-12 education funding under the pandemic. At issue was a possible $9 billion budget deficit that could lead to reduced state funding and mid-year cuts. Fortunately, the state’s economy is recovering and a third infusion of federal stimulus funds is forthcoming. Lizzy Sebring asked Senate…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA asks for changes to “transpo fix” bill
Speaking with concerns about E2SSB 5128, the bill designed to preserve transportation funding despite reduced ridership this school year, parent advocate Heidi Bennett urged House Education Committee members to reject language that would require districts to use federal ESSER funds to backfill state funding rather than support student learning recovery programs. Listen to Heidi here.…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Supports Graduation Flexibility
SHB 1162 would allow students to graduate with 20 credits, as long as the student had completed the 17 core credits and 3 personal pathways credits related to their high school and beyond plan. The bill also would create a new graduation pathway option – the performance exhibit. Michelle Nims voiced WSPTA support for the…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
WSPTA Supports school-based health centers
Heidi Zamora had her testimony ready to go when SHB 1225 was heard in the House policy committee but, unfortunately, the committee ran out of time for all the speakers. She had a chance to dust it off and speak in favor of the Legislature adopting this bill, which would create a grant program to…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Closing the digital divide, one device at a time
Last fall, WSPTA members voted into the Top 5 a position in support of closing the digital divide, creating affordable and accessible connectivity, and making sure students had access to developmentally appropriate devices. Advocate Heidi Bennett urged members of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee to adopt E2SHB 1365 as a good first…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative