Advocacy in Action! March 1, 2023
House Education Committee, March 1, 2023 Austina De Bonte, WSPTA member and President of the Washington Coalition for Gifted Education, urged House Education Committee members to pass SSB 5072, universal screening for highly capable students during a public hearing March 1st. Listen to Austina here. Rene Price, testifying on behalf of Washington State PTA, overcame…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Many Bills End Their Journey in 2023 with Fiscal Cutoff
Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org The Legislature is now on the downward slope towards the end of session in April, with the second deadline of Friday, February 24 ending the journey for many policy bills with fiscal impacts to the state. Bills with fiscal impacts to local governments or school districts usually don’t get similar…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Focus on Advocacy Day 2023 Recap
Following on the success of our virtual Focus on Advocacy Week, during which PTA members sent over 3300 messages, advocates came to Olympia on February 20 to meet with their legislators. Members who met with legislators can let WSPTA know how the discussion went by filling out the meeting summary form. PTA members also had…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Washington State PTA Supports HB 1473, aka “Wealth/Property Tax”
Prepared by Susan Baird-Joshi, sbaird@wastatepta.org and Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Washington State PTA, the state’s oldest and largest child advocacy organization supports House Bill 1473. According to the bill report, some of the revenues generated by this legislation would go to the Education Legacy Trust Account, an important source of ongoing funding for K-12 education. Washington…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Bills Die at Policy Cutoff in Week 6
Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Friday, February 17 was the final day for bills in policy committees to “stay alive” and under consideration during the 2023 legislative session. Of course, there are always a few exceptions, but for the most part, the deadline signals the end of the line, at least for this year. Keep…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Advocacy in Action! February 16, 2023
WSPTA President Nancy Chamberlain testified in favor of SB 5712, a bill that would increase the Washington College Grant eligibility up to 150 percent of median family income, and would make the Bridge Grant Program under the Washington College Grant permanent. In addition, beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, it would establish the Washington College…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Deadline for Policy Bills Looms in Week 5
Prepared by Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Friday, February 17 is the deadline by which bills referred to policy committees must have passed out of committee to remain under consideration. While there are always exceptions, for the most part, this is a significant deadline and bills that were introduced in the previous week or haven’t had a…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Advocacy in Action! February 9, 2023
Thursday, February 9th was special education funding day in the House and Senate budget committees. Over in the Senate Ways & Means Committee, Advocacy Director Lizzy Sebring thanked bill sponsor Senator Lisa Wellman for her commitment to more fully funding services for disabilities but told legislators it was time for the cap to go. Lizzy’s testimony…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Advocacy in Action! February 7, 2023
Parent Advocate Devon Kellogg testified on February 6 in the House Appropriations Committee on SHB 1170, improving climate resilience through updates to the state’s integrated climate response strategy. She encouraged legislators to include K-12 schools in the coordination and engagement of the updated strategy. Devon’s testimony can be found here. Overcoming some internet connectivity issues,…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative
Advocacy in Action! February 6, 2023
The House Education Committee on Monday, February 6 was a busy place for WSPTA testifiers! Parent advocate Tori Emerson shared her experience as a beginning teacher with House Education Committee members while supporting HB 1565, strengthening the professional education workforce. Listen to Tori here. Speaking in favor of adding another graduation for high school pathways…
Category:
Advocacy
,
Legislative