PTA advocates
from around the state came together at the SeaTac Marriott this past weekend
for WSPTA’s Annual Legislative Assembly for advocacy training and to consider
issues proposed by PTA members to be added to the list of issues supported on
the WSPTA’s legislative platform. In addition, it was also well attended by legislators and
representatives from other agencies as we work to further our collaborative
efforts for children.
As the second
year of a two-year platform, the top priority issues will remain the same as
last year. (Click here to view the top priority issues for 2012-14.)
However, delegates voted to adopt the proposed amendment to the current
supported issue of Access, Opportunity and Equity for Special Education (as
presented in the Issue Guide) and add to the list of supported issues: English
Language Learner Students (as presented in Issue Guide); Sufficient and
Equitable Funding for Highly Capable Programming (as presented in Issue Guide);
and Background Checks on Gun Purchases (as amended to: "The
Washington State PTA shall initiate and/or support legislation or policies that
extend criminal background checks to the purchase of guns from non-licensed
sellers.") Click here to view the Issue Guide.
New and amended
resolutions were debated and approved. These were: Access to General Education
for Students with Disabilities (as presented in the Issue Guide); Allergies and
Asthma (as amended to replace all mentions of "epipens" to "epinephrine
delivery" in resolved clauses); and the proposed amendment Funding Basic
Education (as presented in the Issue Guide).
