Tuesday, February 18, 2014

E-Wire 2.18.14

Breaking News – Dream Act Passes House moments ago and is off to the Governor’s Desk!

The E-Wire has been down in Olympia with Director Krainick pushing the PTA Agenda for the past few days and the results have paid off.  With the help of members raining down messages and e-mails, our three priority bills which had not yet been moved off the Calendar were voted out of the House today (other significant bills concerning graduation and credit hours passed the Senate last week). 

All in all, having an active membership helps and several legislators noted the messages coming out of the PTA were respectful and well received.  So, hats off to everyone involved and time to take a 16 hour break before our hearings start all over again tomorrow morning.  You’ve earned it. For me, I think I will wrap up House of Cards Season 2 and be ready for the series finale of the Legislative Session which opens tomorrow at 8AM.


For those of you who really, really, really want to know where all the bills went that were offered this year and how the PTA factored in on the discussion – we will post our master list in the next day or so when the last bills sail on out of the House and Senate.  It’s a big file, however, so only for the wonkiest of policy wonks! 

With that, onto the E-Wire!

Top Story is CTE Credit, Breakfast After the Bell, and DXM Reform bills pass the House!  Speaking of Breakfast – not too happy news coming in from our neighbor to the South - http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2014/02/most_oregon_middle_and_high_sc.html#incart_river

This is a problem – in Washington State, we have made major strides in reducing homelessness.  The loss of this funding stream will set us back quite a piece - http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/feb/15/fee-that-fights-homelessness-expiring/

Some cool bills have legs this session and have advanced onto the next rung of the legislative ladder – read about two key opportunity gap and mental health bills here - http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/feb/15/washington-legislature-advances-school-bills/ - a mental health reform bill here - http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2014/02/washington_house_passes_legisl.html restricting “gay conversion therapy” on minor children - http://capitolrecord.tvw.org/2014/02/bill-barring-gay-conversion-therapy-for-minors-passes-house/#.UwKxavldWE4 and a Rep. Roger Freeman bill aimed at keeping families together here - http://www.federalwaymirror.com/news/245628481.html and finally, some Higher Ed reforms clear hurdles to advance - http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/245687631.html

Pay it Forward Plan has Hearing this week in House Higher Ed

Seattle Times comes out in favor of enhanced Foster Care legal rights

Moving ahead in closing the opportunity gap

Kitsap Sun Starts 6 part series on School Discipline

As SB 6552 is in the House awaiting action, Jeff Vincent shares his thoughts in the Seattle Times - http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2022914115_jeffvincentoped24credits17xml.html



Senate Majority Caucus throws together a Transportation Package – Senate Democrats far off http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2014/02/13/some-senators-offer-transportation-package-others-pan-it/

KUOW Explores Delayed Start Times for Better  Teen Learning - http://kuow.org/post/sleep-deprived-teenagers-starting-school-later-could-help-them-catch

It‘s one thing to report about education, it’s another thing to experience it close up

You know, I really hate getting this stuff confirmed

And for our moment of cuteness – I’ve had this problem trying to hide amendments in bills – guess the squirrel can relate? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTPOSdyA7Uo


The E-wire is written by WA State PTA Staff and Edited by Director Sherry Krainick.  Have questions or things you would like to see covered in the E-Wire?  Write us at PTALEGDIR@wastatepta.org

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