Parent, Jennifer Ogle, Testified on Education Funding Plans

Representing the Washington State PTA (WSPTA) on Monday, February 6, parent Jennifer

Parent Testimony from WSPTA
Member, Jennifer Ogle

Ogle testified in the House Appropriations Committee on the House Democrat (HB 1843) and Senate Republican (SB 5607) education funding plans.

After waiting more than three hours to speak, Ogle challenged lawmakers to adopt ample funding solutions that include progressive revenue sources that are sufficient, sustainable and equitable. In addition, she shared WSPTA's position that final solutions must not shift funds from existing programs in the budget, but must consider the education and welfare of the whole child. 

Ogle thanked the Governor, the Senate Republicans and House Democrats for coming forward with solutions that recognize that some students need more help, and therefore more money, to be successful. But she cautioned against language that picked winners and losers, and urged lawmakers to adopt a solution where every student, no matter where they live, is a winner. 

WSPTA Parent, Michael Steffen, Testifies for Breakfast After the Bell

WSPTA Parent, Michael Steffen

Representing the Washington State PTA (WSPTA), parent Michael Steffen testified today before the House Education Committee in favor of HB 1508, the Breakfast after the Bell bill.

Steffen is legislative chair for the Marvista  Elementary PTSA in the Highline School District. The bill is one of the WSPTA's Top 5 legislative priorities this session. Steffens testimony can be found at the 95 minute mark here.

WSPTA Member, JC Mitchell, Testifies in Support of Para-educators

Mitchell, gentleman
seated on far right

Speaking on behalf of WSPTA and favor of HB 1115, creating standards for para-educators, JC Mitchell asks the House Education committees to pass this bill.

"It is essential that we have highly skilled para-educators working with our children," said Mitchell. "When talking with my son's Para-educators in a field trip, I was struck with how empowering it was for them to know that we are fighting for standards and training to help them be successful."

Watch the full broadcast here.

Erika Kapur Testifies before Senate Budget Committee

Erika Kapur, a 45th legislative district constituent and Washington State PTA (WSPTA) Region 2 Legislative Chair, testified yesterday afternoon in support of Governor Inslee's proposed education budget. Her testimony can be found at 1 hour, 30 minutes into the Senate Ways & Means committee hearing; watch her testimony here.

Erika Kapur, Region 2 Legislative Chair Testifies

Like Judy East (WSPTA Family and Community Engagement Director) on Monday, Erika shared WSPTA how the Governor's proposal aligned with WSPTA priorities:

"This budget addresses many of the important elements of WSPTA's two-year platform, as voted on by our membership. These include:

• A focus on social and emotional health with enhancements for family engagement coordinators, mental health, and counselors.
• Improving student outcomes through Learning Assistance Programs, supports for foster youth, and career and technical training and career-ready pathways.
• Investing in the professionals who educate our children by increasing the share of their compensation paid for by the state, supporting their professional development and providing mentoring programs for new teachers, and by offering additional training to para-educators.
• Expanding access to Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), which is one of the smartest investments the state can make.
• Preserving the tuition reduction made in the last few years, ensuring continued access to higher education for learners from all backgrounds."

Marie Sullivan

WSPTA Legislative Consultant

Email Marie

WSPTA FACE Director Testifies in Favor of Governor Inslee's Proposed Education Budget

Judy East, WSPTA FACE Director, testifying in Olympia

Judy East, WSPTA Family and Community Engagement Director, testified Monday in the House Appropriations Committee in support of Governor Inslee's proposed operating budget. In particular, Judy said:

"This budget addresses many of the important elements of WSPTA's two-year platform, as voted on by our membership. These include:

• A focus on social and emotional health with enhancements for family engagement coordinators, mental health, and counselors.
• Improving student outcomes through Learning Assistance Programs, supports for foster youth, and career and technical training and career-ready pathways.
• Investing in the professionals who educate our children by increasing the share of their compensation paid for by the state, supporting their professional development and providing mentoring programs for new teachers, and by offering additional training to para-educators.
• Expanding access to Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP), which is one of the smartest investments the state can make.
• Preserving the tuition reduction made in the last few years, ensuring continued access to higher education for learners from all backgrounds."

Judy thanked the Governor for putting out the first bold proposal, and told legislators that WSPTA is ready to assist as they grapple with meeting the state's constitutional obligation to amply fund education for our students.

Her testimony can be found about 1 hour, 11 minutes into the TVW video.

Marie Sullivan

WSPTA Legislative Consultant

email Marie

Senate Bill 6080 - Good Start - But Not Enough to Meet Student Needs

This week, PTA activist and McCleary team lead Eden Mack from the Seattle Council PTA joined us in Olympia for the hearing on Senate Bill 6080 which starts the conversation on how to fund additional classrooms in the wake of all day Kindergarten and class size reductions required by McCleary.  In her testimony, she thanked the committee for starting the process, but, as a parent and leader in the Seattle School District, highlighted that the proposal did not go far enough to satisfy the growing need for classroom space in Washington.

Her testimony and the follow up question and answer session between her, Senator Keiser, and Senator Honeyford is well worth the five minutes.  This is our PTA in action and it's great when members are able to take the time to let our legislators understand the real world implications derived from their bills. Testimony on SB 6080 starts at the 1:10 mark and Eden's testimony starts at the 1:39:40 mark. Check it out!

Social and Emotional Learning Hearing Successful in House Education

One of our Key Top Five Issues passed yet another hurdle this week when Senate Bill 5688, the Social and Emotional Learning Bill, was heard in the House Education Committee. Sarah Butcher, the Legislative Team Lead on SEL, was present along with Issaquah PTA leader Essie Hicks, pictured above, with her son who joined her in testifying.  Also on hand were the Student Ambassadors who gave an emotionally charged testimony concerning their own experiences.  It's worth a look, but, bring a hankie.  The public testimony starts here with the Student Ambassadors at the 1:33.00 mark. They are followed by Sarah then Essie.  Have a look.

TIP: How to Testify in Committee

Click Legislative Meeting Schedules and Calendars for individual committee agendas and daily and weekly meeting schedules.

"Open" Legislature

Washington State has one of the most open legislatures in the country. A bill has a public hearing before Senate and House committees before being considered on the floor of the House and Senate. Your opportunity to testify comes at the committee hearings. If you cannot appear before a committee, contact your legislator making your position on a bill known. You can do so by writing a letter, sending an e-mail, calling the legislator's Olympia office, or by calling the Legislative Hotline at 800.562.6000.

Senate Committees usually meet in hearing rooms in the John A. Cherberg Building and House Committees usually meet in the John L. O'Brien Building. Both buildings are adjacent to the Legislative Building in Olympia.

National PTA to Testify Before Congress - Student Data Privacy

Tomorrow, February 12, 2015, National PTA Vice President of Advocacy, Shannon Sevier will testify before the House Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education on behalf of National PTA. This is a Subcommittee of the House Education and the Workforce Committee

The hearing, titled “How Emerging Technology Affects Student Privacy,” will focus on student data privacy, exploring the use of new technology in the classroom and examine the need to modernize FERPA.

As you know, National PTA has been actively involved in the ongoing debate about the best way forward on student data privacy. This hearing gives National PTA the opportunity to highlight the importance of this issue before Congress and showcase the steps we are taking to ensure all children’s data is secure.

Shannon’s testimony, along with others, will be live streamed at 8:00 AM (Pacific). For additional information about the hearing and to view her live testimony, please see the Committee website:

http://edworkforce.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=398317

WSPTA Provided Testimony on HB 2181 to Authorizing & Support Career and College ready graduation requirements

Testimony on 1/23/14 - Bill 2181 Career and College Ready Diploma

Thank you madam Chair and members of the committee.

My name is Heidi Bennett, Seattle parent and representing the WA State PTA

We support  this bill most enthusiastically, since the concept was first presented in Washington Learns,  then again in bill 2261 and plus this has been a WA State PTA priority for the last decade.

WSPTA Provided Testimony on HB 2109 to Increase Quality Healthcare in Rural and Underserved Areas

Washington State PTA attended the House Higher Education Committee meeting at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, January 17, 2014 in support of Rep. Haler’s(8^th District, Richland) HB 2109 Concerning the development of residency training programs to recruit and retain primary care physicians in rural and underserved areas of the state.  Due to committee time constraints, testimony was limited to the Kadlec group.  Washington State PTA signed in as a supporter of the bill, we did not get the opportunity to provide oral testimony.  The following written testimony was submitted to the committee: