Breakthrough close on budget?

TAKE ACTION
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Gregoire pushes compromise; says it is an all-in-one proposal
EXCERPT: “Gregoire said there are six major issues still at play, including proposals to raise taxes. She declined to say what her package would look like but said negotiators have to get away from working through each issue one at a time.
… “Republican Sen. Michael Baumgartner said his colleagues still want to see the pension changes and other overhauls, but he said -the party was flexible and open to accepting other ideas as part of a larger compromise, including the possibility of higher taxes.”

Delegates to vote on advocacy, bylaw changes

RESOLUTIONS UP FOR CONSIDERATION:

• Arts education - updates language, scope
• Sleep requirements aligned to school start times - new
• Subsidizing staff salaries - revised proposal; first considered last year
• Equitable education opportunities (contains references to innovation and charter schools) - new
• List of current resolutions

Several resolutions and bylaw amendments will be considered at the Washington State PTA Convention May 4-6. Resolutions are longterm advocacy positions. Bylaws are the rules that govern the association.

All PTAs/PTSAs need to review these proposals. Be sure to familiarize yourselves with them and discuss them with your voting delegates so they know how to represent your PTA.

Great news for early learning

Big news for the early learning folks: new guidlines are available. Please note the guidelines are birth through third grade and reflect the state-level commitment for smooth transitions into the K-12 system. (See forwarded note, below, for more information.)

Also great news: Yesterday the governor signed a new WaKids bill into law that expands the program to all schools statewide. Funding comes from a federal grant.

Waiting for compromise

BUDGET UPDATE
Various proposals

Leaders from the parties and respective chambers should be negotiating a supplemental budget. Last week the governor expressed frustration at lack of movement. Veto threat.

Senators released a new proposal last week that protected K-12 education funding -- "basic education" as well as enhancement programs that help struggling learners and that promote literacy, math and science, and educator development.

• Early learning funding is maintained at present levels.
• Cuts to the Office of the Education Ombudsman are trimmed to 5 percent, from 30 percent, and are no longer retroactive.

Feedback on charter school bill, SB 6202

WSPTA neither supports or opposes; is evaluating and cites concerns
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NOTE: This bill was heard in January by the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee. A companion bill was heard by the House Education Committee. It did not move out of committee and was not discussed or voted on by either chamber, but it was funded in at least one budget proposal from the Senate.

Washington State PTA has qualified support for charter schools and is actively looking for ways to close our state's entrenched achievement gaps. The association is supportive of allowing charter public schools in Washington as a way to improve accountability and innovation – but only if the charter public schools support our principles and follow state law.

Budget: On to compromise talks

The Senate passed a budget around 1 a.m. last night, using a procedural move to consider a proposal that did not move out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and that did not get a public hearing.

If there had been a hearing, Washington State PTA would have expressed strong concerns about cuts to education programs that benefit disadvantaged youth, and cuts to programs that keep children safe.

In the new Senate budget, $18 million has been cut from Children and Family Services; $202 million from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families  and Working Connections Child Care; and $44 million from K-12 public education. In the version written by the Ways and Means chair, no cuts were made to education and children’s services were protected.  A key difference is the budget passed does not delay by one day a $330 million apportionment payment.

Budget slashes programs for kids

UPDATE: New Senate budget passed 25-24 at 12:47 a.m. 3/3/2012
From here, Senate and House will negotiate differences in respective operating budgets

Senate budgets swapped in floor action

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This afternoon I had good news on the supplemental budget. Senators put kids first. No cuts to education – and better yet, they did this without further cuts into programs that keep kids healthy and safe. Ways and Means was set to vote on the budget Saturday.

HB 2799 - Collaborative schools, testimony in support

To: House Education Committee
re: In support of HB 2799, collaborative schools

Dear Chairwoman Santos and committee members

On behalf of the Washington State PTA, I am writing in strong support of HB 2799, collaborative schools for innovation and success. Identifying ways to better support students affected by the achievement gaps has been at the forefront of many PTA and PTSA conversations this past year. At our legislative assembly last fall, delegates unanimously voted to prioritize closing achievement gaps this legislative session by advocating for specific strategies. This particular issue also garnered the highest support in a statewide online survey that gathered feedback for voting delegates.

HB 2799 would advance three of strategies endorsed in that proposal:

SB 5967, Senate operations budget; support with 1 strong concern;

To: Senate Ways and Means Committee

Re: Proposed Senate 2012 Supplemental Operating Budget, striking amendment to SB 5967

Please fully commit to K12 education; please ensure kids get an education ombudsman

Dear Chairman Murray and committee members,

Washington State PTA’s priorities this session are to protect education and Apple Health for Kids, and we thank you for introducing a budget proposal that holds the line on cuts and identifies revenue to begin paying for the program of basic education that was promised back in 2009.

This leadership means a great deal to us.

Champions came through: No cuts to education

WSPTA PRESS RELEASE:

Senate budget a big step forward

LEADERS ANNOUNCE "NO CUTS TO EDUCATION"

Today state Senate leaders made a welcomed first step in meeting their paramount duty to fund education.  They announced a no cuts approach to K-12, and they promised immediate progress toward fully funding Basic Education, as promised in 2009’s House Bill 2261.

“This reaffirms our key message: Kids come first,” said Novella Fraser, Washington State PTA president. “Kids need a great basic education, and they need it fully funded.”

“We see inadequate funding for schools play out on a very personal level. We know the kids who are not reading well and we work with the staff struggling to support them. The schools are stressed, staffs are stressed, and volunteers are stressed. Finally, we’re seeing a commitment to invest in kids’ future.”

Public Charter School Forum Wednesday, 2/29

Hear pro, con and ask your questions.

Hosted by Washington State PTA Region 6

Wednesday, 2/29/12, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Washington Middle School in Seattle (directions below)

This event includes a review of national and state PTA positions on charter schools. ALL regions are welcome. Please, come hear what pro and con advocates have to say and what pro and con speakers from the academic world have to say.

Moderated by C.R. Douglas, Political Analyst, Q13 Fox News

PTA positions reviewed by Ramona Hattendorf, Government Relations Coordinator, Washington State PTA.

Panelists

Hundreds rally to focus on kids

Several hundred advocates braved the rain this President's Day and marched to the Capitol Steps to convey a simple message: Kids come first.

·          Kids need a great basic education, and most important, kids need it fully funded. Kids need to be kept healthy and safe. And most important, kids need champions. TAKE ACTION

The rally was part of Washington State PTA’s annual Focus Day. This is the day members focus on Olympia and tell our state leaders that kids come first. It is also the day key legislators meet with members to let us know what’s ahead and how we can better focus our work.

HB 2127, House operations budget; feedback

Update: In this response I overlooked a cut to small high schools that would have indeed been significant to the students and staff involved. Fortunately that funding was restored in a later version of the bill. This budget proposal otherwise kept allocations the same for Basic Education, but made cuts to some education enhancement programs. - RH

To: House Ways and Means Committee
Re: HB 2127, House operations budget

Dear Chairman Hunter and committee members,

Improving and funding basic education is Washington State PTA’s top priority and we are heartened that there are no additional significant cuts to K-12 proposed in your 2012 supplemental operating budget.

HB 2538, WaKids; testimony in support

To: Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee

Re: WaKids, HB 2538

Dear Chairwoman McAuliffe and committee members,

I wanted to follow up on my testimony in support of HB 2538, which moves up implementation of WaKids’ inventory of skills. Washington State PTA continues to support WaKids and looks forward to statewide implementation.

With WaKids the focus is on understanding each student’s particular needs and using that information to build strong relationships with the family so that, together, family and educator can better support the child.

House releases budget

House Ways and Means budget writers released the "first draft" of the 2012 supplemental operating budget, PSHB 2127.

Action Alert: Tell legislators - no cuts to schools; keep kids healthy and safe
Highlights:

• No additional cuts to basic education
• $400 million "delay" in school payments and levy equalization payments

House budget to be heard Feb. 21

Grassroots Connection: Update from Olympia

The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a public hearing on its proposed supplemental budget Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 3:30 p.m., in Room A of the John L. O'Brien Building on the Capitol Campus.

The hearing will be on the substitute bill by Rep. Hunter. The current version of HB 2127 is the governor's proposal, prefiled by Rep. Hunter at the request of the governor. I will post a link to the substitute when it becomes available.

Evaluation, budget updates from Olympia

EVALUATION BILL ADVANCES

The House Education Committee passed ESSB 5895 out of committee today. It passed the Senate last week, 46-3. Bill analysis.
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BUDGET NEWS
Revenue Forecast: Up $96 million — good news for lawmakers
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House budget expected next week; Senate budget shortly thereafter
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Alternative House budget released

Time to check in with legislators

CORRECTION: No town hall for District 37 (southeast Seattle) this weekend.

Townhalls are this weekend -- see list, below

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FOCUS DAY IS MONDAY! Kids activities starting at 9 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. march to the capitol steps; noon rally

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Evaluation compromise clears Senate, on to House

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Early learning pieces advance, but key components still being worked on

Compromise evaluation bill clears Senate; on to House

Senate votes on compromise legislation for teacher, principal evaluations
Roll call: 46-3

Striker SSB 5895

Tell legislators: THINK KIDS

Dear advocates,

Children are the heart of PTA work. Help them out by sending a valentine on their behalf. It will help keep children’s issues front and center as the House and Senate move bills off the floor February 13 and 14.

Sample message is included in Action Alert. TAKE ACTION.

If you like, ask your legislators to support a particular bill. See list, below.