Testimony - teacher development, school-age start

Testimony to House Education Committee

PRO - HB 1178, Authorizing alternative assessments of basic skills for teacher certification.
Signed in support. Aligns with WSPTA’s No.  3 position, Closing the Opportunity Gaps
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PRO - HB 1252, Establishing the Washington K-12 online professional development project.
Signed in support. Aligns with WSPTA’s No. 5 position, Universal Access to Highly Effective Teachers
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PRO - HB 1283, Changing compulsory school attendance requirements for children six and seven years of age.

Signed in support. Spoke briefly about problems with delaying school until age 8, especially given the importance of early learning. Re-iterated that earliest years were a transition period between home and school learning, structured and unstructured learning; but by first grade community expectations were that children were receiving formal instruction of some sort and that state law just hadn’t caught up to our K-12 system.

Testimony - School takeover

CON - SB 5329 - Creating the state superintendent school district

Testimony to Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee

(Note: The concern around voter disenfranchisment also underscored Washington State PTA's decision not to endorse the A+ Washington plan crafted by other education advocates, and not to support proposed legislation last year that would have set up "Innovation Zones" where the state hired management companies to run struggling schools. Concern about community oversight of and participation in schools also factored into the association's decision not to endorse the charter initiative. The association did back 2010's SB 6696, which laid out steps for state intervention in the perennially poorest performing schools. Implementation of the concepts introduced in that bill -- evaluations, family engagement and school/district accountability -- remain a top priority for WSPTA.)

Testimony - Grading schools (to Senate)

OTHER - 5328 - Creating a school-grading program that relies on the accountability index. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.)

Testimony to Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee

Good afternoon Chairman Litzow and Senators,

Washington State PTA has not taken a position on terminology in the new achievement index.

Testimony - 3rd grade retention, reading (to Senate)

OTHER - SB 5237 - Establishing accountability for student performance in third grade.

Testimony to Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee

Good afternoon Chairman Litzow and Senators,

Washington State PTA does not have a position on retention, and we did not sign in pro or con.

What's a successful school?

• Should the state intervene in poorest-performing schools?
• Should the state “grade” schools A-F (or rank them 1-7)?
• What’s more important: Students passing test benchmarks, or students showing great academic growth?

Dear members,

The State Board of Education and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction want your opinion on how to identify successful K-12 public schools.

For example, would you view these two schools as equally successful?

• A school with a lot of students passing tests.
• A school where a lot of students are progressing faster than average (regardless of how they do on tests).

The survey contains several questions about what you value in your public schools. The final selection of values will lead to a better tool for evaluating school performance.

Please take a minute to share your thoughts on this important issue. The survey will be open until February 15. The results of the survey will be available on the State Board of Education website by March 12.

Testimony - Discipline bills

Re: Support for Senate Bills 5155, 5244, 5245 and 5301 (all dealing with suspensions and expulsions); request for more foundational work to address behavior and school climate issues


To: Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee

Dear Chairman Litzow and Senators,

Ready, set, focus

Advocates heading to Olympia

Take Action: Will they defer schools, again?
Agenda, speaker lineup below

Washington State PTA members will hit the state Capitol on January 24. Our goal: Reach every legislator who has a PTA or PTSA in their district. The Parent Teacher Association advocates for children's well-being and education, and our members have important insight to share about what children need to thrive.

Our main message: Implement and pay for basic education, as promised in 2009 and the basic education funding bill, HB 2261.

No schedule for basic education funding

Focus Day is Thursday, Jan. 24. Free and empowering!

This is Washington State PTA's citizen lobbying day when advocates show up, speak up and otherwise let their legislators know that kids matter. We provide common talking points but all members are always encouraged to speak to the issues that matter most to them.

Register
Focus Day blog

Find your legislator/make an appointment

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The 2013 Legislative Session has kicked into gear, and our top priority -- improving and paying for basic education -- is at the forefront. The conversation kicked off Tuesday in a hearing of the House Appropriations Committee, where many of those testifying agreed: The outgoing governor's budget proposal had good elements, but did not go far enough to satisfy the McCleary school funding ruling. There is still no payment plan for K-12 education.

Following is Washington State PTA testimony to the committee.

Testimony - Pay for the 24-credit diploma

Early learning is important, but legal committments extend to graduation requirements

To: House Appropriations Committee

Re: Education section, HB 1057, Gov. Gregoire’s proposed 2013-14 budget.

WSPTA Position: Concerns

Dear Chairman Hunter and Appropriation Committee Members,

Rally to ban assault weapons

Seattle event on eve of new state legislative session

Gun control advocates will be hosting a rally and march Sunday, Jan. 13, in downtown Seattle. StandUp Washington will commemorate Sandy Hook Elementary shooting victims and demand a state ban of semi-automatic weapons. Washington State PTA is not a sponsor of this event, but nationally the association works to prevent gun violence and we wanted to let members know about this opportunity.

It's time to focus

Join us Jan. 24 as we lobby Olympia

'MAKE THE HARD CHOICES'

Guest blog, from your 2013 Focus Day co-chairs:

The Washington State PTA legislative platform for the next two years is set. Now we have to do something with it! Focus Day is fast upon us. On January 24th in Olympia, we have our next, and perhaps best, opportunity as a large voting block to advocate for our kids with a loud, cohesive voice by sharing our new legislative platform with our legislators and our state.

Advocating for School Safety

When tragedy like the Sandy Hook school shooting strikes, PTA members want to know how to help, then they start looking for solutions. It’s the core of what we do. Here is a collection of resources for members and local PTA leaders.

HOW TO HELP:

• Snowflakes needed to welcome children to new school
• Where to send monetary donations
• Details, mailing address here

PTA takes national position on evaluation reform

• Aligns with Washington State PTA work with the Teacher and Principal Evaluation Pilot and implementing legislation

• FAQ follows statement, below

 

POSITION STATEMENT: DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL  EVALUATION SYSTEMS

Effective instruction and family-school collaboration are essential components of student academic success. National PTA supports the state*and local development and implementation of effective, fair, and meaningful teacher and principal evaluation systems that improve the capacity of educators and families to enhance student learning and academic achievement.

National PTA supports legislation and policy decisions to enable state and local development and implementation of teacher and principal evaluation systems.

 
Teacher and Principal Evaluation Systems should:

WSPTA: Keep pushing to improve basic education

New Top 5 voted in

Delegates to Washington State PTA's 2012 Legislative Assembly threw support behind reforms put in place in 2009 and 2010 that redefined basic education to better prepare all children for college and career, make school funding more transparent, and add accountability measures to how schools are run and students taught.

In all, 14 issues made the short-term platform. Also returning to the Top 5: Fund Education First. Closing the Opportunity Gaps moved up from "also supported" status in 2012. New Top 5 issues call for revenue and supports to nurture, attract and retain highly effective teachers.

WSPTA: Oppose I-1185

Washington's children need efficient, effective approaches to budgeting  

TACOMA – As the gubernatorial candidates prepare to face off in a debate Thursday night, Washington State PTA is calling on citizens to reject Initiative 1185 and instead support efficient and effective approaches to budgeting for education and children’s services.

“Children are relying on the state legislature to pay for the education they need,” said Washington State PTA President Novella Fraser. “The state needs to resolve long-standing issues of underfunding and not get bogged down in extended debate over issues like tolling fees. Now is not the time to tie legislators’ hands.”

Steps to success for every student

Did your school meet its targets? Annual Measurable Objective Summary

 

In gauging learning challenges, the realities for many children go unnoticed. Overall, most kids in Washington are meeting expectations in math and reading. Most students are also white and not low-income. When you start looking at subgroups, you see a disturbing trend. Statewide, American Indian, Pacific Islander, black, Hispanic, limited English, low income and special education students are not only not meeting proficiency standards, they aren’t meeting the intermediate “target” steps to proficiency.

Early Issues Survey returns

Will the current No. 1 make the new Top 5?

Washington State PTA’s 2012 Issues Survey has been out a week, and the budgeting strategy of Fund Education First is in the clear lead – bumping out reforms to improve basic education and surging past calls to advocate for more money. In all, 18 proposals will go before delegates October 19-20 at the 2012 Legislative Assembly. Each of them came from members; and each cleared a committee review to ensure they aligned with our mission and vision and advanced PTA work underway. 

Take five for kids:
What should be on WSPTA’s 2013 platform?

What will help kids reach their potential? What should we take on this year? Take the WSPTA 2012 Issues Survey and let us know.

Are we doing enough for special education students? What can we do about racial and income equity when it comes to the opportunity gaps? Should we prioritize bonuses for National Board certified teachers? What should we do about funding shortfalls? (Raise revenue? Fund education first in the budgeting process?)

18 proposals advance to Legislative Assembly

Issues touch on budgeting and funding; equity and access; instructional support; safety; positive learning environments; and system changes for Pre-K to grade 12

View all issues here
Direct links to each issue are posted below

DELEGATES TO WEIGH IN OCT. 19-20 AT LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
Register, get information here Plan to be there both days. Voting starts early Friday.

Gauging school success

State effort will look at growth gaps and ability to meet the needs of all subgroups

The State Board of Education and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction are developing a new accountability and achievement system that will incorporate student growth and establish a unified system for evaluating school and district performance. The agencies are doing so in collaboration with state and local policy makers, educators, parents and citizens.

Washington State PTA advocates for necessary funding, policies and practices to ensure all children are able to graduate ready for college or career. The association is participating in an accountability workgroup established by the state board and schools superintendent, and President Novella Fraser has nominated Sebrena Burr to represent the association. Ms. Burr is a local and council PTSA leader in Seattle and is active in efforts to increase access to quality early education and close the state’s pervasive achievement gaps.