LOCAL ADVOCACY REPRESENTATIVES

Fairwood Elementary PTSA:  Rachel Lott

Kent Area Council PTA:  Jennifer Ritchie

Washington State PTA:  Sherry Rudolph


Let our state legislators know how important funding our children’s education is to you via emails,  phone calls, or postcards!  Click HERE to go to the Washington State Legislative page for contacts.

To check on the status of a bill or to comment, go to: http://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/

2020-21 Events and Updates 

Advocacy Webinar Presentation By Marie Sullivan

Get the 2021 legislative session in focus with a recorded webinar hosted by Washington State PTA’s legislative consultant Marie Sullivan. Click here for the presentation.

This pre-session webinar takes a brief look back at successes in 2020 and then looks forward at WSPTA’s legislative priorities for 2021, opportunities for testifying, tips for meeting and talking with legislators remotely, and a special “focus” on preparing for Advocacy Week during a pandemic!

2020-2021 WSPTA Legislative Assembly 

This year's WSPTA Legislative Assembly occurred virtually on October 24-25th, 2020. Rachel Lott and Shawna Crotty represented the Fairwood Elementary PTSA and will provide a report out in the December 2020 General Membership PTSA meeting.

The Washington State PTA legislative platform is a two-year platform to mirror the Washington state legislative cycle. On the even-numbered years (THIS YEAR!), the new platform was voted on by members at the legislative assembly. The top five issues became our short-term platform and consist of our priority issues when advocating throughout the year. Other issues are placed on an “also supported” list.

2020-2021 Top 5 Legislative Priorities & Supported Issues

   Priorities:

  • Increase Access to Nursing, Mental Health, and Social Emotional Learning Staff
  • Support Students and Preserve Education Funding
  • Increasing Educational Equity by Closing the Digital Divide
  • Supports and Funding for Students with Disabilities and Their Families
  • Prevent and Reduce Gun Violence and Suicide

   Supported Issues:

  • Safe School Plans & Emergency Preparedness
  • Equitable Identification and Services for Highly Capable Students
  • Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Climate Change

Advocacy Week

The WSPTA will be asking members to take action from home or phone throughout an entire week of January 18th - 22nd, 2021.

Tentative call to action schedule:

  • January 18: Focus on anti-racism
  • January 19: Focus on equity
  • January 20: Focus on mental health and wellness
  • January 21: Focus on preserving and flexing funding
  • January 22: Focus on safety and emergency preparedness

To participate, subscribe to the WSPTA Action Network to stay informed.

WSPTA 2020 Legislative Session Bill Status Reports

Check in with National PTA's Advocacy Programs & Resources

PTA is committed at the school, local, council, region, state and national level. To find out more about National PTA's Advocacy Programs & Resources, check out their website.

Questions? Contact advocacy@fairwoodptsa.org.