Legislative Issues

Washington Coalition for School Libraries

WSPTA is pleased to announce that we have joined the Washington Coalition for School Libraries and Information Technology to assist them in securing state funding for school libraries.  Support for Library Funding was voted a top priority this year by delegates to our Legislative Assembly. Click here for more information on how you can help out.

Washington State PTA Legislative Conference

Recently, I attended the annual Washington State PTSA Legislative Conference. Some 300 delegates from around the state were in attendance. I learned that Washington has one, if not most active PTAs in the U.S. Prior, to the 2-day conference I asked that the Wilder staff, teachers and PTSA members complete an educational issue survey. Of the 29 issues listed, Wilder’s PTSA and staff chose as their top 10 concerns:

1. Simple Majority for School Bonds

2. State Tax System

3. K – 12 Education Funding

4. Math and Science Funding

5. Funding Inequities

6. Quality Teaching

7. Special Education Funding

8. Children’s Health

9. Sex Offender Monitoring

10. School Reces

The delegates top ten issues were:

1. K – 12 Education Funding

2. Math and Science Education

3. Quality Teaching

4. Student Support Services

5. Special Education Funding

6. Advance Placement and International Baccalaureate

7. Highly Capable Programs

8. School Recess

9. Funding Inequities

10. Children’s Health

The top five issues as voted upon by the delegates will be presented to our state legislators, early in 2008.

Wilder PTSA legislative chair,
Chuck Grindell