ADVOCACY IN ACTION

Flanked by leaders from the Washington State PTA and the Washington Education Association, Governor Jay Inslee released his proposed 2018 supplemental budget Thursday December 14th.

Also invited to speak at the press conference was Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal. Hear WSPTA President Michelle Nims’ speech, as she represents over 133,000 members, and the details about the Governor’s budget HERE.

For the agency detail on the Governor’s K-12 budget proposal click HERE.

To Review the Proposal’s Budget Highlights click HERE.

 

Legislative Updates:

Advance Notice November 27, 2018
2018 Revised Educational and Operations Levy Ballot Measure – Thiele/Kuper
Action to be taken:
Potential Motion 1) I move the Board adopt Resolution 1106 (which supersedes/replaces Resolution 1102) and, authorizes a replacement levy for education. This replacement levy funds district education programs and school operations, and authorizes the following excess levies to replace an expiring levy on all taxable property within the District:
 
Collection Years
Approximate Levy Rate per $1,000 assessed value
Levy Amount
2019
      $1.13
           $36,300,000
2020
      $1.33
           $44,900,000

The administration will present the resolution developed by legal counsel to authorize the revised levy measure which may be presented to the voters in February, 2018.
 
For the actual documents, the attachments are below.  
For the meeting minutes, here is the link.

WSPTSA Legislative Assembly
 
Washington State PTA members gathered October 20-21st, 2017, to vote in its newly created resolutions and issues for addition to the WSPTA Legislative Platform. The WPTSA Legislative Platform unifies to produce a list of priorities that the WPTSA agrees to support during the upcoming State Legislature, January 2018 session.
The most current additions this past weekend were:
Resolutions:
  • Mental Health Needs for Children
  • Trauma Informed Care
  • Increasing Access and Affordability of Post-secondary/Higher Education Degrees and Certificates
  • LGBTQ+ Inclusion
The following legislative issues were added to the “Also Supported” list for the 2018 Legislative Platform (in alphabetical order):
  • Addressing the Teacher Shortage
  • Best Practices for School Meal Policies
  • Career Connected Learning, CTE & Stem
  • Dual Credit Equality & Support
  • Equity for Highly Capable
  • Preventing and Mitigating the Impacts of Gender-based Violence
  • School Construction and Class Size Reduction
For more detaled information about it, go to 2017 WSPTA Legislative Assembly Recap - WSPTA

Gov. Inslee signs new Education budget into law

On July 6, 2017, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a two year operating budget into law in hopes of meeting the state’s constitutional obligation to fully fund basic education .

The new law creates a fairer pay structure for teachers that could: include increases for expertise in a specialized area, add three professional learning days for certificated instructional staff, expand the mentorship program for new teachers, and create a statewide health care benefits program for school district employees who work more than 630 hours.

The law adds state funding to special education, career and technical education, highly capable and transitional bilingual programs, and it funds a new learning-assistance program for schools that serve a large number of students who are not meeting academic standards.

The law defines the types of programs that can be paid for by local levy dollars and, starting in 2020, will require the state to approve local levy measures before they go on the ballot. Additionally, new limits on the amount of money a school district can collect in local property taxes begin in 2019.

While local levies will be limited, more K-12 education funding will be supported by an increase in the statewide property tax beginning next year.