2015 Legislative Focus Day
PTA advocates from across the state will gather in Olympia for WSPTA’s annual Legislative Focus Day on Monday, January 19, 2015. FOCUS DAY: STAND UP, SPEAK UP AND SHOW UP -- This year, we are urging members to “Stand up, Speak up, and to Show up” to advance the cause of children and education funding during the Washington State Legislative Session. Led by Region 2 Legislative Chair Jason Rothkowitz, a team of staff members developed a videoadvancing the cause of advocacy from comments and advice given by outside lecturers to our members. This short, three minute video, is a bi partisan call to action and asks our members to be part of the solution in these troubled times. We urge members to share this video with their friends and colleagues and we urge all PTA members to take the time to “Stand up, Speak up, and to Show up” at our annual Focus Day in Olympia on January 19th and for our Regional Common Core and Legislative Conferences on January 3rd in Auburn and January 10th in Yakima. REGISTER TODAY Bring your family and neighbors to show your support of our legislative platform with a focus on our number one priority: Funding McCleary. Bring banners and signs for the noon rally on the Capitol steps. Hear what state legislative leaders have to say about our issues and how they plan to deliver on the McCleary promise. Let’s bring our voices together for the children of our state on Monday, January 19. A variety of kids activities are being planned to make Focus Day fun for kids of all ages. Register here! Click here for more information
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1. More money for schools
Lawmakers in Olympia will wrestle this session with how to meet a court order to give more state dollars to public schools and pay for a sweeping class size initiative that voters approved in the November election. Some lawmakers saythey’re ready to send Initiative 1351 back to voters with a price tag and a proposal for how to pay for it. But lawmakers will have a tough time dodging the state Supreme Court’s unanimous September decision to hold the Legislature in contempt for failing to ramp up public school spending quickly enough, which the court ordered back in 2012. The court gave lawmakers until the day after the session to come up with a plan to increase school spending to the required levels or convince justices they shouldn’t issue sanctions. From the Seattle Times Education Lab blog, 12.31.14. Read the whole post here. Paramount Duty--Learn in Seattle
Sponsored by: Seattle Education Association, League of Women Voters and Seattle Council PTSA When: Tuesday, January 6, 2015--6:30 to 8:30pm Where: John Stanford Center Auditorium, 2445 3rd Ave. S., Seattle Why: Because bake sales and auctions cannot fill funding gaps in basic education Why are our schools underfunded and over-crowded? What is the Legislature doing about this? What can we do? Hear from two dynamic speakers. Tom Ahearne, (NEWS) the trial lawyer from the McCleary case will speak on how WA State is not meeting its “Paramount Duty” to fully fund education. He will also talk about the latest “contempt” decision on holding our legislators accountable. Andrew Nicholas from the WA State Budget and Policy Center will talk about the challenges of financing basic education and the reforms to the revenue system that can make that possible. It is FREE, but seating is limited. RSVP at: https://paramountduty2015.eventbrite.com The Shoreline Holiday Baskets Food, Toys & Teen Gifts Drive is in its last week, and it needs your help!
The number of families in need this year continues to grow. Consider these numbers of families eligible for food and gift help in our District (as of last week; they've grown since these): Boys ages 0-9: 336 (up from 320 last year) Girls ages 0-9: 338 (308 last year) Boyes ages 10-18: 352 (257 last year) Girls ages 10-18: 316 (285 last year) This represents 541 families, or 2387 people (501 families/2204 last year) Update: we have hit over 600 families registered!! Want to help? Visit the Family Services page, Holiday Baskets. Choose To Donate, Donation Drop Off Locations, or Volunteer. Available on Friday to transport food? Ask your Family Services Chair or PTA President if your car is needed, or head to Kellogg to help unload. Available Saturday? Many hands make light work, and we could really use yours, especially in the afternoon!! Thank you for helping us help our families. We are grateful for your support. The 2014 Holiday Baskets Food, Toys & Teen Gifts drive is on now. Thank you for your support!12/7/2014 Posted: 27 Oct 2014 03:58 PM PDT
The Washington State Parent Teacher Association held its’ 36th Annual Legislative Assembly this weekend, in Vancouver, Washington. There, delegates met to set a new platform of legislative priorities for the 2015 -2016 legislative session in support of the organizational vision of “Making every child’s potential a reality.” The legislative platform supports the delivery of our mission:
In all, 13 issues made the short-term platform. As a whole child advocacy association, our priority issues represent health, well-being and educational needs of the children of Washington State. WSPTA’s priorities for the 2015 and 2016 legislative sessions:
Also supported (listed alphabetically): Access, Equity & Opportunity for Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Closing Opportunity Gaps Equal Access for ELL Students Family and Community Engagement Inclusive Special Education Increase Playground Safety Investing in Teacher Professional Learning (CTWG Implementation) Regulating Child Restraint and Isolation in Schools If you have any questions or request a media availability with our Legislative Director, Sherry Krainick, or our President, Heather Gillette, please contact us at [email protected]or by phone at (253) 292-3318. ### About Washington State PTA: Founded in 1905, the association is a powerful voice for the well-being and education of all children and a resource for parents. It provides leadership training and support to more than 900 local PTAs across the state. With over 132,000 members, the WSPTA is the largest advocacy and volunteer organization in the state. Learn more at www.wastatepta.org. Trouble with figures that don’t seem to ‘fit’ anywhere?
Confused by IRS-Speak? Just for you! Help with your 990EZ Tax Form! ~~~~~~ Wednesday, October 15, 6:00 to 9:00 PM Thursday, October 23, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM LWSD Resource Center (Lake WA District Office, 16250 NE 74th St., Redmond WA 98052) http://www.lwsd.org/Schools/District-Map/Pages/Resource-Center-Driving-Directions.aspx Please RSVP to [email protected] Format: 1. A line by line overview of the 2013 990EZ 2. Time for individual questions What to bring: 1. A scratch copy of your 2013 Form 990EZ, including Schedule A 2. A copy of your 2013-2014 year-end financial report 3. Any other necessary reference information from your records 4. Pen/pencil and a tablet or paper for taking notes For best results: You will get more from this workshop if you have first attempted to complete your tax form and have taken time to formulate specific questions that you need to have answered. Hospitality: Since the sessions run long, fee free to brown-bag it or grab fast food on your way to eat during class. There are Coke and snack vending machines in the lobby. Bottled water will be available. The training and distribution of Holiday Baskets Food, Toys and Teen Gifts drive & The Works material is happening on Thursday, October 9th at 7:00 PM in the Shoreline PTA Council office (Richmond Room) at the Shoreline Center located at 18560 1st Ave NE. This is the night that all the Family Service Chairs receive an introduction to the programs and their roles, receive the necessary paperwork for the Holiday Baskets drive and The Works, and sign up for your schools designated volunteer nights at The Works. If you are unable to attend, please find a representative to come in your place.
Region 6 has a Fall Newsletter out, and it is chock full of great information!
Region 6 is Seattle, Shoreline Northshore, and Vashon Councils. Read it and share it!! |
AuthorShoreline PTA Council Archives
May 2016
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