Advocacy

Northshore Council Advocates for all Children
Northshore Council PTSA works hard to be an advocate for all children, not just in Northshore School district but in the state!

Northshore Council PTSA Legislative Action Plan and Examples of our Advocacy Activities

BEING RELEVANT: Focused on bringing the policy expertise that exists on our Council Board to consult on new education and child safety policies in our school district.
Examples:

Council is represented and gives a report regularly at school board meetings and study session, and has even been called by one school board director the “volunteer policy analyst for the school board.”
Council’s input was sought by the school board during the crafting of new school board policies regarding Integrated Pest Management (a new WSPTA Resolution), a more inclusive Gender Equity Policy, and for a Proclamation on Respectful and Inclusive Environments.
By becoming a trusted partner and seen as the voice of our community, we were invited by the Superintendent to join the Strategic Planning Initiative. This resulted in Family Engagement being adopted as one of the strategic plan's Four Pillars and PTA’s National Standards for Family-School Partnerships was used as the template. The Northshore Council President helped lead the district team in writing the school district’s new mission/vision statement.

Want to join us on this journey? Your voice counts too! Contact us to learn how.

Northshore Council PTSA Advocacy Updates 2023-2024
Advocacy. Powered by PTA.
Click on the links below to learn more...

It's Time to Identify Your PTA's Legislative Assembly Voting Delegates - Legislative Assembly will be held remotely through the Whova App on October 21 and October 22, 2023. Registration will open soon!

Northshore Council PTSA Advocacy Updates 2022-2023
Advocacy. Powered by PTA.
Click on the links below to learn more...

PTA Advocacy 101 - Advocacy for the PTA is supporting and speaking up for children, families, and schools!
WSPTA's 44th Legislative Assembly 2022 - October 15-16, 2022. Registration is now open for in person and remote attendance. Registration closes on October 6th.
PTA Advocacy - Northshore Council PTSA encourages civil discussion about important and controversial issues. Having an open discussion and voting on a position, encourages civil discourse and helps ensure a PTA is representing its membership.
WSPTA Adopts Legislative Priorities for 2022-2024. Read more about the 2022 Legislative Assembly.
November Advocacy Update: Council's VP of Advocacy, Jennifer Drury provides update.
January 2023 PTA Advocacy News: Upcoming Focus on Advocacy Day/Week
Survey: Meetings with Legislators and Focus Day 2023
Northshore Focus on Advocacy Day 2023 Recap
Spotlight on Advocacy: Elementary Art 4 Northshore Learn about an advocacy effort to bring elementary art to Northshore.
Advocacy Highlight: What it Takes to Become a School Board Director You will find resources and answers to questions on what it takes to be a school board director.

View Advocacy Updates from Previous Years

PTA Legislative Platform

2022 Legislative Assembly Delegates from Northshore school PTA/PTSAs.

The legislative platform supports the delivery of the PTA mission

PTA is a powerful voice for all children
PTA is a relevant resource for families, schools and communities
PTA is a strong advocate for the well-being and education of every child

WSPTA's legislative platform is made up of three components.

Issues: During the 44th Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly, delegates debated and voted on the 2022-2024 top five issues that make up our short-term legislative priorities including eight issues added to the 'also supported' list. WSPTA will prioritize advocacy efforts on these issues during the upcoming 2023 legislative session.
Principles: Long-term legislative principles are separated into five overarching categories and are broader in scope. They allow members to advocate on many topical issues across the state. During the 42nd WA State PTA Legislative Assembly, the new principle, "anti-racism, anti-discrimination, anti-oppression," was added to the Safe and Nurturing Environments for Children and Youth category.
Resolutions: Long-term resolutions are available for members to help in their advocacy efforts both locally and at a state level and cover a wide range of topics to support children. During the 44th Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly, one new resolutions was adopted.

WSPTA’s 2022-2024 Top 5 Issues:

Addressing the Student Mental Health Crisis
Addressing Critical Gaps in Educational Funding
Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence and Suicide
Addressing Funding, Inclusion, and Supports in Special Education
Building and Maintaining Safer School Facilities

Also Supported Issues (listed alphabetically):

Creating a Diverse and Effective Educator Workforce
Expanding School Construction Funding Options
Harnessing the Benefits of Mastery-based Learning
Improving Equitable Identification and Access for Highly Capable Students
Increasing Education Equity by Closing the Digital Divide
Increasing Support for Equitable Family Engagement
Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Climate Change
Supporting a Meaningful High School Diploma

Find more information about all of these platform issues on the WSPTA Advocacy Page.

Washington State PTA Resolutions

Washington State PTA Legislative Principals

The current legislative platform was decided at Washington State PTA's Legislative Assembly in 2022. PTA delegates from across the state came together to set our platform of legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session in support of our shared vision of "Making every child's potential a reality."

2023-2024 Legislative Platform

Click image to download 2023-2024 Legislative Platform

Legislative Contacts

Northshore Council PTSA Co-VPs of Advocacy
Terra Droney & Holly Muenchow- advocacy@northshorecouncilptsa.org

Region 6 Advocacy Chair
Position open

WSPTA Advocacy Director
Samantha Fogg - ptaadvocacydir@wastatepta.org

Important Advocacy Links

Click on any of the below links to find valuable resources
WSPTA Advocacy Site
WSPTA Legislative News
National PTA Advocacy Site
National PTA Advocacy Toolkit

Northshore School District
Northshore School Board Meetings - second Monday at 4:00 p.m. and the fourth Monday at 7:00 p.m. of each month. Use your PTA voice to speak up for kids. The School Board does want your input!

OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction)
Register to Vote

Find Your State Representative/Senator
Not sure who your state senator or representatives are? Washington State's website has a handy Find Your Legislator tool. Just type in your address and click on the "Find My District" tab.

PTA Advocates for all Children

Did you know that PTA has a over a century of speaking for every child with one voice? For over 100 years PTA has used legislative advocacy to further the objectives of PTA to building a better world for children. In fact, PTA is the oldest and largest child advocacy organization in the country. Since inception in 1905, PTA has been a driving force behind the creation of kindergarten, hot lunch programs, universal immunizations in schools, early education (coining the phrase “preschool”) and so much more. PTA advocates on behalf of all children on the important issues impacting education, health and safety.

Northshore Council PTSA advocates, student advocates, Interim Superintendent Mike Tolley and School Board Director Sandy Hayes members met with Representative Shelly Kloba at Focus Day 2023.

PTA Advocates from Northshore Council PTSA and other PTAs across WA state met with Senator Cantwell's office on NPTA Hill Day 2021.

2023 Focus on Advocacy Day in Olympia

2018

2017

2015

The time to speak up for our children is now. Every voice counts in PTA!
Take Action! Be a PTA Member! Show Up and Speak Up!

updated 9/8/23