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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!  Did you know that PTA members of Northshore submitted three issues and two resolutions that were approved by delegates at 2016 Legislative Assembly!  Issue were:  Closing the Opportunity Gap, Improving Education Outcomes for Foster Children, Restorative Justice and School Safety.  Resolutions were Child Sex Trafficking and Dyslexia and its Educational Impact.  See the full platform below or on the WSPTA Advocacy page here.


Northshore Council PTSA Legislative Action Plan and some our advocacy activities
  1. BEING RELEVANT focused on bringing the policy expertise that exists on our Council Board to physically write and implement new education and child safety policies in our school district.
  2. Council is represented, and gives a report, at every school board meeting and study session, and has even been called by one school board director the “volunteer policy analyst for the school board.”
  3. 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.
  4. 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!
 Tianna Jiles, Northshore Council PTSA Leg VP - tiannajiles@hotmail.com

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.
Read here to see what PTA has done the last two decades.

WSPTA Advocacy Events and Recaps
It's About How PTA Shows Up, Stands Up and Speaks Up!

PTA Legislative Platform

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 2016-2108  Platform:
1. Social Emotional Learning
2. Amply Fund Basic Education
3. Closing the Opportunity Gap***
4. Standards for Paraeducators
5. Breakfast After the Bell

Also supported (listed alphabetically): 2016-2018 Resolutions **Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia were added by amendment; the resolution language will be updated.
***submitted by a Northshore PTA member!  YES!
PTA Legislative Assembly
The Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly was held in Olympia, WA on October 21 - 22, 2016.  PTA delegates from across the state came together to set a new platform of legislative priorities for the 2016 - 2018 legislative session in support of the organization vision of "Making every child's potential a reality." 

Focus Day
Focus Day 2017 was an amazing day as Northshore Council PTAs gathered in Olympia with 1000's of students, parents and educators to speak up for education.

Members attended the huge rally on the capitol steps for equitable education funding, heard from the governor and the new superintendent of public instruction in the rotunda of the Capitol building, and met with many legislators to share our legislative priorities.

Hear WSPTA President Barbara Martin's speech from Focus Day 2017: https://m.facebook.com/story.php…

WA State PTA Convention
WA State PTA Annual Convention will be in Vancouver, WA in May 2018.  Details will be coming!  At Convention, delegates from across the state will elect future State PTA leaders and vote on bylaws changes, additions and revisions.   Attendees also take great classes, network with others and bring away amazing ideas they can bring back to their PTA to implement.

What your PTA can do:  Be sure that your PTA is represented at Convention.  Your PTA gets a minimum of 4 votes during the general session.  (voting #s are based on membership) This is another opportunity for your PTA to exercise its voice!

Legislative Contacts

Important Advocacy Links
Northshore Council PTSA Legislative VP
Tianna Jiles - tiannajiles@hotmail.com

Region 6 PTSA Legislative Chair
Carrie McKenzie - rlc6@wastatepta.org

WSPTA Legislative Director
Duncan Taylor - ptalegdir@wastatepta.org

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.
Click on any of the below links to find valuable resources
WA State PTA Advocacy Site
WA State PTA Legislative News
National PTA Advocacy Site and Policy Agenda
National PTA Advocacy Toolkit
McCleary Decision (fully funding education)

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

Register to Vote
Find Your Legislator
OSPI (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction)
Northshore School District - all 30 schools are part of NSD
The time to speak up is now for our children.  Every voice counts in PTA!  Take Action!  Be a PTA Member!  Show up and Speak Up!