WSPTA's New Top 5 Platform!

At Washington State PTA's 40th annual Legislative Assembly, October 20-21 at Green River College in Auburn, WA, PTA delegates from around the state gathered together for presentations, education, debate and decision-making surrounding advocacy and building the new WSPTA legislative platform. Many thanks to all of the delegates from Northshore PTAs/PTSAs who participated in the process, as well as Northshore Council delegates Carrie McKenzie, Robin McKenzie, and Marcilla Proudfit.

Delegates approved three new legislative principles, four new resolutions as well as one amended resolution. In addition, a new two-year legislative platform was approved and the top five issues decided:

Top Five Issues:

1. Social Emotional Learning
   
2. School Construction and Simple Majority for Bonds
   
3. Prevent Gun Violence
   
4. Strategies to Address the Teacher Shortage
   
5. Strategic K-12 Investments to Close Gaps
   

Also Supported Issues include:

• Best Practices for School Meals - Lunch
  
• Best Practices for School Recess
  
• Engaging Families in Student Success
  
• Fund Paraeducator Training
  
• Increase Access to High-Quality Preschool
  
• Raise the Age of Tobacco and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems to 21
  
• Safe School Plans and Emergency Preparedness
  

Be on the lookout for more details and supporting handouts on these issues in the coming weeks. For more information on these issues and to find out how you can get involved and support WSPTA advocacy efforts, visit the WSPTA Advocacy page. 

During the Washington State Legislative Sessions, WSPTA will send action alerts and informational broadcasts to WSPTA members who have subscribed to WSPTA's Action Network Group. These action alerts are quick, easy ways to communicate with our legislators on topics they are actively working on that relate to WSPTA's legislative platform. You can sign up here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/subscribe-to-wsptas-action-network-group.

If you are interested in learning more about how you and/or your PTA can use these platform issues to advocate at a local level, you can also reach out to Northshore Council's Advocacy VPs, Nancy Chamberlain and Charla Griffy Brown.

Some of the issue, resolution and principle submitters who participated in Legislative Assembly 2018 posed for a photo with WSPTA President, Michelle Nims (second from right).