Legislative

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY: Creating Change with the Power of PTA

Cherry Crest Elementary PTSA 2.3.25

National PTA Legislative Conference is Virtual March 9-11!

National PTA’s Legislative Conference will be held Tuesday, March 9 through Thursday, March 11, 2021.  

This is a unique opportunity to attend as the event will be virtual this year along with a registration fee of just $50. Register by February 4 to participate in the Virtual Hill Day. 

Seize the chance to expand your knowledge of the ins and outs of federal law, grow your advocacy skills, explore National PTA’s legislative priorities for the 117th U.S. Congress and virtually meet with your federal representatives on Capitol Hill. 

Questions? Contact legislativerep@cherrycrest-ptsa.org.  PTSA funds are available to help with the cost of registration, if needed.

VIRTUAL WSPTA CONVENTION
MAY 21-23, 2021 

Save the dates! Join PTA leaders and members from across the state at the annual convention. Attend educational panels on issues affecting children and youth, learn how to successfully advocate for issues important to you as well as vote on any items in the general session. Cherry Crest Elementary PTSA is able to send up to four voting delegates but any PTA member can attend as a non-voting delegate. More information to come in spring 2021.

For more information visit https://www.wastatepta.org/convention/

Virtual WSPTA Legislative Assembly Oct 24-25, 2020

The 42nd Annual Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly was held virtually on October 24-25, 2020. The purpose of the assembly is to gather PTA delegates from across the state to decide on proposed issues, principles and resolutions that make up the WSPTA platform for advocacy. This year’s assembly also decided the Top 5 Legislative Issues that WSPTA will advocate in favor of during the upcoming state legislative session in Olympia. Over 250 voting delegates representing 139 PTAs (including Cherry Crest) and all 13 regions of the state came together and decided the below Top 5 Legislative Priorities for 2020-21. All issues, principles and resolutions on WSPTA’s platform can be used to support advocacy at all levels (state, local, district, school). For details on all issues, principles and resolutions on the current platform visit the WSPTA’s Advocacy page.

Top 5 Legislative Priorities for 2020-2021

  • Increase Access to Nursing, Mental Health, and Social Emotional Learning Staff
  • Support Students and Preserve Education Funding
  • Increasing Educational Equity by Closing the Digital Divide
  • Supports and Funding for Students with Disabilities and Their Families
  • Prevent and Reduce Gun Violence and Suicide

Definition of Issues, Principles and Resolutions according to the WSPTA website:

The top five issues become our short-term platform and consist of our priority issues when advocating throughout the year. Other issues are placed on an “also supported” list.

The WSPTA Legislative Principles consist of five overarching categories: budget, revenue, and funding; family and community engagement; public education policies; health and well-being of children and youth; and safe and nurturing environments for children and youth. Long term legislative principles fill the gaps in the short-term issue platform when an emerging issue arises for members to advocate on behalf of children.

Resolutions guide our advocacy work from the local to the state level. They may be amended and updated, or retired, and are usually broader in scope than legislative issues.

Get Involved!

PTA members can submit proposals for issues, principles and resolutions. For information on the submittal process and deadlines visit the WSPTA Take Action page.

Join the PTSA
Together we are a powerful voice for children! Any parent/guardian, teacher, student or community member can join.
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How to Get Involved
Subscribe to state PTA Action Alerts: Receive e-mail alerts when your action can directly impact a specific issue.
 
Read the state PTA blog: Weekly posts about active, high-priority bills and what PTA is doing each week in Olympia.
 
Resources

WSPTA Home
National PTA Advocacy Toolkit

Questions?

Contact legislativerep@cherrycrest-ptsa.org