An update on state and regional laws and policies that affect K-12 public education. Here’s what’s trending:
1. The 2015-2016 Washington State PTA Legislature will gather for its annual assembly Saturday, October 24 in Olympia, WA.
Local PTA representatives will attend. WSPTA’s focus for this legislative session continue to be these Top 5 issues:
· Funding McCleary In 2012, the Washington State Supreme Court upheld the McCleary decision of 2009 mandating the State fully fund K-12 public education by 2018. Our state Supreme Court took an unprecedented step by retaining jurisdiction over McCleary to ensure the state legislature meets this deadline. Talks continue to decide on funding sources, namely, adjustments to our state’s tax system. WSPTA supports legislation and policies that fulfill the promise of amply funding K-12 public education.
· Create Positive School Climates Through Social Emotional Learning Students with greater social and emotional skills are better at conflict resolution and are less likely to be aggressors, targets of bullying, or passive bystanders; they also perform better academically and display greater social balance. WSPTA supports legislation and policies that promote positive school climates, including integrated, research-supported curriculum and instruction on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in K-12 schools.
· Increasing Capital Funding Schools need more classroom space to effectively reduce class size, support all-day Kindergarten, and improve learning environments. Currently laws allocate construction funds to school districts only with a 60% majority vote on school bonds. WSPTA supports legislation and policies that promote capital improvements in school districts by: (1) amending the State Constitution to make a simple majority vote on school bonds the passing standard; (2) making the State’s capital funding formula more equitable fund larger school districts, and; (3)requiring school facility impact fees to adequately fund the construction of additional classrooms as needed.
· Increased Access to Higher Education Investment in higher education is critical to our children’s future. By 2018, two-thirds of all jobs in our state will require a post-secondary degree. As need for a college education increases, access to funding higher education is becoming more difficult. WSPTA supports legislation and policies that promote: (1) the “Pay It Forward” program, which increases college affordability by deferring tuition payments 2-3 years after graduation or discontinuation of a post-secondary program, and; (2) adequately funding current grant programs that target at-risk and low-income students such as the “State Need Grants” and “College Bound Program.”
· Breakfast After the Bell Nutrition is essential to learning and health, and success in the classroom begins with a healthy breakfast. Breakfast After the Bell is a responsible, cost-effective program that provides low-income students access to a nutritious breakfast after school starts to help prepare them to learn. Schools can choose how they serve breakfast after the bell—whether in the classroom, via a grab-and-go cart, or through another serving method. Breakfast After the Bell Programs show success in New Mexico, Colorado, and New Jersey. WSPTA supports legislation and policies that requires districts to switch when breakfast is offered in high-poverty schools from before school starts to afterwards.
Topics also supported in the 2015-2016 Legislative Assembly (listed alphabetically):
- Access, Equity & Opportunity for Students with Disabilities and Special Needs
- Closing Opportunity Gap
- Equal Access for ELL Students
- Family and Community Engagement
- Inclusive Special Education
- Playground Safety
- Investing in Teacher Professional Learning (CTWG Implementation)
- Regulating Child Restraint and Isolation in Schools