Council Advocacy Chair: Dolly Ubriani advocacy@everettptsacouncil.org
WSPTA Focus on Advocacy Day Summary by Dolly Ubriani, Everett PTSA Council Advocacy Chair
Focus day was a success: Over 150 WSPTA advocates (adults and children) showed up in force wearing PTA blue at the capitol; Everett Council PTSA advocacy chair was able to attend Focus day events and below is her recap:
- Everett PTSA council consists of 27 schools with its members representing over 5 different legislative districts.
- As council advocacy chair, I coordinated legislative meetings with Northshore, Edmonds, and Shoreline PTSA council advocates to ensure maximum face time with legislators from districts representing all our members.
- By coordinating with fellow PTSA councils, we were able to have a bigger voice and meet with 4 of the 5 legislative district legislators on Focus Day.
- I met with the following legislators (or their Legislative assistants):
- LD 39 – Rep Sam Low’s LA (this district includes parts of Everett, Lake Stevens, Marysville, etc.)
- LD 38 – Sen Robinson’s LA (this district includes Tulalip, parts of Everett, and Marysville)
- LD 1 – Sen Stanford (this district includes parts of Lynwood, Bothell, Woodinville, and Kenmore areas)
- LD 44 – Rep Donaghy (this district includes most of Snohomish and Mill Creek areas)
- LD 44 – Sen Lovick (this district includes most of Snohomish and Mill Creek areas)
- With all these meetings, I started with explaining the WSPTA legislative priorities (the top 5)
- Big focuses were on: Addressing Critical Gaps in Education; Addressing Funding, Inclusion, and Supports in Special Education; and Addressing the Student Mental Health Crisis.
- A few bills that were brought up during these meetings that WSPTA wanted support for were: SB 5882/HB1960 – Increasing Prototypical Staffing to better meet student needs; SB 6082 – Increasing Paraeducator compensation; SB6014/HB2180 – Increasing the Special Education Funding Cap.
- Focus day was a great learning opportunity, a way to meet and network with other PTA advocates across the state, inform legislators of WSPTA priorities, and learn the legislative process. Everett PTSA advocacy chair hopes Everett PTSA will have a much bigger representation next year for Focus Day 2025!
KEY ADVOCACY DATES:
- January 15, 2024 | WSPTA Focus on Advocacy Day (kids welcome!)
- January 15-19, 2024 | WSPTA Focus on Advocacy Week (Virtual) – During this week, members can participate in daily calls to actions. Subscribe to WSPTA Action Alerts
- October 21-22, 2023 | WSPTA Legislative Assembly
2023-2024 WSPTA “TOP 5” LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM:
- Addressing the Student Mental Health Crisis
- Addressing Critical Gaps in Education Funding
- Building and Maintaining Safe School Facilities
- Addressing Funding, Inclusion, and Supports in Special Education
- Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence and Suicide
2023-2024 WSPTA SUPPORTED ISSUES:
- Creating an Effective and Diverse 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
ADVOCACY CONTACTS:
Everett PTSA Council Advocacy Chair: Dolly U., advocacy@everettptsacouncil.org
WSPTA Advocacy Director: OPEN, ptaadvocacydir@wastatepta.org
WA State Advocacy Webpage (Legislative Platform, how to take action): www.wastatepta.org/focus-areas/advocacy/
Sign up to take action with “Voter Voice”: https://www.votervoice.net/WAPTA/register
HOW TO FIND AND CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS
(from https://leg.wa.gov/LIC/Pages/hotline.aspx)
Click on “District Finder” and enter your address. You will see a list of your legislators. Click on their names to get their contact information.