Advocacy is the heart of PTA

Since it began in 1897, National PTA has been a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Washington State PTA (WSPTA) began in 1905 and was instrumental in many issues, from creating preschool to promoting seat belts.

For more information about our PTA history and founders: History - WSPTA (wastatepta.org)

 

PTA Vision and Mission

Our vision is that every child’s potential becomes a reality.

Our mission is for PTA to be:

  • A powerful voice for children,
  • A relevant resource for families, schools, and communities, and
  • A strong advocate for the well-being and education of all children

Family and Community Engagement (FACE)

Family and community engagement (FACE) is at the center of everything that PTAs accomplish. It is not one thing a PTA does; it is part of all things that a PTA does. The goal of family and community engagement is for each and every child and family in a community to feel as though they are part of a PTA family, and for that PTA family to be an active part of the community in which it resides.
What does our FACE Chair do?
  • Fosters and builds community within schools and other child-centered activities where all feel welcome, can contribute, can benefit, and can make a positive difference for all children;
  • Builds and supports positive relationships between teachers, staff, administrators, families, and community partners;
  • Provides an accessible support system between school and community resources and families.

WSPTA Legislative Platform

The WSPTA legislative platform consists of:

Legislative Principles: broad conceptual policy objectives that align with our mission and are the foundational basis for our overall platform (long-term). Legislative Principles (wastatepta.org)

Resolutions: positions that guide our work from the local to the state level, are usually broader in scope than legislative issues, and generally have a call for action (long-term). Resolutions (wastatepta.org)

Legislative Issues: statewide positions that will receive the focus of our advocacy efforts in Olympia (short-term). Advocacy (wastatepta.org)

The 2020-22 Top 5 legislative priorities are:

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

Also Supported issues (listed alphabetically):

  • Equitable Identification and Services for Highly Capable Students
  • Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Climate Change
  • Safe School Plans and Emergency Preparedness

WSPTA Legislative Assembly 2021

This year’s Legislative Assembly will be held in October and is currently being planned. Dates, agenda, and voting information to come!

2021 National PTA LegCon Report

Washington State PTA members embraced the 2021 virtual format for National PTA’s annual Legislative Conference (LegCon). The conference began March 9. Of the over 800 attendees, 58 were from local PTAs here in Washington state, including two students. For some, the event was their first experience with federal advocacy. See the full report here: 2021 National PTA LegCon Report - WSPTA (wastatepta.org)

 

Advocacy Contact Information

Everett PTSA Council Advocacy Chair, Clarissa Phillips: clarissa.phillips@gmail.com

Region 7 Advocacy Chair: OPEN POSITION

WSPTA Advocacy Director, Lizzy Sebring: ptaadvocacydir@wastatepta.org

 

Important Advocacy Links

Everett Public Schools

Website: Everett Public Schools / Homepage (everettsd.org)

School Board: School Board / Overview (everettsd.org)

Free and Reduced Meal Application: Menus / Menus (everettsd.org)

Policies and Procedures: District Policies and Procedures (everett.k12.wa.us)

 

Washington State PTA

Advocacy Webpage: Advocacy (wastatepta.org)

Sign up for Action Alerts: Subscribe to WSPTA's Action Network Group - Action Network

Advocacy and Legislative Resources: Advocacy & Legislative Resources (wastatepta.org)

WSPTA Blog: WSPTA Blog (wastatepta.org)

Legislative/Advocacy News: Advocacy Archives - WSPTA (wastatepta.org)

Focus on Advocacy Webpage: Focus on Advocacy (wastatepta.org)

Everett PTSA Council (serving all Everett local PTAs): Everett PTSA Council 7.3 - Proudly serving the schools of the Everett School District - Home

WSPTA Region 7 Facebook: (1) Washington State PTA - Region 7 | Facebook

 

National PTA

Advocacy Webpage: Advocacy | National PTA

Advocacy Toolkit: Toolkit - Resources - Advocacy | National PTA

 

Other

Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI): OSPI (www.k12.wa.us)

List of Washington State Senators: https://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Senators/Pages/default.aspx

Education Ombuds: Home | Washington State Governor's Office of the Education Ombuds

Register to Vote: Register to Vote in Washington State - Elections & Voting - WA Secretary of State

Citizen’s Guide to Effective Legislative Participation: Washington State Legislature Guide to Effective Participation