1. 2016 Legislative Issues Survey Results

2. Every fall, Washington State PTA selects its legislative priorities, and hearing from members and the community is a valuable step in the process. Survey responses assist voting delegates who attend Legislative Assembly in Olympia October 21-22, 2016 in setting the 2016-18 legislative platform. Thank you to the 1,369 individuals (from September 8 – October 6, 2016) that participated and who continue to advocate for children. Together we speak in a powerful voice!

3. Demographics

4. School District Representation

5. Districts with 1 Response Districts with 2 Respondents Districts with 3 Respondents Districts with 4 Respondents Districts with 5 Respondents Cape Flattery Chimacum College Place Eatonville Ellensburg Ephrata Goldendale Grand Coulee Dam Grandview Granger Granite Falls Hoquiam Lind Lynden Mabton Medical Lake Meridian Methow Mount Adams Naches Valley North Thurston Ocosta Quincy South Whidbey Sprague Stanwood- Camano Sunnyside Toppenish Wellpinit Brewster Castle Rock Conway Coupeville Creston Finley Inchelium Kettle Falls La Conner Liberty Mary M Knight Montesano North Beach Olympia Omak Orcas Island Riverside St. John Tenino Zillah Bainbridge Island Bremerton Cascade Colville Enumclaw Fife Kelso Newport North Mason Prosser South Bend Sultan Sumner Walla White Pass Bellingham Burlington-Edison Highland Orting Puyallup San Juan Sedro-Woolley University Place Warden Washougal Chehalis Cheney Deer Park Mount Baker Quillayute Valley Snoqualmie Valley South Kitsap White River

6. WSPTA Membership

7. School Involvement of Respondents

8. Issues

9. Closing the Opportunity Gap Shall the Washington State PTA support legislation and policies that complete implementation of the recommendations of the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversite and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC) and House Bill 1541 to close the opportunity gap?

10. Removing Barriers to Implementing Early Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) Shall the Washington State PTA support legislation and policies that ensure access to high quality early learning by expanding ECEAP, the state pre-K program?

11. Post-Secondary/Higher Education Shall the Washington State PTA support legislation and policies that increases the affordability and access of post-secondary education, including Associate & Bachelor degrees, and career & technical degrees/certificates with affordable tuition and local access to all programs while still supporting “State Need Grants” and “College Bound” scholarship programs?

12. Restorative Justice and School Safety Shall the Washington State PTA support legislation and policies that incorporate restorative justice models of discipline processes while supporting family and community-based alternatives to achieve youth accountability and enhance school safety. Leverage local school districts and juvenile justice systems to follow up on reducing racial and ethnic disparities?

13. Engaging Families in Student Success Shall the Washington State PTA support legislation and policies that support adoption of a clear definition and title for Family Engagement Coordinators. Expand funding for at least 1.0 FTE Family Engagement Coordinator per school, starting with high poverty schools first? Start: 2017-18 school year; Completion: 2020-21 school year.

14. Amply Fund Basic Education Shall the Washington State PTA support legislation and policies that fulfill Washington State’s paramount duty to amply fund basic education? Funding solutions must be progressive revenue sources that are sufficient, sustainable and equitable, and must not cut services that support the whole child, or rely only on redistributing existing education funds.

15. Standards for Paraeducators Shall the Washington State PTA support legislation and policies that set statewide standards, training, and career development for para-educators, including training for teachers who have para-educators assisting in their classrooms, and their principals. Policies shall include minimum employment standards, certification and endorsements?

16. Social Emotional Learning Shall the Washington State PTA support legislation and policies that integrate social emotional learning and trauma informed practices in the education system, teacher and principal preparation programs and professional learning ensure adequate staffing of psychologists, counselors, social workers, behavioral specialists and nurses in schools and prioritize school climate?

17. Improving Educational Outcomes for Foster Children Shall the Washington State PTA support legislation and policies that raise the high school and college graduation rates of foster children to meet or exceed Washington State averages through the creation and support of services which will facilitate a smooth transition between schools for kids at risk for not getting credit for work completed?

18. Breakfast after the Bell Shall the Washington State PTA support legislation and policies that support legislation instituting and funding, a Breakfast after the Bell Program in high needs schools and initiate polities at the district level that encourage early adoption of Breakfast after the Bell Programs?

19. WSPTA Event Attendance

20. Legislative Assembly

22. Thank you to all who took the time to complete the 2016 Washington State PTA Legislative Issues Survey to help delegates set the 2016-18 legislative platform. To learn more about WSPTA advocacy, please visit: www.wastatepta.org/advocacy. www.wastatepta.org/advocacy