Legislative Bills to Support in Week 6

To sign on, click the bill links below, click on "testify" and then click on "I would like my position noted for the legislative record."

 HB 5574 – Providing instruction on Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander history in public schools.

➜ Sign in PRO by Tuesday, Feb 18 • 7 am

SCPTSA Says: For too long the histories of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander have not been taught in our schools. Our students deserve to see themselves in the curriculum, and to know their histories.

HB 1834 – Limiting the harmful effects of social media on kids' behavioral health by enhancing data privacy and content delivery restrictions, prohibiting platforms from pushing content to kids during school and sleep hours, and equipping families with the tools necessary to ensure a healthy relationship with digital media.

➜ Sign in PRO by Tuesday, Feb 18 • 12:30 pm

SCPTSA Says: Check out the Children’s Alliance one-pager for more info

The following bills are at-risk for not making the policy cutoff deadline on Friday. Please help send messages to legislators today asking them to schedule these bills.

HB 1051 – Permitting the recording of individualized education program team meetings.

➜ Please see this blog post by Seattle Special Education PTSA and email Representatives Santos, Rude, and Walsh today as requested.

SCPTSA Says: IEP meetings are often stressful, and have "eduspeak" or language that is very specific to education. It can be hard to follow, and to retain information from these meetings, and being able to go back and listen to what was discussed and agreed to could help to reduce misunderstandings amongst the adults who are supporting the student.

HB 1569 – Increasing tax exemption transparency and accountability.

➜ Please email Chair Ormsby timm.ormsby@leg.wa.gov today to ask for a hearing on HB 1569, increasing tax exemption transparency and accountability.

SCPTSA Says: Did you know that there are tax exemptions that have been on the books for scores of years with no sunset date? In this time of budget deficit our state must consider the cost of tax exemptions alongside the spending.  Write Appropriations Chair Timm Ormsby and ask him for a hearing on 1059, and tell him, in order for our budget to truly reflect our values we need to look at everything in it.

Legislative Action Alerts — Week 5

 

To sign on, click the bill links below, click on "testify" and then click on "I would like my position noted for the legislative record."

 

HB 1795 – Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.

➜ Sign in PRO by Monday, Feb 10 • 12:30 pm

SCPTSA says:  Here in SPS, we have a school board policy protecting students from isolation and limiting restraint, but across the rest of WA children don’t have that protection. A report by the ACLU and Disability Rights Washington details harm to children across the state, most often impacting our youngest learners. Children should be safe at school, and they should not be subjected to abuse that causes life long harm. Legislators wouldn’t pass legislation on this last year, so we are hoping this year we can get better protections in place for students.

SB 5187 – Providing adequate and predictable student transportation.

➜ Sign in PRO by Tuesday, Feb 11 • 3 pm

SCPTSA says: Last year alone, SPS spent $20,010,210 more on student transportation than our district was provided by the state. The yellow school bus is a cultural touchpoint in this country that symbolizes school. Getting to and from school safely is critical for education. We need improvements to transportation funding.

SB 5192 – Concerning school district materials, supplies, and operating costs.

➜ Sign in PRO by Tuesday, Feb 11 • 3 pm

SCPTSA says: This is "keep the lights on" money. PTAs are often asked to pay for basic costs of keeping a school running, such as paper. In 2023-24 alone, the in Seattle Public Schools the gap between our district's utilities and insurance expenditures and state revenue was $6,339,080.  This bill will help, but it won't fully close the gap. We'll take the boost, but ask our legislators to keep in mind that insurance costs increase at the rate of wildfires, not just IPD.  

SB 5263 – Concerning special education funding.

➜ Sign in PRO by Tuesday, Feb 11 • 3 pm

SCPTSA says: Special education is how students with IEPs access basic education. It is not acceptable that our state denies funding for basic education for some students solely because those students are disabled. Our district is obligated, legally, morally, and ethically, to provide access to education for these students, whether or not our state chooses to fund. Last year alone, our state came up short for Seattle Public Schools Students by $74 million.

HB 1817 – Supporting survivors of sexual assault in public elementary and secondary schools.

➜ Sign in PRO by Thursday, Feb 13 • 7 am

SCPTSA says: We must continue to improve the supports for survivors of sexual assault in public schools.

SB 5654 – Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.

➜ Sign in PRO by Thursday, Feb 13 • 9:30 am

SCPTSA says: Here in SPS, we have a school board policy protecting students from isolation and limiting restraint, but across the rest of WA children don’t have that protection. A report by the ACLU and Disability Rights Washington details harm to children across the state, most often impacting our youngest learners. Children should be safe at school, and they should not be subjected to abuse that causes life long harm. Legislators wouldn’t pass legislation on this last year, so we are hoping this year we can get better protections in place for students.

Thank you for supporting Washington students!

Questions? Please reach out to president@scptsa.org, treasurer@scptsa.org, or secretary@scptsa.org and we would be happy to help.

SCPTSA testimony on HB 1051

On Monday, Feb 3 at the House Education 1:30 pm public hearing, SCPTSA Treasurer June Nho Ivers gave strong testimony in support of HB 1051—permitting the recording of individualized education program team meetings. Thank you June for standing with disabled students and parents as we advocate together for a system that recognizes the rights and supports the humanity of every family in our public school system!

 
 
“Hello Vice Chair Shavers, Chair Santos Members of the Education Committee,

For the record my name is June Nho Ivers, testifying on behalf of Seattle Council PTSA and a constituent of 46th District. Testifying PRO on 1051.

As part of the support we provide to over 80 PTAs and PTSAs, we are sometimes called into more complex IEP meetings, particularly meetings for students in unique circumstances, often including students whose family support systems may have barriers to access including, but not limited to language access. However, even for our families for whom everything is going well—where the team works well together, where progress is being made, and parents are happy with the level of support—in the best circumstances many parents still find IEP meetings to be overwhelming and find that there is information that they missed or want to revisit later.  

Recording of IEP meetings is helpful for our families, for understanding, and for reducing conflict that is due to miscommunication or misremembering of what happened in the meeting.  

It is to the benefit of the student for everyone on the IEP team to have a shared understanding of what happened, what are strategies to support the student, and to help everyone to work together for the benefit of the student.  

For our caregivers who have access needs, for whom they are new to navigating the American Public School system and the IEP system, recording these meetings is vital.  

In an IEP meeting, the language is technical, “eduspeak”, and it is even difficult for native English speakers raised in this country to navigate.  These meetings are filled with small details that have large impacts. Most of our families are not lawyers or teachers. Yet we know that the best outcomes happen when every team member—especially parents and family—are a full part of the team.  

Thank you for your consideration and we ask that you pass this bill. ”

WA State Legislature's support of transgender youth & the LGBTQ+ community

💜💛🤍🩷🩵🤎🖤❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

State Representatives Nicole Macri, D-Seattle, and Alex Ramel, D-Bellingham, have a message of solidarity to Washington's LGBTQ+ community, on ensuring their rights will be protected.

Speaker Jinkins, Majority Leader Pedersen, Representative Stonier, and Senator Dhingra answer questions supporting transgender youth and the LGBTQ+ community at the Democratic Media Availability on Feb. 4, 2025.

2025 Legislative Session — Week 4

Thanks to everyone who has helped sign in and testify on bills so far this session. Your advocacy is making a difference for Students across Washington.

Help keep up the pressure with a few more sign ins now. Half of the bills listed below need sign ins THIS MORNING, so please act quickly!

To sign on, click the bill links below, click on "testify" and then click on "I would like my position noted for the legislative record."

SB 5362 – Concerning victims of crime act funding.
➜ Sign in PRO by Monday, Feb 3 • 9:30 am

SCPTSA says: This bill provides a state level funding floor for victim services, and provides much need stability during a time when federal funding is in chaos. Victims of crimes include children, and these services are very much needed.

HB 1051 – Permitting the recording of individualized education program team meetings.
➜ Sign in PRO by Monday, Feb 3 • 12:30 pm

SCPTSA says: IEP meetings are often stressful, and have "eduspeak" or language that is very specific to education. It can be hard to follow, and to retain information from these meetings, and being able to go back and listen to what was discussed and agreed to could help to reduce misunderstandings amongst the adults who are supporting the student. 

HB 1257 – Extending special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22.
➜ Sign in PRO by Monday, Feb 3 • 12:30 pm

SCPTSA says: Under current law, school districts cease serving a student as soon as the student turns 22. This bill would allow qualifying students to complete the school year in the year that they turn 22.  This would mean it would be possible for students to have all the usual pieces of a final year of school, including the ability to graduate with a class, rather than leave on their birthday.

HB 1338 – Concerning school operating costs.
➜ Sign in PRO by Monday, Feb 3 • 3 pm

SCPTSA says: This is "keep the lights on" money. PTAs are often asked to pay for basic costs of keeping a school running, such as paper. In 2023-24 alone, the in Seattle Public Schools the gap between our district's utilities and insurance expenditures and state revenue was $6,339,080.  This bill will help, but it won't fully close the gap. We'll take the boost, but ask our legislators to keep in mind that insurance costs increase at the rate of wildfires, not just IPD.  

HB 1404 – Increasing student access to free meals served at public schools.
➜ Sign in PRO by Monday, Feb 3 • 3 pm

SCPTSA says: This bill says it well "The legislature, in support of students, families, and productive learning environments, and in recognition of financial challenges that can create barriers to academic achievement, declares that no student should ever experience hunger or food insecurity within a public school. The legislature, therefore, intends to provide all requesting students with access to school meals that are served without charge."

HB 1032 – Concerning school district elections.
➜ Sign in PRO by Tuesday, Feb 4 • 3 pm

SCPTSA says: Across the state we keep seeing bonds fail because of the need for a super majority.  Support schools statewide, and allow a majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds. 

HJR 4201 – Amending the Constitution to allow a majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds.
➜ Sign in PRO by Tuesday, Feb 4 • 3 pm

SCPTSA says: Across the state we keep seeing bonds fail because of the need for a super majority.  Support schools statewide, and allow a majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds. 

SB 5352 – Increasing student access to free meals served at public schools.
➜ Sign in PRO by Wednesday, Feb 5 • 7 am

SCPTSA says: This bill says it well "The legislature, in support of students, families, and productive learning environments, and in recognition of financial challenges that can create barriers to academic achievement, declares that no student should ever experience hunger or food insecurity within a public school. The legislature, therefore, intends to provide all requesting students with access to school meals that are served without charge."

SB 5386 – Supporting survivors of sexual assault in public elementary and secondary schools.
➜ Sign in PRO by Wednesday, Feb 5 • 7 am

SCPTSA says: We must continue to improve the supports for survivors of sexual assault in public schools. 

ACTION ITEMS to Support Washington's Students This Week!

 
 

ACTION ITEMS to Support Students This Week!

The easiest way to have an impact is signing onto a bill. To sign on, click the link, click on "testify" and then click on "I would like my position noted for the legislative record"

SIGN IN PRO ON THE FOLLOWING 3 BILLS:

____________

SB 5025 – Concerning educational interpreters.
Sign in PRO by Tuesday, Jan 28 • 7 am

SCPTSA says: We know that educational interpreters are critical for student success, yet it is possible now to have educational interpreters who are not qualified.  This bill addresses standards and accountability.

____________

SB 5253 – Extending special education services to students with disabilities until the end of the school year in which the student turns 22.
Sign in PRO by Thursday, Jan 30 • 9:30 am

SCPTSA says: under current law, school districts cease serving a student as soon as the student turns 22. This law would allow qualifying students to complete the school year in the year that they turn 22.

____________

HB 1310 – Concerning special education funding.
Sign in PRO by Thursday, Jan 30 • 3 pm • Remote Testimony Available

SCPTSA says: Special education is how students with IEPs access basic education. It is not acceptable that our state denies funding for basic education for some students solely because those students are disabled.  Our district is obligated, legally, morally, and ethically, to provide access to education for these students, whether or not our state chooses to fund. Last year alone, our state came up short for Seattle Public Schools Students by $74 million. HB 1310 is an OSPI request bill that addresses the three levers of special education funding - the cap, the multiplier, and safety net that need to be fixed to improve funding to districts, and this bill supports inclusion.

____________

Thank you for supporting Students!!
Questions? Please reach out to president@scptsa.org.

SCPTSA Supports HB 1296

SCPTSA Supports HB 1296

The House Education Committee in the Washington State Legislature held a public hearing this morning. SCPTSA Co-President Samantha Fogg was able to testify, and we also appreciate our advocates and partners who signed up to testify but were not called.   

1296 is a large bill that works to promote a safe and supportive public education system, touching on many issues of importance to our students and families, providing protections for both students and for educators, defining terms.

Questions about bills and state legislative advocacy?  Join our Saturday Drop In Hour from 2-3 all through Legislative Session. Interpretation into Somali, Spanish, and ASL.

Read more

THANK YOU to our members and partners for their testimony, and willingness to testify, in support of 5180 and 5123 today!

THANK YOU to our members and partners for their testimony, and willingness to testify, in support of 5180 and 5123 today. We know that not everyone was called, and want to honor how hard it is to prep for an 8AM hearing and not get called.

Did the testimony inspire you to want to support SB 5180 and SB 5123? You can submit written testimony until 8am on Wednesday, Jan 22.

➜ Submit written testimony on 5180
➜ Submit written testimony on 5123

Should these bills move forward, we will continue to update you with more testimony opportunities.

Please be aware that these hearings today included a lot of CON testimony, and the entire hearing may be difficult for impacted persons to listen to. Please use care, especially as we are honoring that first semester is coming to a close and especially many of our high school students are trying to stay focused on studying for finals.

Did you know? The WIAA Gender Diverse Youth Sport Inclusivity Toolkit - that is supported by every major professional sports team in our area - for school sports has been in place since 2007 - with a process for filing complaints for issues of abuse - and they have had fewer than 10 filings with most of them being inaccurate or unfounded.

Education advocates—It’s time to rally! ➜ Please sign in PRO on these four "BIG 3" bills.

 
 

Education advocates—It’s time to rally!

Please sign in PRO for the legislative record on these four bills.
Washington state is NOT fully funding the cost of basic education, forcing districts across our state to go into “binding conditions,” close schools, lay-off staff, and make cuts to essential services. There is overwhelming consensus across our state that lack of fully funding the “BIG 3”—transportation; materials, supplies, & operating costs (MSOC); and special education—is the reason for our education funding gap!

SB 5187 – Providing adequate and predictable student transportation.
Sponsor: Wellman

Sign in PRO on 5187!

SB 5192 – Concerning school district materials, supplies, and operating costs.
Sponsor: Nobles

Sign in PRO on 5192!

SB 5263 – Concerning special education funding.
Sponsor: Pedersen

Sign in PRO on 5263!

SB 5307 – Concerning special education funding.
Sponsor: Wellman
By Request: Superintendent of Public Instruction

Sign in PRO on 5307!

Action Alert ➜ SCPTSA is looking for testifiers on SB 5180 & SB 5123! Community please sign-in PRO for both bills!

Senate Early Learning & K12 Committee
Tuesday, Jan 21
Public Hearing starts at 8 am
Testimony can be done remotely or in person in Olympia

SB 5180 Securing the rights of students to have a safe, civil, and respectful learning community that is free of discrimination by ensuring all schools adopt and enforce gender inclusive protections, policies, and procedures.

SB 5123 Relating to expanding protections for certain students to promote inclusivity in public schools.

Note your position / sign-up to testify!

SCPTSA will be holding a Drop In Advocacy Hour at 2 pm tomorrow, and every Saturday throughout session to talk about how to advocate at the legislature, provide testifier support, etc. We will have interpretation into Spanish, Somali, and ASL. All are welcome! Zoom link

Questions? Please reach out to president@scptsa.org

Action Alert ➜ Please write your Representatives immediately!

Dear Advocates,

Please write your Representatives immediately to ask them to co-sponsor Rep Pollet and Rep Couture's bill HB 1310 before 2 pm TODAY. 

Those of you in the 46th LD, as Representative Pollet is one of your Representatives, instead of writing to ask him to sign, you can send him a thank you. Those of you in the 34th, please thank Representative Alvarado as she has confirmed that she is signing on as a sponsor, but please continue to reach out to Representative Fitzgibbon. 

Not sure who your Representatives are? 
Use this District Finder

Please send a quick letter now!

Text to copy & paste into an email to your Representative