Shoreline PTA Council's Spring Dessert training will be changed from May 17 to May 23.

​In order for training to count for the following year, it must occur AFTER the State convention. This year, the Convention is May 20-22.

Join us  in the Alumni, Aurora, Ballinger and Cromwell rooms on May 23 (time TBA, likely 6-8 pm) and learn new things, meet new people, and check off your training requirement for next year.

​Class offerings to be announced.

Please get the survey pushed out to your memberships so that we know how to vote at Legislative Assembly!!

Help Washington State PTA Speak Up For Kids

Our vision is to make every child's potential a reality. PTA works in classrooms and communities across the state, but we also advocate in Olympia for the well-being and education of all children. Every fall, the association selects its legislative priorities, and hearing form you is a valuable step in the process. Your responses will assist voting delegates who attend Legislative Assembly in Olympia October 24, 2015 in setting the 2015-2016 Legislative Platform. The survey closes October 1, 2015.  Complete the issues survey. Learn about WSPTA's top five priority issues.
 
Book your hotel room before October 9 to receive the WSPTA room discount.

It's coming... your first chance for training!!

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 4:45-9 pm

We are all set with Calvary Christian for the conference, and the link to register is live at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/region-6-fall-conference-and-pta-and-the-law-registration-17887792870

Here's how the evening goes:

4:45 to 5:15 pm: Registration, networking and light meal 

5:15 to 5:55 pm: Brief Region 6 meeting and WSPTA updates on Bylaws/Standards of Affiliation/PT-Avenue   

6:00 to 8:50 pm: PTA and the Law  - Do not register for break outs if you are taking PTA & the Law 

6:00 to 7:15 pm: 

• Breakout 1A: Membership Roundtable
• Breakout 1B: Advocacy and Candidate Forum roundtable 
• Breakout 1C: Standing Rules - Every PTA needs these. Do you need to update or create some for your PTA? Please bring a copy of your PTA's standing rules if you like.

7:30 to 8:45 pm:

• Breakout 2A: Region 6 Sampler Platter - Have a question? We'll have experts there to help you! 
• Breakout 2B: Money Matters 
• Breakout 2C: Roles and Responsibilities of the Board 

9:00 pm: Door Prizes and Adjourn

Dear PTA Members,

Wednesday afternoon, the House passed House Bill 2214 which will make needed reforms to academic testing in Washington State.  The Washington State PTA supports this effort and we are asking you to Take Action and send a message to the state senate urging its passage out of the senate this Thursday. 

The bipartisan proposal was developed by Representatives Chad Magandenz, Chris Reykdal and David Taylor. According to prime sponsor Representative Chris Reykdal, “There is a moment to reflect if we have layered on too many things.  Have we added too much cost, have we made the system more complex than we intended, and did we actually encourage students out of our system instead of encourage them to work hard?”  The bill would reduce the seven high school assessments to three – Language Arts, Math, and a comprehensive science assessment, saves $60 million over the four year forecast, and restores local control. 

Representative Magendanz in his closing remarks noted that the bill “addresses both rigor and a forward-looking intervention that is going to benefit kids, create more opportunities for higher education to handle greater capacity, and it’s much better than the current practice of collection of evidence.”  We at the Washington State PTA agree and we urge you to contact your state senator and tell them to pass House Bill 2214 today.

Sincerely,

Heather Gillette

WSPTA President

And more about that bill (thank you Linda Myrick via Veronica Cook):
Rep. Chris Reykdal's message: "With an 87-7 vote, the State House just passed HB-2214. This bill reduces the number of standardized high school tests (from7 to 3). It saves $30 million per biennium and compels students to take rigorous coursework their senior year when they don't meet standard on junior-year assessments. With fewer tests and more courses, far more students will attend college without the need for remediation.

Please encourage the Senate to act! 2,000 kids are at risk of not graduating in the coming weeks because of one biology test. It will be tens of thousands in math in the coming years if we don't act now.

We need to be about student growth, not a test-driven bar that rejects our kids. When we deny kids a diploma we rob them of economic opportunity. We can have rigor and course-based solutions. Tests do not equal rigor, they are merely a temporary gauge.

Let's trust our teachers to get our kids to our new higher standards!"

Personally, I would love to see even fewer standardized tests for our kids. But kids are at risk right now, today, and we need an immediate solution to a problem that is of our own making. We have created a testing culture that is unhealthy for our kids and our schools. This bill could be a small step in the right direction. Please, Senators, let's get this done. Now.

Cyrus Habib Mike Sells Marko Liias Maralyn Chase Bob Hasegawa David Frockt Rosemary McAuliffe

PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS. THIS IS URGENT FOR THESE KIDS!

Article just posted explains impact: http://www.ksl.com/?sid=34822536&nid=

And more (thank you, Kendahl):

This is what David Frock said:

Pass the word around and get people to email legislators particularly those on the senate education committee and in Republican senate leadership. Republicans in particular. I can surmise that virtually all of the 23 senate democrats are likely to support the bill. But we need the Rs to agree to bring the bill up for a vote. I suspect it passes relatively easily if it is put on the floor as I'm betting there are many Rs who have heard fr their constituents - as I have - that we need a better approach to assessments.

Click on this link and go down to early learning and K-12 education.  You can click on each name to get their email.  http://app.leg.wa.gov/rosters/CommitteeMembersByCommittee.aspx?Chamber=S

I also know that Pam Roach http://pamroach.src.wastateleg.org/ and Marayln Chase http://sdc.wastateleg.org/Chase/ are people that need to hear that this may not be a perfect bill but is a step in the right direction.

Here are the others:

http://jimhoneyford.src.wastateleg.org/

http://markmiloscia.src.wastateleg.org/

http://lindaevansparlette.src.wastateleg.org/

http://annrivers.src.wastateleg.org/

http://markschoesler.src.wastateleg.org/

http://janangel.src.wastateleg.org/

http://johnbraun.src.wastateleg.org/

http://sharonbrown.src.wastateleg.org/

http://joefain.src.wastateleg.org/

I would have anyone you know sending emails too.  We need to flood them with the info.

The Shoreline PTA Council Spring Dessert Training is on Tuesday, May 19 from 6-8 pm. Classes offered are as follows:

• Membership - roundtable (taught by the Region 6 Membership Chair)
  
• Treasurer info - roundtable - taught by the Region 6 Director
  
• Roles and responsibilities of the board - roundtable - taught by the Region 6 Outreach Chair
  
• "Volunteers - Find them and keep them" - WSPTA class - taught by the Shoreline PTA Council President
  
• "Fundraising - Beyond the Wrapping Paper" - WSPTA class - taught by the Region 6 Programs Chair
  

This will count as training for the 2015-16 year. 

Other classes are available at the Northshore PTA Council training on Monday, May 20. Please contact Janice ptareg6@wastatepta.org if you'd prefer to attend on Monday instead.

Seniors, apply now for the 2015 Shoreline PTA Council Scholarship. Minimum requirements are that you are graduating this year and have a 2.5 GPA. The whole application takes about 10 minutes, but you DO have to have your counselor sign the form to verify your information. Get them turned in no later than 6/1!!

Find the application here, or on the Council Scholarship page.

Every year, Shoreline PTA Council gives awards to outstanding folks in our community. We choose people or organizations that we believe to have gone above and beyond for the children of Shoreline. This year's awards are:

Jenny Farnam: Outstanding Volunteer/Golden Acorn
Rebecca Miner: Outstanding Advocate
David Wilson: Outstanding Service
Hopelink: Outstanding Business/Organization

We are grateful for their inspiration and spirit of service!

Public comment period closes April 1!

The What, Why, Who, and How of the Youth Action Plan
What:
On January 21, 2014, the Metropolitan King County Council approved legislation calling for the development of a Youth Action Plan that will set King County’s priorities for serving infants through young adults. The Youth Action Plan will guide and inform the County’s annual investment of more than $75 million in services and programs serving infants through young adults. The Youth Action Plan is to be developed by an appointed Task Force comprised of representatives from a broad range of organizations and entities with substantial expertise and knowledge relevant to children and youth, but that is also diverse in its views and experiences, including but not limited to geographic, racial, and ethnic diversity. 

Why:

1. Because kids matter: King County is committed to social justice and equity for all who live here. A key component of that work is helping kids grow into adulthood with opportunities that allow them to achieve their full potential. ‘Many “downstream” conditions such as homelessness, incarceration and substance abuse could be addressed and likely prevented early on if all kids were provided with safe, healthy childhoods, access to quality education and other opportunities.  
   
   
2. Because we have a rich history of supporting kids: Since the 1960s, King County has participated in and funded programs aimed at assisting children, youth, and young adults. Today, King County spends over seventy-five million dollars annually on a wide range of programs that influence children and youth at all stages of development from birth to young adult. The services and programs for youth and children are provided across King County government by several departments and agencies.
   
   
3. Because we are one partner of many working for kids: County agencies and departments contract with a number of community-based organizations and local nonprofit organizations that work in collaboration with each other, the county, and other governments to serve children, youth and their families, and young adults. These community-based organizations serve a variety of youth populations, including but not limited to:

• geographically focused populations
• specific cultural and ethnic populations
• gay, lesbian and transgender youth and young adults
• justice-involved or at-risk youth

We need to work together to leverage our strengths and focus on measurable outcomes for kids.

1. Because its time: With the onset of the Great Recession and the fiscal challenges that counties across the state are facing with limited financial resources and growing demands, King County must collaboratively and transparently examine its practices, investments, and outcomes so that we can best serve children, youth, and young adults in the most effective and efficient ways possible.

Who: Members of the Youth Action Plan Task Force were appointed by King County Executive Dow Constantine and the County Council through Motions 14097 and 14112. Task Force Member List with biographies

When: The Council’s legislation calls for a proposed Youth Action Plan to be submitted to the Council and the Executive on April 15, 2015. A progress report is due to the Council in September, 2014.

How: This work is unanimously supported across King County government and is endorsed by many community organizations. To ensure that King County continues to be a strong partner with the state, cities, private sector, non-profit and philanthropic organizations input will be welcomed from these entities and other community members. Please see below for information on meetings of the task force and other opportunities to engage.

Additionally, the Forum for Youth Investment, a non-profit organization that helps adults get youth ready for life, is facilitating the work of the Task Force. The Forum for Youth Investment has conducted youth planning efforts across the nation, including New Orleans, Nashville, the State of Massachusetts, and other areas.