The 2024 legislative session is currently underway, as of January 8, 2024.
If you want to take timely action to advocate for supporting our schools during this legislative session, please Subscribe to our Action Alerts.
During the legislative session, there are plenty of time-sensitive opportunities to mark your support for relevant bills, comment on bills, email a committee, and more. When you subscribe to our Action Alerts, you will receive timely emails helping you to learn about those bills and time your comments. It's often as short as a 24-hr window of opportunity, so we can't always send out the information fast enough through other channels. With Action Alerts, you'll get a lot of emails during the session, but basically none the rest of the year. Please sign up now to help our schools and our kids.
Please read and consider sending the 2 letters linked below as soon as possible.
Next THURSDAY, March 7th, is the last day of the WA legislative session.
Shoreline School District's unreserved fund balance is anticipated to be .6% by the end of 2025. To avoid having a negative balance, budget reductions are being considered for the next several school years. This is in addition to the $4.5M that was reduced last year. These considerations include reducing more staff positions (80% of the budget is staffing compensation), closing an elementary school in 2025-2026 and reducing anything not fully funded by the state's prototypical school model.
Public schools have 3 sources of funding: local levies, state funding and federal funding. Shoreline's levy funding is already being used for basic needs like special education, transportation and insurance. We cannot increase levy funding until February 2026 and if passed those funds would not be collected until March 2027. For now, the only other options are to advocate for state and federal funding.
We are providing the below information in an effort to let you know key opportunities for public school funding that are being decided in Olympia right now, as well as ways you can take action. Please make the decision that is the best for your household.
#1 House Operating Budget
Click here to learn more about school funding and consider sending a letter to all members of the House of Representatives regarding the House Operating Budget: 2104.
#2 Senate Operating Budget
Click here to learn more about school funding and consider sending a letter to all Washington State Senators regarding the Senate Operating Budget: 5950.
Next THURSDAY, March 7th, is the last day of the WA legislative session.
Shoreline School District's unreserved fund balance is anticipated to be .6% by the end of 2025. To avoid having a negative balance, budget reductions are being considered for the next several school years. This is in addition to the $4.5M that was reduced last year. These considerations include reducing more staff positions (80% of the budget is staffing compensation), closing an elementary school in 2025-2026, and reducing anything not fully funded by the state's prototypical school model.
Public schools have 3 sources of funding: local levies, state funding and federal funding. Shoreline's levy funding is already being used for basic needs like special education, transportation, and insurance. We cannot increase levy funding until February 2026, and if passed those funds would not be collected until March 2027. For now, the only other options are to advocate for state and federal funding.
We are providing the below information in an effort to let you know key opportunities for public school funding that are being decided in Olympia right now, as well as ways you can take action. Please make the decision that is the best for your household.
#1 House Operating Budget
Click here to learn more about school funding and consider sending a letter to all members of the House of Representatives regarding the House Operating Budget: 2104.
#2 Senate Operating Budget
Click here to learn more about school funding and consider sending a letter to all Washington State Senators regarding the Senate Operating Budget: 5950.
Next week is the eighth week of the WA legislative session. Session ends on March 7th.
Bills that do not pass the fiscal committee from their opposing chamber by Monday 2/26 5pm are no longer viable.
We are providing the below information in an effort to let you know key opportunities for public school funding and policies that are being decided in Olympia right now, as well as ways you can take action. We have narrowed down the focus to address legislation that will be most impactful for the Shoreline School District. Please make the decision that is the best for your household.
Items #1-3 have the greatest potential for a positive financial impact for Shoreline.
#1 Materials and Supplies Funding
Click here to learn about HB 2494 and consider sending a letter to the Senators on the Ways & Means Committee asking them to move forward this bill and maximize its funding impact. A similar letter was sent last week but this one will be sent to a different group of Senators. It is important to advocate at each stage of the legislative process so bills continue to move forward.
Hearing is Saturday 2/24 9am.
Please also sign in as "PRO" if you are in support of this legislation.
Click the hyperlinked bill number and then click the dark green "sign up to testify/submit written testimony" button to pursue one of these advocacy options (for the box asking "If you are testifying as an official representative on behalf of a particular organization" you could write PARENT OR STUDENT ADVOCATE):
By one hour before the committee hearing:
A). Note your position for the record (pro, con or other - this takes about 30 seconds)
B). Testify (zoom or in person)
Up to 24 hours after the committee hearing:
C). Submit written testimony (this can be copy/pasted from the pre-drafted email linked above)
#2 House Operating Budget
Click here to learn more about school funding and consider sending a letter to key budget writers in the House of Representatives as well as our local Representatives in districts 1 and 32 regarding the House Operating Budget: 2104.
#3 Senate Operating Budget
Click here to learn more about school funding and consider sending a letter to key budget writers in the Senate as well as our local Senators in districts 1 and 32 regarding the Senate Operating Budget: 5950.
Other funding and policy advocacy opportunities:
#4 Senate Bills 5852 (safety net awards for special education) and 5462 (inclusive learning standards) have hearings Friday 2/23 at 1:30pm.#5 House Bill 2180 (special education cap) has a hearing Saturday 2/24 at 9am.
Click the hyperlinked bill number and then click the dark green "sign up to testify/submit written testimony" button to pursue one of these advocacy options (for the box asking "If you are testifying as an official representative on behalf of a particular organization" you could write PARENT OR STUDENT ADVOCATE):
By one hour before the committee hearing:
A). Note your position for the record (pro, con or other - this takes about 30 seconds)
B). Testify (zoom or in person)
Up to 24 hours after the committee hearing:
C). Submit written testimony
Next week is the seventh week of the WA legislative session. Sessions ends on March 7th.
Bills that do not pass the policy committee from their opposing chamber by Wednesday 2/21 5pm are no longer viable.
We are providing the below information in an effort to let you know key opportunities for public school funding and policies that are being decided in Olympia right now, as well as ways you can take action. We have narrowed down the focus to address legislation that will be most impactful for the Shoreline School District. Please make the decision that is the best for your household.
Items #1-3 have the greatest potential for a positive financial impact for Shoreline.
#1 Materials and Supplies Funding
Click here to learn about HB 2494 and consider sending a letter to the Senators on the Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee asking them to move forward this bill.
Hearing is Monday 2/19 1:30pm.
Please also sign in as "PRO" if you are in support of this legislation.Click the hyperlinked bill number and then click the dark green "sign up to testify/submit written testimony" button to pursue one of these advocacy options (for the box asking "If you are testifying as an official representative on behalf of a particular organization" you could write PARENT OR STUDENT ADVOCATE):
By one hour before the committee hearing:
A). Note your position for the record (pro, con or other - this takes about 30 seconds)
B). Testify (zoom or in person)
Up to 24 hours after the committee hearing:
C). Submit written testimony (this can be copy/pasted from the pre-drafted email linked above)
#2 House Operating Budget
Click here to learn more about school funding and consider sending a letter to Representatives on the House Committee of Appropriations regarding the House Operating Budget: 2104.
#3 Senate Operating Budget
Click here to learn more about school funding and consider sending a letter to Senators on the Ways and Means Committee regarding the Senate Operating Budget: 5950.
Other funding and policy advocacy opportunities:
#4 Isolation & Restraint Policy and Special Education FundingClick here to learn about HB 1479 and HB 2180 and consider sending a letter to the Senators on the Early Learning and K-12 Committee asking them to schedule hearings for these bills.
Next week is the sixth week of the WA legislative session. So far over 8,500 emails have been sent to legislators and the subscriber list is nearing 1,000. THANK YOU! Please keep clicking, signing and sharing!
Although many bills have died at this point in session, there are still several that relate to K-12 public education. We are providing the below information in an effort to let you know key opportunities for public school funding or policy that are being decided in Olympia right now, as well as ways you can take action. We have narrowed down the focus to address legislation that will be most impactful for the Shoreline School District. Please make the decision that is the best for your household.
#1 Click here to send a letter to Representatives on the House Rules Committee asking them to send HB 2494 to the floor for a vote. Deadline is Tuesday 2/13 5pm.
#2 Click here to send a letter to Representatives on the House Committee of Appropriations in support of SB 5882. Hearing is Thursday 2/15 4pm.
Three additional ways to advocate: click the hyperlinked bill number and then click the dark green "sign up to testify/submit written testimony" button to pursue one of these advocacy options:
By one hour before the committee hearing:
1). Note your position for the record (pro, con or other - this takes about 30 seconds)
2). Testify (zoom or in person). If interested, sign up ASAP as not everyone gets a chance to speak
Up to 24 hours after the committee hearing:
3). Submit written testimony (this can be copy/pasted from the pre-drafted email linked previously)
Other funding advocacy opportunities:
#3 The House Education Committee is having a hearing for SB 5852 and SB 5462 on Wednesday 2/14 at 10:30am.
SB 5852: This is a bill that makes it easier for districts to receive safety net funding for special education. It reduces the occurrence of districts not receiving funds due to non substantive errors (ie spelling errors etc).
SB 5462: Promotes inclusive learning standards and instructional materials in public schools. This bill is receiving a lot of "CONS" from people that do not support mental health, social emotional learning, and diversity. If you support inclusivity then drown out some of the "CONS" but at least signing in "PRO."
Three ways to advocate: click the hyperlinked bill numbers and then click the dark green "sign up to testify/submit written testimony" button to pursue one of these advocacy options:
By one hour before the committee hearing:
1). Note your position for the record (pro, con or other - this takes about 30 seconds)
2). Testify (zoom or in person). If interested, sign up ASAP as not everyone gets a chance to speak
Up to 24 hours after the committee hearing:
3). Submit written testimony (also email the same testimony directly to the committee emails listed below for more impact)
sharontomiko.santos@leg.wa.gov, Clyde.Shavers@leg.wa.gov, skyler.rude@leg.wa.gov, Joel.McEntire@leg.wa.gov, steve.bergquist@leg.wa.gov
Travis.Couture@leg.wa.gov, carolyn.eslick@leg.wa.gov, paul.harris@leg.wa.gov, Stephanie.McClintock@leg.wa.gov, Greg.Nance@leg.wa.gov
lillian.ortiz-self@leg.wa.gov, gerry.pollet@leg.wa.gov, mike.steele@leg.wa.gov, monica.stonier@leg.wa.gov, Joe.Timmons@leg.wa.gov
#4 Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee is having a hearing for HB 1248 regarding transportation funding on Thursday 2/15 2:30pm.
Three ways to advocate: click the hyperlinked bill numbers and then click the dark green "sign up to testify/submit written testimony" button to pursue one of these advocacy options:
By one hour before the committee hearing:
1). Note your position for the record (pro, con or other - this takes about 30 seconds)
2). Testify (zoom or in person). If interested, sign up ASAP as not everyone gets a chance to speak
Up to 24 hours after the committee hearing:
3). Submit written testimony (also email the same testimony directly to the committee emails listed below for more impact)
lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov, t'wina.nobles@leg.wa.gov, claire.wilson@leg.wa.gov, brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov, perry.dozier@leg.wa.gov,
sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov, jim.mccune@leg.wa.gov, mark.mullet@leg.wa.gov, jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov
Click here to send a pre-drafted letter the House Committee of Appropriations for HB 2494.
Deadline: Monday 2/5.
All school districts are legally required to have insurance and pay their utilities, but the state has not kept pace with those costs resulting in your levy dollars covering the difference. This bill would increase MSOC (materials, supplies and operating costs) by about $52/student for the 2024-25 school year. Again, any state funding Shoreline SD can gain decreases the amount of reductions they will need to make for the next several school years.
If you support this bill click the link above and then follow these steps below:
Three other ways to advocate: click the hyperlinked bill number and then click the dark green "sign up to testify/submit written testimony" button to pursue one of these advocacy options:
By one hour before the committee hearing:
1) Note your position for the record (pro, con or other - this takes about 30 seconds)
2) Testify (zoom or in person). If interested, sign up ASAP as not everyone gets a chance to speak
Up to 24 hours after the committee hearing:
3) Submit written testimony (this can be copy/pasted from the above linked pre-drafted email)
Thank you to the 90+ that responded to Wednesday night's email. Over 900 letters were sent out. HB 2215 now has a hearing tomorrow, 2/3, 9am.
HB 2215 and two other funding related bills are in need of support by Sunday 2/4 9am. If you are interested in learning more please continue reading and clicking the links below. We are providing this information in an effort to let you know key opportunities for public school funding, but please make the decision that is the best for your household.
Click here to email in support of HB 2215 to all members of on the house of Appropriations.
Click here to email in support of SB 5882 to all members on the Ways and Means Committee as well as here to support its companion bill HB 1960.
Three other ways to advocate: click the hyperlinked bill numbers and then click the dark green "sign up to testify/submit written testimony" button to pursue one of these advocacy options:
By one hour before the committee hearing:
1). Note your position for the record (pro, con or other - this takes about 30 seconds)
2). Testify (zoom or in person). If interested, sign up ASAP as not everyone gets a chance to speak
Up to 24 hours after the committee hearing:
3). Submit written testimony (this can be copied from the pre-drafted emails linked above)
Next week is the fourth week of the WA legislative session. There continue to be many bills discussed that relate to K-12 public education. We are providing the below information in an effort to let you know key opportunities for public school funding that are being decided in Olympia right now, as well as ways you can take action. We have narrowed down the focus to address legislation that will be most impactful for the Shoreline School District. Please make the decision that is the best for your household.
WEDNESDAY 1/31/24 5pm is the deadline for bills to move out of their policy committees. MONDAY 2/5/24 is the deadline for bills to move from the House of Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means fiscal committees. Bills that do not move forward by these dates are no longer viable.
#1 Click here to send a letter to Senators on the Ways and Means Committee regarding bills 5882, 5852 and 5873 that address the prototypical staffing model for paraprofessionals in both instructional and non-instructional roles, reduce denials in safety net awards which funds part of special education needs, and address the transportation funding model.
#2 Click here to send a letter to key budget writers in both the Senate and House, as well our local Reps Ryu and Davis, to address the funding shortfall in insurance and utility costs. All school districts are legally required to have insurance and pay their utilities, but the state has not kept pace with those costs resulting in your levy dollars covering the difference.
#3 Click here to send a letter to Representatives on the House of Appropriations Committee regarding hearings for 2458, 2212, 2223 that address the prototypical school model and compensation for certificated staff. The prototypical school model determines funding for specific positions based on the number of students and it is long overdue for an update.
Other funding advocacy opportunities:
#4 Senate Ways and Means Committee is having a hearing for 6223 (school district director compensation) and 5964 (free student meals) on Monday 1/29 at 1:30pm.
Three ways to advocate: click the hyperlinked bill numbers and then click the dark green "sign up to testify/submit written testimony" button to pursue one of these advocacy options:
By one hour before the committee hearing:
1). Note your position for the record (pro, con or other - this takes about 30 seconds)
2). Testify (zoom or in person). If interested, sign up ASAP as not everyone gets a chance to speak
Up to 24 hours after the committee hearing:
3). Submit written testimony (also email the same testimony directly to the committee for more impact)
june.robinson@leg.wa.gov, mark.mullet@leg.wa.gov, joe.nguyen@leg.wa.gov, lynda.wilson@leg.wa.gov, chris.gildon@leg.wa.gov, mark.schoesler@leg.wa.gov, ann.rivers@leg.wa.gov, judith.warnick@leg.wa.gov, andy.billig@leg.wa.gov, matt.boehnke@leg.wa.gov, john.braun@leg.wa.gov
steve.conway@leg.wa.gov, manka.dhingra@leg.wa.gov, bob.hasegawa@leg.wa.gov, sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov, karen.keiser@leg.wa.gov, ron.muzzall@leg.wa.gov, jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov, emily.randall@leg.wa.gov, rebecca.saldana@leg.wa.gov, Nikki.Torres@leg.wa.gov, kevin.vandewege@leg.wa.gov, keith.wagoner@leg.wa.gov, lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov
#5 Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee has had hearings for 6123 (increasing classified staff compensation) and 5956 (increasing allowed amount of levy funding) but has not moved them forward yet. A request could be made to move them to Ways and Means prior to 1/31/24 5pm by emailing these Senators: lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov, t'wina.nobles@leg.wa.gov, claire.wilson@leg.wa.gov and brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov.
Next week is the third week of the WA legislative session. There will be many bills heard that relate to K-12 public education. We are providing the below information in an effort to let you know key opportunities for public school funding and policy that are being decided in Olympia right now, as well as ways you can take action. Please make the decision that is the best for your household.
Three ways to advocate: click the hyperlinked bill numbers and then click the dark green "sign up to testify/submit written testimony" button to pursue one of these advocacy options:
By one hour before the committee hearing:
1). Note your position for the record (pro, con or other - this takes about 30 seconds)
2). Testify (zoom or in person). If interested, sign up ASAP as not everyone gets a chance to speak
Up to 24 hours after the committee hearing:
3). Submit written testimony (also email the same testimony directly to the committee for more impact, email list below)
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MONDAY 1/22/24 - 1:30pm - Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee Hearing
SB 5966: Concerning restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.
This is the 2nd bill regarding isolation and restraint for this session. HB 1479 would ban isolation entirely whereas SB 5966 would allow it in certain circumstances. SB 5966 provides clearer definitions than HB 1479.
lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov, t'wina.nobles@leg.wa.gov, claire.wilson@leg.wa.gov, brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov, perry.dozier@leg.wa.gov, sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov, jim.mccune@leg.wa.gov, mark.mullet@leg.wa.gov, jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov
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KEY FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
TUESDAY 1/23/24 - 4pm - Senate Ways & Means Committee Hearing
SB 5873: Providing adequate and predictable student transportation.
Shoreline school district continues to have a yearly transportation-funding shortfall. This year it is approximately $800k. If you feel that our district and other districts across the state should not be using enrichment levy money to fund the basic necessity of getting students to and from school than the suggestion is to sign in or give testimony as PRO for SB 5873. This bill would take steps toward updating the transportation-funding model.
Click here to send a pre-drafted email to the Senators on the Ways & Means Committee. Please personalize and modify the text to express your views and circumstances.
Next week is the second week of the WA legislative session. There will be many bills heard that relate to K-12 public education. We are providing the below information in an effort to let you know key opportunities for public school funding that are being decided in Olympia right now, as well as ways you can take action. Please make the decision that is the best for your household.
Three ways to advocate: click the hyperlinked bill numbers and then click the dark green "sign up to testify/submit written testimony" button to pursue one of these advocacy options:
By one hour before the committee hearing:
1). Note your position for the record (pro, con or other - this takes about 30 seconds)
2). Testify (zoom or in person). If interested, sign up ASAP as not everyone gets a chance to speak
Up to 24 hours after the committee hearing:
3). Submit written testimony (also email the same testimony directly to the committee for more impact, email list below)
PLEASE NOTE: SHORELINE PTA COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS NOT ADVOCATING FOR OR AGAINST THIS BILL.
MONDAY 1/15/24 - 1:30pm - Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee Hearing
SB 5956: Concerning the maximum per-pupil limit for enrichment levies
If passed in its current form , SB 5956 would allow school districts to increase the amount of levy funding according to their regionalization factor. This would still have to be approved by voters and would be on ballots as soon as November 2024. Shoreline’s regionalization factor is 18% and the current levy capacity is $28,795,757. An increase to this capacity would be a gain of approximately $5M for the school district. This is a significant amount of money considering the current deficit and discussions around an elementary school closure.
So, if SB 5956 passes and if Shoreline voters approve the ballot measure for additional levy funding, this would mean the district would be authorized to increase collections from $2.50 to $2.95 per $1k of assessed value or $2950+adjustments for inflation per student (whichever is less) starting in the 2025-2026 school year.
For homeowners, this would mean an increase in your property taxes in 2025. Currently, school levy dollars are collected with the per student amount and not the assessed value amount making it difficult to provide clarity on what homeowners could expect. Furthermore, this goes against efforts to make public school funding equitable across the state as not all districts have the property values and the community support for these efforts.
SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING (bill numbers & details below)
In Monday's Senate Early Learning & K12 Education Committee Hearing at 1:30pm, the following bills related to special education funding will be heard:
SB 6014 (companion to HB 2180) This lifts the cap (limit) on special education funding from 15% to 17.25% of enrolled students (Shoreline would not be affected this year as we sit below the cap at 13.5% but this could easily change in years to come). 17.25% still leaves out 113 school districts who have more than 17.25% of enrolled students with special education needs. If you agree that state funding should be meeting the needs of public school students no matter the enrolled percentage of special education (which is basic education) than the suggestion is to select “OTHER” and advocate for NO CAP. If you know someone in one of the 113 districts that is above 17.25% their testimony would be powerful (not Shoreline or Seattle).For reference, HB 1923 and HB 2175 would phase out or remove the cap, but neither has a hearing yet.
SJM 8007 Requests that the federal government fund 40% of the costs of IDEA funding. If this is done this would fully fund special education for all but 26 of 295 districts in our state which would be a significant improvement. Click here (then click view interactive content) to see the current shortfall without an increase in federal funding.
To take action - email the all the Senators on the Education committee on which of these proposals you support and would want to see them pass:
lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov, t'wina.nobles@leg.wa.gov, claire.wilson@leg.wa.gov, brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov, perry.dozier@leg.wa.gov, sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov, jim.mccune@leg.wa.gov, mark.mullet@leg.wa.gov, jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov
In Wednesday's House of Appropriations Committee Hearing at 4pm, the following bill related to special education funding will be heard:
HB 2180 (companion to SB 6014). See above information on 6014.
To take action - email all the Representatives on the Appropriations committee:
timm.ormsby@leg.wa.gov, steve.bergquist@leg.wa.gov, mia.gregerson@leg.wa.gov, nicole.macri@leg.wa.gov, chris.corry@leg.wa.gov, kelly.chambers@leg.wa.gov, april.connors@leg.wa.gov, travis.couture@leg.wa.gov, april.berg@leg.wa.gov, lisa.callan@leg.wa.gov, bruce.chandler@leg.wa.gov, frank.chopp@leg.wa.gov, lauren.davis@leg.wa.gov, mary.dye@leg.wa.gov,joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov, paul.harris@leg.wa.gov, debra.lekanoff@leg.wa.gov, gerry.pollet@leg.wa.gov, marcus.riccelli@leg.wa.gov, skyler.rude@leg.wa.gov, cindy.ryu@leg.wa.gov, bryan.sandlin@leg.wa.gov, joe.schmick@leg.wa.gov, tana.senn@leg.wa.gov, tarra.simmons@leg.wa.gov, vandana.slatter@leg.wa.gov, larry.springer@leg.wa.gov, drew.stokesbary@leg.wa.gov
monica.stonier@leg.wa.gov, steve.tharinger@leg.wa.gov, jt.wilcox@leg.wa.gov
There are currently two bills that have the potential to increase the amount of state funding Shoreline School District (and districts statewide) would receive. These are Senate Bill 5882 Prototypical school staffing and Senate Bill 5873 School Transportation. You can take action to support these bills, by following the steps below.
Please go to:
Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee: Select "Early Learning & K-12 Education" and then Wednesday 1/10/24 10:30am.
Then select the bubble next to the bill you would like to comment on.
If you want to support an increase of state funding and only have time for 1 action item, focus on SB 5882 Prototypical school staffing.
Right now, it is the only bill that addresses part of the structural funding problem in Washington State and it is sponsored by our District 1 Senator Stanford. Most importantly, it has funding attached since it would alter the current prototypical school model. It would increase the number of paraeducators and aides as well as address behavioral and mental health needs in our schools.
Your options to engage from least amount of time to most are as follows (you can do all of them if you have the time).
Select #1-3 from the website linked above or #4 can be done directly from your personal email.
1) I would like my position noted for the legislative record.
You can mark pro, con or other, but it must be done at least 1 hour prior to the hearing. This action takes 30 seconds. For both SB 5882 Prototypical School Staffing and SB 5673 School Transportation, please click "Pro" in order to support additional funding.
2) I would like to submit written testimony.
This can be done up to 24 hours after the start of the hearing; you can treat it like a comment of support -- you do not have to write a full essay.
3) I would like to testify remotely.
You must register at least 1 hour prior to the hearing, and zoom link will be emailed to you. You will need to be prepared to speak during the hearing.
4) Directly email the members of the Senate Early Learning & K-12 education committee.
** You can find a list of the Senate committee members at the very bottom of this section.
#3 and #4 are the most high-impact tactics.
Your statement (whether written or verbal) should include your name, the school and school district you are associated with, and how increased classroom support would affect you or your family.
As many of you know paraeducators and support staff have been affected by budget cuts and are not fully funded positions under the current state model forcing our district to make difficult decisions for at least the next 3 school years. Staffing compensation accounts for more than 80% of our district’s budget and the unfunded portions of that is the primary obstruction to maintaining a balance between our revenue and expenditures. For further information the 2024 petition letter is a good resource.
The 2nd bill that has the potential to increase funding to Shoreline is transportation funding bill SB 5873. This year Shoreline School District has an approximate $800,000 transportation shortfall. If you feel that the state should address this then show support for SB 5873 following the same steps outlined above.
Please note there is another transportation bill, HB 1248, that may have more funding associated with it but it is not scheduled for a hearing yet. Stay tuned!
There are other non-funding related bills that have hearings Thursday 1/11 8am. Follow the same steps mentioned above after clicking "sign up to testify/submit written comment" to voice your opinion.
HB 1479 Concerning isolation and restraint
HB 2058 Free school meals
HB 1914 Special Education Services
Thank you for reading and for taking action for our kids and schools!
**
2024 Senate Early Ed K-12 Committee Emails:
lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov, T'wina.Nobles@leg.wa.gov, claire.wilson@leg.wa.gov, brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov, Perry.Dozier@leg.wa.gov, sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov, jim.mccune@leg.wa.gov, mark.mullet@leg.wa.gov, jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
School funding is complex, but a simplified answer is: Washington State's restructuring of educational funding in 2018 due to the McCleary case, resulted in the Shoreline School District having less flexibility and less revenue than under the previous funding structure. In addition, the COVID crisis then gave our schools: 1) new crises that drew down reserves, 2) new needs, paired with federal funding, which delayed budget cut decisions, and 3) declines in student enrollment. Shoreline is already at the max of our cap for our local levy, so we cannot raise more money locally to make up the shortfall. Thus, we face significant cuts.
Please learn more about the school budget outlook here.
1) Write to State Legislators
We are asking all parents to please write to your state legislators. The Washington State legislative session is currently underway. The legislature has a two-year cycle, so we need to act NOW, or we won’t have another similar opportunity until 2025. Let’s come together to call for increased education funding and push for Washington to restructure our education funding moving forward, such that we can maintain Shoreline’s high-quality education.
To make it easy, we’ve provided a sample letters to send to legislators. Real world stories from constituents are especially impactful, so we’ve included an area at the top of the letter where you can add how your family will be personally affected by the budget cuts.
Here’s what to do:
- Click the button
- Personalize the letter by filling in the bracketed section at the top.
- Add your name & address at the bottom.
- Send!
If the samples email does not work with your email provider, you can copy and paste the below text.
Legislators for 1st (Lake Forest Park) & 32nd (Shoreline) Legislative Districts:
- Lake Forest Park: derek.stanford@leg.wa.gov, shelley.kloba@leg.wa.gov, davina.duerr@leg.wa.gov,
- Shoreline: jesse.salomon@leg.wa.gov, lauren.davis@leg.wa.gov, cindy.ryu@leg.wa.gov
Dear Esteemed State Senators and Representatives,
I am a mom/dad at XYZ school. Currently, Washington state funding for Shoreline Public Schools is falling short of our school’s real-world needs. The coming budget cuts at Shoreline Public Schools means my child[ren] risk losing their… [paraeducator support, librarian, full-time nurse, family advocate, etc].
As concerned parents, we are asking you to act with the utmost urgency in this legislative session to address the current significant funding shortfall facing our school district for the 2023-2024 school year. This shortfall will impact our children, families, and communities.
Shoreline Public Schools are facing significant budget cuts, due to the following key state funding shortfalls:
● Decreasing regionalization factors and local levy limits
● Continued deeply underfunded special education services
● Misaligned and underfunded building and support staffing models
● Unfunded portions of IPD and SEBB for staff
● Ongoing unfunded mandates
The severe impact and inequity of leaving our state’s prototypical school funding model with little modification since the McCleary decision has never been more apparent. School districts had only 1.5 years following the decision to work with the new funding model before the COVID19 pandemic arrived in our state — upending schooling and bringing the inequities of our current system into sharp focus. A funding model based on enrollment – not student need – without baseline staffing needed to run each school and support the whole child while lacking an effective mechanism to account for the true differences in costs for operation and staffing in different areas of the state, regardless of enrollment, are coming to a head at this time.
We ask you to make the following significant investments in the 2023-2025 state budget:
● Fully fund special education – Fully fund the true cost of fulfilling our students’ rights to special education services by substantially increasing the multiplier, lifting the artificial cap, and preserving SafetyNet funding. In our district, this is currently an $8mil funding gap and accounts for 33% of our local levy funds.
● Support the whole child – Realign and fund the staffing allocations for building and support positions needed to have comprehensive learning and care for students in each building (principals, asst. principals, deans, counselors, librarians, nurses, psychologists, family advocates, custodians, and front office and nutrition services staff). Provide for universal school meals to ensure students have the nutrition needed for learning.
● Respond to regional costs – Establish sustainable, ongoing parameters for district regionalization based on the true cost of living and labor markets regionally. Create a predictable, regional approach to IPD / COLA salary increases to account for true cost of living. Note that when you pass an IPD the state funding only covers state allocations — leaving districts to cover the IPD increase out of levy funds for federally funded employees and employees not fully funded in the state model (e.g. special education teachers and staff, deans, nurses, counselors, etc.).
● Fund the true cost of transportation – Fuel costs are rising, fleets are in need of maintenance and replacement, and staff deserve the same support as educators.
● No unfunded mandates – Ensure all public school directives have the necessary funding included for implementation. Even the smallest additional cost is significant.
Our students don’t have another biennium to wait for their next two years of school. Please help us fully support them in this time as they deserve – especially after all they’ve just endured during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We know there are many competing priorities you are being asked to address this session; particularly around our state economy, community stability, and public safety. Education is not separate from these, but rather foundational to any of their success.
Sincerely,
(Your Address — this allows them to confirm you are their constituent)
2) Sign Up for WSPTA Action Alerts
Subscribe to Washington State PTA’s Action Network Group to receive short action alerts that help support WSPTA’s advocacy efforts during the 2023 WA legislative session, including calling for protecting and increasing school funding. These action alerts provide quick, easy ways for families to communicate with their representatives on topics the legislature is actively working on.
3) Call your State Legislators
Once you have written, you can call! You can make a difference by picking up the phone and asking your representatives to fund our schools.
1st Legislative District
- Senator Derek Stanford: (360) 786-7600
- Rep. Shelley Kloba: (360) 786-7900
- Rep. Davina Duerr: (360) 786-7928
- Senator Jesse Salomon: (360) 786-7662
- Rep. Cindy Ryu: (360) 786-7880
- Rep. Lauren Davis: (360) 786-7910
If you have any questions or want to be more involved, please reach out to your own school's PTA Advocacy Chair or the Shoreline PTA Council's Advocacy Chair, Malorie Larson.
Shoreline PTA Council's Advocacy email: legchair@shorelinepta.org