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Telephone Town Hall

3/23/2015

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From Senator David Frockt, 46th District (Seattle, Kenmore, LFP)

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Another week has passed and I really enjoyed meeting with all the constituents who came to visit my office here in Olympia. With 38 days left in regular session, our focus is turning towards writing the 2015 – 1017 operating budget. While this will not be an easy process I will do my best to see our safety net funded, tuition frozen or lowered, and that we meet our McCleary commitment to fully fund education.

Town Hall this Tuesday

I know how hard it is to travel to Olympia during the week and we as your 46th delegation want to make sure to stay in contact during the legislative session. We want to hear from you on the issues most important to you. We hope you will be able to join by phone us next Tuesday for our telephone town hall.

Tuesday March 24th
6:00 pm

Call 1-877-229-8493 and enter 18646

Shortly before 6 o’clock Tuesday evening, you should receive a phone call inviting you to stay on the line and participate in our Telephone Town Hall. If you want to ask a question, simply need to press “ * 3 ” (press the “star” button and then the “3” button). If for some reason you don’t receive the call and you want to join, please call the toll-free telephone number directly, 1-877-229-8493, and then enter the PIN code No. 18646 when prompted.

Thanks to WAState PTA Leg Director Sherry Kranick for passing this on!

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Advocacy Update

3/6/2015

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Social and Emotional Learning and Breakfast after the Bell Legislation Moves to Floor Action.


This has been a wild week for the Washington PTA. The Senate versions of Breakfast after the Bell SB 5437 and Social and Emotional Learning SB 5688, have passed out to Senate Rules before the cut-off.Our legislative champion in the Senate, Senator Steve Litzow, sponsored both bills and his efforts on behalf of Washington's kids have been successful thus far.  

Over in the House, Representative Zack Hudgins version of Breakfast after the Bell, HB 1295, has also been moved out of committee and into House Rules.  Sadly, Representative Senn's version of Social and Emotional Learning, HB 1760, was not moved forward in committee.

The next big challenge will occur this coming week when all bills must be voted off the Senate floor and over for hearings in the State House of Representatives.  This is a difficult session for new initiatives, even ones that are proven effective.  If you get the chance, e-mail[email protected], [email protected], and [email protected] to thank them for their efforts!  

Proponents of Change for Education Capital Budget hit a roadblock - key bills not moving forward.

Whereas other segments of our "Top 5" priorities experienced success this week, supporters of change in how we allocate and obtain capital funding dollars for schools hit the skids.  Although Senate Bill 5859 by Senator Jamie Pedersen had been moving forward with substantial bipartisan support, the bill failed to be voted out of committee on Friday. This bill would have reduced the threshold requirements for school districts to qualify for matching funds for projects. Current law discriminates against larger, high growth districts.  This bil l is an attempt to strike a balance in the name of fairness.  The statutory changes offered by the bill are unlikely to be enacted this session. However, and we stress the "However" quite strongly here - this does not mean that parts of the bill will not make their way into the Senate's proposed Capital Budget later this year. Consider this to be "Schroedinger's Bill" - it is both alive and dead at the same time.   

House Bill 1941 on the other hand, is truly dead. This bill would have reduced the bond requirements from 60% voter approval to a simple majority in general elections. The bill was imperfect - it only offered a change for November general elections and it split many allies in the education community.  Some representatives saw the proposal as at least a start in the process to have a bill moving forward while others saw challenges with only allowing for a November vote.  PTA leaders testified on behalf of the bill in committee while urging amendments to allow for more opportunities to run bond issues bey ond the originally offered November date.  Supporters have declared they will continue to work this issue during the interim.  


Rep. Gerry Pollet's Higher Education Tuition Planning Proposal Gaining Traction in the House.

House Bill 1238 by Representative Pollet is one of many bills that looked at finding solutions to the rising costs of higher education tuition in Washington State.  Pollet's bill aims to task the Washington Student Achievement Council (WASC) to develop a roadmap with the ultimate goal of restricting higher education costs to no more than 10% of the state's median family income.  The study requires WASC to develop a series of potential solutions to the problem in a report due no later thanDecember 15, 2016. &n bsp;What sets this bill apart from the others is the comprehensive scope and direction in developing a plan to control price hikes. The bill passed out of committee and is currently awaiting action in House Rules.


-Washington State PTA, March 2, 2015
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Kids Sleeping Through Smoke Detector Alerts

3/1/2015

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At our February 23 meeting, we were honored to host some of our community's best Emergency Leaders. As promised, Shoreline Fire Chief Matt Cowan sent us this link to share, about kids sleeping through smoke alarms:

http://www.today.com/video/today/51286858#51286858

Please pass it on!
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Education-Related Legislation to Watch!

2/22/2015

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Bills to watch:
SSB5866 - Social Emotional Learning
  • Requires the superintendent of public instruction to: (1) Convene a work group to recommend comprehensive social emotional learning benchmarks for grades kindergarten through high school; and (2) Conduct a survey of schools to ascertain how many schools in the state are implementing a social emotional learning program and to understand individual districts' capacity to implement social emotional learning. 
  • Requires educational service districts to develop and maintain the capacity to serve as a convener, trainer, and mentor for educators and other school district staff on social emotional learning. 
  • Authorizes school districts to use specific funding to develop and update school specific action plans to implement multitiered systems of support frameworks and curriculum aligned with the frameworks.
HB1295 - Breakfast After the Bell
SB5437 - Breakfast After the Bell
  • Requires each high-needs school to offer breakfast after the bell to each student and provide adequate time for students to eat. 
  • Requires the state to provide, and the office of the superintendent of public instruction to administer, one-time start-up allocation grants of six thousand dollars to each high-needs school implementing a breakfast after the bell program. 
  • Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to: (1) Develop and distribute procedures and guidelines for the implementation of this act; and (2) Dedicate staff within the office to offer training and technical and marketing assistance to public schools and school districts related to offering breakfast after the bell. 
  • Provides that this act is null and void if appropriations are not approved.
HB1495 - Student Privacy
SB5419 - Student Privacy
  • Establishes the student user privacy in education rights act or SUPER act. 
  • Requires school service providers to: (1) Provide information about the types of student personal information they collect and how they use and share the information; and (2) Maintain a comprehensive information security program designed to protect the security, privacy, confidentiality, and integrity of student personal information.
SB5202 - Financial Education
  • Changes the composition and duties of the financial education public-private partnership. 
  • Authorizes teachers appointed as members by the superintendent of public instruction to be paid travel expenses from funds available in the financial education public-private partnership account. 
  • Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to: (1) Integrate financial education skills and content knowledge into the state essential academic learning requirements; and (2) After consulting with the partnership, make available to all school districts a list of courses that align with the financial education standards integrated into the state essential academic learning requirements. 
  • Requires school districts to provide students in grades nine through twelve the opportunity to access the a financial education standards.
HB 1121 - Financial Education
  • Changes the composition and duties of the financial education public-private partnership. 
  • Authorizes teachers appointed as members by the superintendent of public instruction to be paid travel expenses from funds available in the financial education public-private partnership account. 
  • Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to: (1) Integrate financial education skills and content knowledge into the state learning standards; and (2) After consulting with the partnership, make available to all school districts a list of materials that align with the financial education standards integrated into the state learning standards. 
  • Requires school districts to provide students in grades nine through twelve the opportunity to access the financial education standards. 
  • Adopts standards in K-12 personal finance education developed by a national coalition for personal financial literacy that includes partners from business, finance, government, academia, education, and state affiliates as the state financial education learning standards.
SB5349 - Collegiate financial literacy
  • Requires institutions of higher education, in consultation with the office of student financial assistance, to take reasonable steps to ensure that the institutions present and each enrolled student participates in a live financial literacy seminar.
SB5082 - CTE for elementary schools
  • Provides elementary school students with career and technical education opportunities. 
  • Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction to implement a grant program to fund introductory K-12 STEM programs in career and technical education with the goal of developing model programs across elementary, middle, and high schools. 
  • Requires the office of the superintendent of public instruction and the education data center to track student participation and long-term outcome data. 
  • Makes an appropriation.
If your eyes are not rolling up in your head yet, keep reading:
  • Governor's Proposed Budget, 2015-17 Education Highlights
  • Senate Budget Briefing Book (K12 starts on page 20)
  • House Budget Briefing Book (K12 starts on page 42)
  • Interested in CTE funding (including STEM), which needs a little attention for intentional funding? CTE and Skill Center Program Funding, Accounting & Data Reporting
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PTA Member benefits to Celebrate!!

2/11/2015

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SPECIAL BENEFIT FOR PTA MEMBERS – CIRQUE DU SOLEIL!

Turn your world DOWN side UP as Cirque du Soleil invites you to delve into a world of curiosity. Come and find out how seeing is disbelieving: the world of KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities. After two long years, Cirque has returned and is now playing under the iconic blue and yellow Big Top at King County’s Marymoor Park in Redmond. KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities is an ingenious blend of unusual curiosity acts and stunning acrobatic prowess from Cirque du Soleil. Let KURIOS show you that anything is possible through the power of imagination. Great seats are available and by using this link, you can get special pricing on Family Pack tickets!

 

WSPTA PARTNERSHIP WITH BASS PRO SHOPS

The Washington State PTA is excited to announce a new member benefit. Bass Pro Shops has recently opened a new store in our state and has some fun things in store! Please come to Bass Pro Shop’s new Tacoma (7905 S. Hosmer Street) store for these family events:

  • Next Generation Weekend (free kids event) - February 14th and 15thNoon-5pm, including: casting challenge (5pm, register online); photos workshops (2:30pm, 4:30pm); crafts; and giveaways
  • Fishing Workshops - February 13 (7pm), 14, 15 (11am, 2pm, 4pm)
 

Special offer for PTA members: Show your membership card at the Tacoma Bass Pro and receive 10% off your purchase on February 14th and 15.th Some exclusions apply, please see flyer for more information. For more information on Bass Pro, go to their website at www.basspro.com or visit them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bassprotacoma.

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Social-Emotional Learning in SB5688

2/10/2015

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"Students today experience unfathomable stresses. Over thirty thousand K-12 students are homeless. Thousands experience bullying, depression, abuse, or have witnessed domestic violence or other violence in their communities. Many have lost a parent or suffered a traumatic experience.  

Emotions and relationships directly affect how students learn and how they use that learning in other contexts. If a student is anxious, afraid, or worried about other stresses in his or her life,  those emotions will interfere with attention, memory, and positive  behaviors. By developing social and emotional skills, students will  be equipped with tools to overcome barriers to their learning and even find solace in education and going to school."

Find the whole text here (only 5 pages). 

To help us pass this critical legislation, sign up here.  The House version, HB 1760, will be heard at 8AM on February 12th at 8AM. Join us to support your legislative team! 
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It's Awards Season!!

2/4/2015

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It is PTA awards season, and it is time to recognize fabulous educators, volunteers, and advocates in all of our local PTAs and at Council.

If you do not have a form for your PTA and you would like a template, go to the Council Level Awards & Scholarships page for a starting point. There you will also find a great flyer that Northshore put together that lists all awards and directions on email nomination.

Remember to save the date for the Recognition dinner, which is April 29 this year. Make sure to announce your winners well before this date so that they can clear their schedules to attend!!
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Parent/Family and Community Summit 

2/1/2015

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Parent/Family and Community Summit 
Saturday, February 21, 2015, 8:30-3:30 pm 

John Stanford Center for Education Excellence

Sponsored by Seattle Alliance of Black School Educators/An Affiliate of the National Alliance of Black School Educators U. S. Department of Education In Partnership with Seattle Public Schools.  

There is no registration cost.  


Please invite any PTA leaders, Principals, teachers, as well.
Summit agenda:

  • Parents and Family Engagement 
  • Ensuring Racial Equity in Education 
  • Office of Civil Rights/Title I 
  • Cultural Relevant Teaching 
  • Common Core Standards 
  • The Importance of Social Emotional Skills in Early Learning Education 
  • Panel of Students Sharing their stories 
  • Parent Advocacy in Special Education Services 
  • Partnership for Action and Voice for Empowerment/African American Males 
  • Student Achievement/Disproportionality in Discipline 
  • Legislative Update 

The keynote speaker will be our National PTA President: Dr. Otha Thornton, Jr.


Find the flyer here.
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Common Core Information Night for Spanish Speaking Families

1/29/2015

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DISTRITO ESCOLAR DE SHORELINE
NOCHE INFORMATIVA DE ESTANDARES 
ESTATALES DEL NUCLEO COMUN


Jueves, 12 de febrero, 6:30-8:00
Salón Alumni en el Shoreline Center
18560 1st Ave. N.E., Shoreline, WA 98155

Por favor acompáñenos en una noche informativa e interactiva para aprender acerca de los Estándares Estatales del Núcleo Común y Evaluación Smarter Balanced para ayudar a todos los estudiantes estar listos para la universidad y sus carreras.

Los presentadores serán:
• Rebecca Miner, Superintendente del Distrito Escolar de Shoreline
• Teri Poff, Directora de Aprendizaje y Enseñanza del Distrito Escolar de Shoreline
• Michael Power, Director de Evaluaciones y Aprendizaje Estudiantil de Shoreline

Interpretes en Español estarán disponibles para ayudarlos durante el evento

Se ofrecerá cuidado infantil durante el evento

Co-auspiciado por el Distrito Escolar de Shoreline, el Consejo PTA de Padres y Maestros de Shoreline, y la Asociación Educativa de Shoreline



SHORELINE SCHOOL DISTRICT
COMMON CORE INFORMATION NIGHT
for Spanish Speaking Families


Thursday, Feb. 12, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Alumni Room, Shoreline Center

Please join us for an informative and interactive evening of learning about the Common Core State Standards and Smarter Balanced Assessment.

Presenters will include 
• Rebecca Miner, Shoreline Schools Superintendent
• Teri Poff, Director of Teaching and Learning for Shoreline Schools
• Michael Power, Director of Assessment and Student Learning

Spanish interpreters will be available

Child Care Provided


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Focus Day 2015

1/29/2015

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PTA Voices Had an Impact on
Focus Day in Olympia


THANK YOU to everyone who STOOD UP, SHOWED UP, and SPOKE UP at this year's Focus Day.  Region 6 had its largest group in many years with over 210 registrants!  We delivered over 8,000 postcards (2,000 just to the Governor, below) asking legislators to fully fund education and provide services that our kids need.
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We packed into meeting rooms to meet with legislators, and at noon stood in solidarity on the Capitol steps in support of Funding McCleary and our other legislative priorities.  PTA members held signs and listened to inspiring speeches.

Focus Day is just the beginning.  PTAs try to make up the shortfall with auctions and bake sales, but our kids are still shortchanged.  According to the State Supreme Court and Supt. of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, $4.5 billion is the minimum level of new funding required by McCleary.

Our legislators need to continue to hear from us this session about the importance of fully funding K-12 education.  Please sign up for action alerts from WSPTA.  We need your voice to make a difference!

Heidi Bennett, Region 6 Legislative Chair
[email protected] 
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    PO Box 55832
    Shoreline, WA 98155-5784
    206-393-4916 (voice mail)

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  • Home
  • Legislative Advocacy
    • Candidate Forum
  • ABOUT
    • SHORELINE PTA COUNCIL
    • Local PTAs
  • Donate
  • Family Support
    • The WORKS
    • Holiday Baskets
    • Community Resources
    • Back to School Event
  • PROGRAMS
    • Council Level Awards
    • Reflections
  • FACE/DEI Committee
    • What is FACE?
    • What is DEI?
    • WSPTA Resolution on Dismantling Racism
    • Equitable Literacy
  • Mental Health
    • Resource List
  • Hi-Cap Advocacy