Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders to Create Change
From addressing climate change to destigmatizing mental health, young people are stepping up as leaders to create a better world. Our hosts talked with DeNora Getachew, CEO of DoSomething.org, to learn how we can empower youth to create change. Getachew shares about the causes most important to young people, how they're getting involved, and what families and educators can do to encourage service learning. Tune in to the podcast here!
Harmony in the Home: How to Increase Respect and Cooperation in Your Family
Join us on April 3 to discover how the "body budget" concept can transform your family dynamics. Gain insights for fostering respect and cooperation at home. Learn practical, stress-free strategies to bolster your child's mental and emotional well-being—no special skills needed!
Learn more and register for this Parent Chat webinar: lwsf.org/parentchat/
Learn about our legislative priorities and other supported issues and find out more ways to get involved. Our advocacy work is directed and powered by our members.
Lake Washington PTSA Council Membership has adopted the following resolutions and statements in support of national, state and local initiatives:
- Gun Violence Prevention Resolution 2018-05-03
- Anti-Racism Statement 2021-04-01
- Advocating for Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion in Education Resolution 2021-11-04
Lake Washington PTSA Council’s Board of Directors has adopted the below statement(s):
The 2023-24 VPs of Advocacy are Vipul Redey and Sameer Sawant.
Please contact Vipul and/or Sameer at legislative@blackwellptsa.org and co-legislative@blackwellptsa.org with any questions and/or comments.
How can you make a difference?
3 easy ways:
- Become a PTSA Member: By becoming a PTSA member, you add to the impact we can make! Our Washington State PTA team works to promote issues important to you in Olympia. Your membership increases our numbers, which adds more weight to our advocacy efforts in the eyes of our legislators.
- Contact Your STATE Legislators as a PTSA Member and Share Our Washington State PTA Legislative Platform: By adding your voice to those PTA members already working on your behalf, you raise the volume of our requests and help make sure our legislators know these issues are truly a priority for ALL of us. (more info below)
- Contact Your STATE Legislators as a Parent and Community Member to Share Your Own, Personal Concerns, Stories, and Opinions: While as PTSA members we legally must share the official stances and platform, as individual constituents we always have the right to speak our own opinions and add weight to the grassroots interest in these important topics.
WASHINGTON LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 2023-24
The top five legislative priorities for 2023-24 include:
- Addressing the Student Mental Health Crisis
- Addressing Critical Gaps in Education Funding
- Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence and Suicide
- Addressing Funding, Inclusion, and Supports in Special Education
- Building and Maintaining Safer School Facilities
Other supported issues include:
- Creating a Diverse and Effective Educator Workforce
- Expanding School Construction Funding Options
- Harnessing the Benefits of Mastery-based Learning
- Improving Equitable Identification and Access for Highly Capable Students
- Increasing Education Equity by Closing the Digital Divide
- Increasing Support for Equitable Family Engagement
- Mitigating the Adverse Impacts of Climate Change
- Multi and Heritage Language Education for All
- Supporting a Meaningful High School Diploma
A Podcast for Parents, by Parents
PTA is working to ensure our public schools provide a high-quality and equitable education for every child to reach their full potential. Notes from the Backpack is a PTA podcast designed for millions of parents and the decisionmakers they influence.
Through the unique combination of expert, parent and educator guests, each episode features engaging conversations that offer real-life advice and ideas on how to support children’s learning and development—all in parent-friendly language.
Real Experts. Real Parents. Real Conversations.
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform:
Current Episode
Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024
77 | Advocating for an Accurate, Well-Rounded Curriculum
Denise Forte
How is the political climate shaping the curricula in schools today? From book bans to censorship, our guest Denise Forte, president and CEO of the Education Trust, delves into the tensions facing education today. Tune in to discover current challenges and bright spots and to explore where we go from here.
76 | How Schools Can Challenge All High Achievers
Brandon Wright
From supplemental instruction to grade skipping, there are options when it comes to challenging our most advanced learners, but these opportunities can be hard to access. Brandon Wright, editorial director at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute joins the show to share best practices in gifted education and what families can do if their child would benefit from a more advanced curriculum.
75 | Preparing Educators to Engage Families
Dr. Soo Hong
How do teachers find the most effective ways to engage families? Teachers often learn from their colleagues and even their own experiences as students. In this episode, Dr. Soo Hong, researcher and professor at Wellesley College, highlights the lack of formal family engagement training and the systemic changes needed to support early career teachers.
2022 LWSD EDUCATION LEVIES
Two replacement levies and one capital construction levy were on the February 8, 2022 ballot. The Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy and a School Technology and Capital Projects Levy both replace levies that expire in 2022 and fund staff, programs, early learning, and technology; and help ensure our school buildings are safe and maintained. The Building Excellence Construction Levy funds facility construction projects to accommodate our rapid enrollment growth and continue to provide learning environments that promote excellence for students.
Blackwell PTSA endorsed the three levies that appeared on the February 8th ballot.
Volunteers waved signs on Feb 7th, 2022 in support of the levies.
Contacts
Blackwell PTSA: legislative@blackwellptsa.org
Lake Washington PTSA: advocacy@lwptsa.net
Washington State PTA: ptalegdir@wastatepta.org
National PTA: info.legislationcommittee@pta.org
Resources & Links
Contact Your State Legislators
