Speak Up for Washington State Public Education

 Advocacy letter from the Garfield High School PTSA to parents on pressuring the Legislature to fully fund public education. It covers a lot of important ground so I have nothing to add besides how legislators DO count the number of times they get input on any given bill. 

DEAR GARFIELD COMMUNITY MEMBER,

We want to thank State Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen (D-43rd District) for taking the time during the busy legislative season to come to the PTSA Meeting in the GHS library last week, and brief the school community about the state budget situation and the implication for funding education. Basically, it doesn’t look great, and hence it’s more important than ever to ask legislators to prioritize school funding.

We came to understand, in a nutshell, that specific education bills pending in the Legislature will help address gaps in current funding plans and formulas, in ways that go beyond the targeted activities and populations. These offset costs will likely help close overall SPS deficits, and thus help every student.

Time-sensitive request: Raise your voice to your legislators on school funding!

If you are interested in fairly and adequately funded public schools, and seeing that Seattle gets the resources needed for all our students (and helping fill the giant SPS budget deficit), then the current bills up for debate starting tomorrow (Tuesday) are worth raising your voice.

Please consider these ideas:

Do your research. Read content from news services such as the Washington State Standard:

WSPTA points out that our state is not fully funding the cost of basic education, forcing districts to cut essential services. WSPTA calls for full funding of the “big 3”: transportation; materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC); and special education, covered by three Senate bills scheduled for a committee hearing on Wednesday (Jan. 22).

WSPTA asks you to register “pro” for each bill. It is easy! If you never created a Legislature login, you’ll do so now on the committee hearing page. You will supply basic contact info (no street address needed).

Next, choose the bill you’d like to address, and the type of testimony (such as “have my position noted for the legislative record”). Choose “pro.”

Thanks and best regards,

Puneet Dewan

Volunteer Advocacy Co-Chair, on behalf of the Garfield PTSA Board of Directors

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