Region 9 2007 Legislative Issues

1. We ask for your School name, Council or District, and County, so we can direct your responses to your appropriate School, Council, and District representatives. They will use your answers to represent you at WSPTA Legislative Assembly:

We ask for your School name, Council or District, and County, so we can direct your responses to your appropriate School, Council, and District representatives. They will use your answers to represent you at WSPTA Legislative Assembly: School
Council (School District)
County (ex: King)

(Please scroll down)
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Each issue is preceded with:

. . . . "WSPTA shall initiate and/or support legislation and/or polices that ..."

2. Simple Majority for School Bonds: allow voting based on Simple Majority for school bonds run in any election.

Simple Majority for School Bonds: allow voting based on Simple Majority for school bonds run in any election. A - Critical

B - Important

C - of Value

D - Unimportant

F - Should NOT be a PTA priority!

3. State Tax System: address the structural deficiencies of our state tax system.

State Tax System: address the structural deficiencies of our state tax system. A - Critical

B - Important

C - of Value

D - Unimportant

F - Should NOT be a PTA priority!

4. Family Education Leave: allow parents/guardians to access their vacation time, paid personal time, and or paid time for personal illness to attend school conferences, meetings, or events of their children.

Family Education Leave: allow parents/guardians to access their vacation time, paid personal time, and or paid time for personal illness to attend school conferences, meetings, or events of their children. A

5. The following two issues deal with the release of student information and changes to NCLB. Only one of the two issues below will move forward on the WSPTA legislative platform. The issue receiving the greater number of votes will remain on the platform. The issue receiving the lesser number of votes will be removed.

NCLB-Eliminate Section 9528: urge U.S. Congress to amend renewal NCLB bill to eliminate requirements that school districts release personal information of high school students to military recruiters; and the requirement that military recruiters have the same access to students allowed to college recruiters.

The following two issues deal with the release of student information and changes to NCLB. Only one of the two issues below will move forward on the WSPTA legislative platform. The issue receiving the greater number of votes will remain on the platform. The issue receiving the lesser number of votes will be removed. NCLB-Eliminate Section 9528: urge U.S. Congress to amend renewal NCLB bill to eliminate requirements that school districts release personal information of high school students to military recruiters; and the requirement that military recruiters have the same access to students allowed to college recruiters. A

6. Release of Student Information: endorse Student Privacy Protect Act and encourage OSPI to guide schools in disseminating information on options regarding the release of personal student information to recruiters

Release of Student Information: endorse Student Privacy Protect Act and encourage OSPI to guide schools in disseminating information on options regarding the release of personal student information to recruiters A

7. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate: initiate and/or support legislation and/or polices providing funding for AP and IB honors programs.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate: initiate and/or support legislation and/or polices providing funding for AP and IB honors programs. A

8. Assessments for English Language Learners: exempt English language learners from having WASL scores count until they successfully pass an English language proficiency test.

Assessments for English Language Learners: exempt English language learners from having WASL scores count until they successfully pass an English language proficiency test. A

9. Conditional Scholarships: provide funding for conditionally forgivable college scholarships in exchange for teaching service in Washington State public schools.

Conditional Scholarships: provide funding for conditionally forgivable college scholarships in exchange for teaching service in Washington State public schools. A

10. De-link WASL as Graduation Requirement: restore WASL system to its original intent satisfying the requirements of NCLB and state law to provide evaluation data of educational systems rather than students.

De-link WASL as Graduation Requirement: restore WASL system to its original intent satisfying the requirements of NCLB and state law to provide evaluation data of educational systems rather than students. A

11. DREAM Act: urge Congress to enact the Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors Act and or the Student Adjustment Act to allow immigrant students to begin the process of becoming legal citizens.

DREAM Act: urge Congress to enact the Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors Act and or the Student Adjustment Act to allow immigrant students to begin the process of becoming legal citizens. A

12. Foster Youth Supports: improve educational outcomes for foster youth including incentive grants for schools that maintain foster youth enrollment, increase education advocates, community-based foster care recruitment and address data sharing issues between school districts and DSHS.

Foster Youth Supports: improve educational outcomes for foster youth including incentive grants for schools that maintain foster youth enrollment, increase education advocates, community-based foster care recruitment and address data sharing issues between school districts and DSHS. A

13. Funding Inequities: eliminate inequities in Education Funding formulas to include but not be limited to teacher salaries, levy lids, and levy equalization.

Funding Inequities: eliminate inequities in Education Funding formulas to include but not be limited to teacher salaries, levy lids, and levy equalization. A

14. Highly Capable Programs: fund highly capable programs at 3% level of total school district enrollment and provide professional development for teachers of highly capable students.

Highly Capable Programs: fund highly capable programs at 3% level of total school district enrollment and provide professional development for teachers of highly capable students. A

15. K-12 Education Funding: establish an updated definition of basic education and a basic education funding formula that reflects current education practices and requirements. The redefinition and funding formula must fulfill the State's obligation to fully fund education as its paramount duty by providing ample opportunities for all students to achieve higher learning levels consistent with standards-based education reform. The funding system must ensure accountability by generating consistent and transparent accounting processes.

K-12 Education Funding: establish an updated definition of basic education and a basic education funding formula that reflects current education practices and requirements. The redefinition and funding formula must fulfill the State's obligation to fully fund education as its paramount duty by providing ample opportunities for all students to achieve higher learning levels consistent with standards-based education reform. The funding system must ensure accountability by generating consistent and transparent accounting processes. A

16. Math and Science Education: enhance pre-K through college math and science education through a balanced instructional program to support students including but not limited to basic computational and procedural skills, algorithms, formulas and definitions, conceptual understanding and problem solving; advance professional development and training for math and science teachers; support community involvement in math and science curriculum selection; and encourage family collaboration in teaching math and science.

Math and Science Education: enhance pre-K through college math and science education through a balanced instructional program to support students including but not limited to basic computational and procedural skills, algorithms, formulas and definitions, conceptual understanding and problem solving; advance professional development and training for math and science teachers; support community involvement in math and science curriculum selection; and encourage family collaboration in teaching math and science. A

17. Quality Teaching: support enhanced professional development for teachers; develop resources for retention and recruitment of most proficient teachers; promote collaboration for classroom with family and community involvement; promote reasonable and respectful evaluation of teachers; and develop support strategies for teachers.

Quality Teaching: support enhanced professional development for teachers; develop resources for retention and recruitment of most proficient teachers; promote collaboration for classroom with family and community involvement; promote reasonable and respectful evaluation of teachers; and develop support strategies for teachers. A

18. Social Studies Education: increase emphasis on, and funding for social studies education by refining the first drafts and re-piloting the classroom-based assessment; increasing funding for professional development; and developing an accountability system to assure compliance.

Social Studies Education: increase emphasis on, and funding for social studies education by refining the first drafts and re-piloting the classroom-based assessment; increasing funding for professional development; and developing an accountability system to assure compliance. A

19. Special Education Funding: provide full funding of required services for special education students as defined by individual education plans under federal law.

Special Education Funding: provide full funding of required services for special education students as defined by individual education plans under federal law. A

20. Student Support Services: mandate or support student success in school by adequately funding K-12 school counselors, school librarians and school nurses.

Student Support Services: mandate or support student success in school by adequately funding K-12 school counselors, school librarians and school nurses. A

21. WASL Appeals Process: provide appeals process for WASL at all grade levels.

WASL Appeals Process: provide appeals process for WASL at all grade levels. A

22. Washington State Assessment System: improve the Washington State Assessment System to make it more effective, efficient, and focused on student learning, while preserving high standards and meeting NCLB requirements.

Washington State Assessment System: improve the Washington State Assessment System to make it more effective, efficient, and focused on student learning, while preserving high standards and meeting NCLB requirements. A

23. World Language and International Competencies: increase world language and international sign language study and support learning about world economy, cultures, geography, and history in all grades.

World Language and International Competencies: increase world language and international sign language study and support learning about world economy, cultures, geography, and history in all grades. A

24. Children's Health: promote children's health in the areas of health care access; both physical and mental health care; appropriate physical education and recess opportunities; nutrition programs that include education of children and families and review of school meals; and programs on substance abuse.

Children's Health: promote children's health in the areas of health care access; both physical and mental health care; appropriate physical education and recess opportunities; nutrition programs that include education of children and families and review of school meals; and programs on substance abuse. A

25. School Recess: support required recess periods and supervised unstructured breaks during the school day.

School Recess: support required recess periods and supervised unstructured breaks during the school day. A

26. Comprehensive School Behavioral Systems: promote legislative action to fund and require school districts to develop school-wide positive behavioral systems that identify problems; focuses on prevention and intervention; protects students subject to bullying; and makes referrals to special needs programs available.

Comprehensive School Behavioral Systems: promote legislative action to fund and require school districts to develop school-wide positive behavioral systems that identify problems; focuses on prevention and intervention; protects students subject to bullying; and makes referrals to special needs programs available. A

27. Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect: provide information and skills to parents and children on prevention and intervention of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and/or neglect of children.

Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect: provide information and skills to parents and children on prevention and intervention of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and/or neglect of children. A

28. Sex Offender Monitoring: require electronic monitoring of all Level III sex offenders, sex offenders convicted of failure to register, and all sex offenders registered as transient or homeless.

Sex Offender Monitoring: require electronic monitoring of all Level III sex offenders, sex offenders convicted of failure to register, and all sex offenders registered as transient or homeless. A

29. School Construction and Renovation: provide state-level funding for remodel and new construction of school facilities.

School Construction and Renovation: provide state-level funding for remodel and new construction of school facilities. A

30. School Traffic Safety: mandate creation of speed zones on any thoroughfare adjacent to any school and post standardized warning signs containing the word "School".

School Traffic Safety: mandate creation of speed zones on any thoroughfare adjacent to any school and post standardized warning signs containing the word "School". A

31. Do you want to work with us to promote any of these Issues, or the Washington State PTA legislative platform? If so, check here and give us your contact information below.

Do you want to work with us to promote any of these Issues, or the Washington State PTA legislative platform? If so, check here and give us your contact information below. YES

1. 2007 Legislative Issues Survey