Washington State PTA Votes Education Funding as Top Priority

Meeting last month at its annual Legislative Assembly, Washington State PTA (WSPTA) voted education funding as its top priority for the 2007 Legislative Session.  Each year over 300 delegates from across the state vote to prioritize a list of issues important to children and youth.

“Washington State PTA has worked for years to ensure that education is adequately funded in this state—in every school district, and in every school,” stated President Linda Hanson.  “Funding education is critical to ensuring education reform’s promise for every child in this state, and this is the year to make significant progress,” Hanson continued.

Prior to voting on the platform issues, delegates heard from several key education leaders: Paul Rosier – Executive Director of the Washington Association of School Administrators; Ann Daley – Washington Learns; Dr. Bergeson – Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Bob Butts – State Board of Education. Each speaker provided another compelling argument for greater school funding.

Out of 25 issues discussed by the Assembly, the top five issues were identified as follows: 1) Redefine and Fully Fund K-12 Education; 2) Strengthen Math and Science Education In Washington State; 3) Simple Majority for Levies and Bonds; 4) Reduce Class Sizes; and 5) Protect School Recess.

In addition, the WSPTA voted to recommend phasing-in of the Certificate of Academic Achievement, starting with reading and writing for the class of 2008. Math would follow in 2011 and Science in 2014.

Again this year, the PTA will lobby for stronger sex offender monitoring, an issue that has been a hot topic for the association for several years, full-day kindergarten, and greater funding for highly capable programs.

The above information is from the Washington State PTA Web Site -www.wastatepta.org

(Reprinted by permission of Washington State PTA)