Category Archives: Advocacy

PTA, Current Legislation Session, and Teacher Strikes

Posted on by

It is difficult to navigate these three situations with accurate, reliable and useful information and understanding. Below are a few helpful hints, some information from the state PTA, and websites where you can find reliable information about what is happening in Olympia.

As a Council, in line with both Region 2 and the State PTA, we recommend refraining from taking a stand on Teacher Strikes, and not using official PTA communication channels to encourage or facilitate participation in the Teacher Strikes. Parents are always free to advocate in any way they choose on their own time.

PTA is an advocacy group but it is often difficult to tell what is best for the kids even when given all the pieces. What to remember about advocacy is; what you advocate as an individual person, i.e. a person might believe option 1 is the best way to go and advocate for that option. But … your PTA membership might believe as a group that option 2 is the best way to go for the kids/community. So what do you do?

Always make it very clear what hat you are wearing….. my individual belief is ……/The PTA at my school voted at a General membership meeting to support……….

If you are going to put out information about an issue or candidate, such as a budget presented in the Senate or supporting a Teacher Strike.

  • You need to make three things very clear

    • Where the information is coming from….if you did not vote as a membership to support an issue then both sides need to be presented.

    • If you take a vote (how to do this is below), then your information needs to state that a vote was taken to support this issue, here is more information on what the issue is and why we believe it’s best for kids.

    • If it is your personal belief, feel free to share it with people remembering to make it clear this is not a PTA endorsement, and don’t send your personal reviews with the PTA email distribution list.

Taking a Vote for an Official Stand

  • You will need to have a clear understanding of your LU bylaws.

  • Call for a Special meeting of the membership to vote on …………..

  • You will need to post this at least 10 days before the meeting is scheduled, check your bylaws for the exact number of days.

  • At the meeting you will need to confirm a quorum of members is present.

  • Present information for both sides

  • A motion will need to come from the floor to support the issue, discussion and then a vote.

 

Fully funding education, and everything that means by way of the State Supreme Court’s McCleary decision, is the number one platform priority issue for WA State PTA.  We have worked hard all year and for many years to achieve that aim.  

During the 2015 legislative session, PTA’s in the Issaquah School District have advocated on multiple fronts for fully funding education. Our advocacy has included:

  • Participation at Washington State PTA Focus Day in January, with a bus full of parents and students to advocate for more funding. 
  • Devoted council meeting time to filling out pre-printed postcards with personalized messages to legislators, and delivering those messages to legislators – all in support of fully funding education and McCleary.
  • Facilitating PTA events such as brown bag lunches, coffees and candidate forums – all with the aim of encouraging our parents to get involved in advocating for fully funding education.
  • Responding to numerous efforts by individual parents to advocate for

 

In sum, there is no question that Washington State PTA supports fully funding education nor is there any question that PTA stands beside our educators in support of all they do in our classrooms for our kids.  But the Washington State PTA general membership (including the teachers in our membership, who voted for the resolution both in 1986 and 2006) does not support teacher strikes because it disrupts children’s learning and puts undue hardship on families. (See Resolution below). Both groups agree on fully funding. We simply disagree that teacher strikes are an appropriate way to further that goal.

WA State PTSA Board Resolution at p 31 – http://www.wastatepta.org/advocacy/WSPTA_resolutions_board_positions_Feb_2015.pdf

 

 

Advocacy Opinion Examples on PTA, Current Legislation Session, and Teacher Strikes

Posted on by

This document contains several opinions, interpretations, and thoughts on how to look at funding and the teacher strikes. It all basically says the same thing and gets to the same conclusion but different ways. I thought it might be useful to those who are struggling to decide how to approach funding and the teacher strikes. I authors are all, well respected PTA leaders around the state. Let us know if you have further questions, or need help deciding what they say.

** Here’s opinion #1 on this: 

“Teacher Walk Out Days are a very hot topic right now.  We do not know of the IEA’s plans re: any Issaquah School Walk Outs. Until that is something we need to contend with or not, we thought this is a good time to remind local PTA’s about the action and communication protocol for taking advocacy positions. Of course, as individual parents or citizens you can take whatever advocate position you like and use your personal communication however you like.  Yet, PTAs and PTA representatives have certain protocols to follow.

What is the issue we want to position?  Look to source of issue for this info.

Do your standing rules say anything about actions when taking a position? 

What is the Washington State PTA position on this? Contact President, VP or Secretary with your question

What is the Region/Council’s position on this?  Contact your Region or Council President or VP

Does the Board want to take a position? Or take a position that is different than the above?

Yes, present the facts only on the issue taken directly from the source of the issue you are  discussing; both pro & con sides; is there a motion? Have discussion on pro/con sides of taking a position; Call for vote; Board presents recommendation to General Membership for same process.

Do you want to skip Board vote and take this directly to General Membership?

Yes, present the facts only on the issue taken directly from the source of the issue you are discussing; present both pro & con sides; is there a motion? Have discussion on pro/con sides of taking a position; Call for vote;

If GM takes a neutral position, then you cannot use PTA communication channels or your PTA position to solicit support pro/con on the issue.

If GM takes a position, ONLY then CAN you use PTA communications and positons to solicit support pro/con on the issue as voted by the membership.

We are going to use a Teacher Walk Out vote as our example, but this could be followed for any position you PTA considers.

 Issaquah Council PTA 2.6 Communication regarding IEA Walk Out Action

Issaquah Council PTA currently has no position on the IEA Walk Out action.

Current Washington State PTA Resolution 18.6 supports united efforts with educators during “uninterrupted operation of public schools”.   (For full resolution text, see page 31 http://www.wastatePTA.org/advocacy/WSPTA_resolutions_board_positions_Feb_2015.pdf)

 As PTA representatives you need to follow certain protocols in regard to using PTA communication channels and in taking a position.

 Neutral Positions:

 As a PTA, you can remain neutral and take no official action or position on the IEA’s decision. Therefore, you would not use any PTA communication sources to solicit support for or against.

 As a PTA, you can simply state Washington State PTA supports uninterrupted operation of school when working with educators over the State fully funding education with the McCleary decision. Therefore, you would not use any PTA communication sources to solicit support for or against.

 Taking a Position:

 As a PTA, you can take the independent action of voting on a position, whether that position is neutral, for, or against. 

 If your local PTA decides to independently take a position, follow these steps…

 As a local PTA Board, make sure you are meeting the notice requirements if this is a special meeting.

Present the facts of the issue (in this case get the vote info from the IEA directly). Important to present the pro & con of each side of the issue and of taking a position.   

Is there a motion to take a positon?

Ask for and have a discussion?

            Call for the vote?

            Based on the vote results you can do the following:

                        If neutral, do not use PTA communication channels or your PTA position to comment on this issue;

If for supporting, or against, you can now take your for/against recommendation to your General Membership for the same steps.  After your GM votes, you can then use your PTA communication channels and positon according to the for (or) against vote outcome. 

 

As a General Membership,

Present the facts of the issue (in this case get the vote info from the IEA directly). Important to present the pro & con of each side of the issue and of taking a position.  

Is there a motion to take a positon?

Ask for and have a discussion?

            Call for the vote?

            Based on the vote results you can do the following:

                        If neutral, do not use PTA communication channels or your PTA position to comment on this issue;

If Gm votes for supporting, or against, you can NOW use your PTA communication channels and position to solicit according to the for (or) against vote outcome. 

Full text of Resolution on page 31 from the WSPTA link: http://www.wastatePTA.org/advocacy/WSPTA_resolutions_board_positions_Feb_2015.pdf

 

“UNINTERRUPTED OPERATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS 18.6, Resolution passed 1986; revised 20066

Whereas, the Washington State PTA has a purpose “To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, spiritual education”, and

Whereas, Quality Education is a high priority issue for the Washington State PTA, and

Whereas, Washington State citizens have historically valued the reliable delivery of vital services and the orderly management of public institutions including fire and police services and public schools, and

Whereas, the Washington State PTA also holds that a disruption to the educational system in the form of work stoppages and strikes is detrimental to the best interests of the children and families affected by those actions, and

Whereas, the Washington State PTA believes that a disruption to the educational system in the form of work stoppages and/or strikes is often detrimental to the best interest of the children and families affected by those actions. While acknowledging that more state resources must be committed to the educational process in the State of Washington, including higher salaries for educational employees.

Therefore, be it Resolved, that the Washington State PTA shall work to produce conditions with regard to the collective bargaining process which will consistently produce, in a timely manner, labor agreements negotiated and fully embraced by the direct parties thereto and which will not cause disruption to the school calendar; and be it further

Resolved, that the Washington State PTA will not support work stoppages and/or strikes which interrupt or disrupt the educational day.”

 

Opinion #2 –

So our experience with this issue was that there was a lot of confusion at the local unit level about what they can and should do about communicating information about the strike and especially encouraging parent participation in it.

And that confusion caused frustration.

We found teacher union leadership either didn’t know or didn’t understand our policies regarding use of PTA communications to support issues – whether it’s a bond/levy, a ballot initiative, or, in this instance, the teacher strike

OF course, any teacher and any parent are free to support, oppose or stay neutral about the strike.

And of course, PTA communications can be used to support advocacy around McCleary and fully funding b/c that’s part of our platform

But before PTA communication channels can be used to support or encourage participation in the strike, these things need to happen in accordance w/ a local units bylaws/standing rules

1.    Teacher Strike is presented to the board w/ pro/con (that would include option to support, oppose, stay neutral or support w/ conditions)

2.    then presented to general membership w/ pro & con views (same as above)

That’s always been the case and the strike doesn’t change that.

Our experience was that our local unit presidents weren’t fully aware of how this works, and then they were confused when teacher union leaders to them that they should be able to use PTA communications and emails to convey messages of support for the strike. And that’s not the case – PTA communications are not accessible to teachers simply b/c there is a “T” in PTA (which was the reason we were given by the union president here in Lake Wash).

It’s very tricky b/c of course we support teachers and funding, but if a school wants to support a teacher strike then they need to follow the rules just like they would for any issue.

 

Opinion #3 – Example

Strike Information for Northshore PTA
The Northshore teachers’ union, Northshore Education Association (NSEA) voted earlier today to participate in a one day strike on Wednesday, May 6th. On the day of the strike, there will be no school and the last day of school has moved to Thursday, June 18th. Please refer to the district announcement regarding details about testing, fields trips, after school activities and athletics. 

Washington State PTA resolution
Washington State PTA Resolution 18.6 states that the Washington State PTA “will not support work stoppages and/or strikes which interrupt or disrupt the educational day.” As a PTA representative, it is important to make clear when you are speaking on behalf of PTA versus as a parent so there is no confusion. 

Communication in your Local Unit
PTA plays a pivotal role in informing our membership and beyond about the education, health and safety of all students. Here are a few things to think about when crafting your communication:
Your communications are going to Parent, Teachers, School Administration, and Students

Positive and respecting all parties positions you/PTA to be a trusted partner

Determine if your communications should directly state the LU’s voter approved position on the strike so there is no confusion

Provide contact information to legislators and ask them to contact them directly on the strikes and/or funding McCleary


To Take action or not?
Each Local Unit can vote to remain neutral, support or not support the strike. Refer to the standing rules for your local unit to determine how best to proceed in calling a special meeting; if needed, the notification period and how to take a position on an issue.

Local Resources

Northshore Council are here to support you. Please contact Council Legislative VP, Carrie McKenzie if you require clarification, assistance or unsure how to appropriately address a specific situation. 

 

Opinion #4 –

This is just from my perspective.  As a council, our mission is to support district kids and to provide guidance to our local PTAs. In this case, it is helping our local PTAs make informed, responsible decisions that help their community through a potentially divisive, emotional situation.   To me that means giving them the information about the WSPTA resolution and making them aware of information from PTA and the law that clearly defines what a PTA should and shouldn’t do with regard to their official communication channels (here it is by the way)

 

 

  34.3 USE OF MAILING LISTS

PTA is prohibited from using its mailing lists for any purpose other than PTA purposes. The lists may not be used for any commercial or political purpose – even by a member. **This is really the key right here.  If you haven’t voted on it, then it isn’t a PTA purpose and it is definitely a political purpose.

On the other hand, I do think it is important to remind them of their own organization’s advocacy voice and to provide them the process by which if they wanted to, the PTA could vote to support the strike and consequently communicate that information on behalf of their PTA’s pro strike position.  Also, reminding them that on an individual basis, what parents choose to do is up to them. They can relate information on their private social media platforms and emails, just not using the PTA mailing list.

 I would suggest (and others can chime in on this if they disagree) that you let the president of your MIEA know what your situation is. That WSPTA has a resolution that doesn’t support strikes, that according to your policy, you can’t use your official communications to support the strike or advertise on behalf of another organization.  That this official position in no way speaks to your continued support of the teachers in your district and to the MIEA as an organization. 

 That all being said, in answer to your question about telling parents to contact MIEA—you just have to decide how much information is helpful “relevant resource” verses what could be construed as implied endorsement of a political action.  I believe in our missive we did let people know that they can contact the LWEA with questions.  There will probably also be a page on your district website with information about it and you could refer families to that as well.  I think that if you are very intentional with your approach, you should do what you think is best for MI Council and local PTAs and ultimately, for the kids in your district. (queue Star Spangled Banner)

October 2013: Volunteers for Issaquah Schools Campaign Update

Posted on by

Campaign Kickoff            November 4

Our kickoff will be held at 7:00 PM at the King County Library System Service Center, 960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah.  The meeting will last no later than 8:30.

Come to this event to hear:
A brief overview of what is in the (3) levies and how they impact our students
The Superintendent explain why the levies are important
The plans for voter outreach  – messages, target audiences, mailings, facebook, etc.
How you can help get the word out in large or small ways
Questions and comments about the levies – including time for you to talk and make suggestions to the campaign committee

VIS Website  VisVote.org

You can download:
Endorsement form
Flyer that explains who VIS (Volunteers for Issaquah Schools) is
VIS Vote Yes 3 Times flyer
District fact sheet

What is the difference between the District fact sheet and the VIS Vote Yes flyer??  The District must inform the voters as to what these three levies will pay for and VIS’s job is to tell people why they should vote yes!  We will also include a calendar of public events and important dates on the website.  Over time there will be additional campaign tools that you can download.  Thanks to Anne Moore for serving as our webmaster!

Facebook

Like us on facebook!  This is a great way to generate enthusiasm and reach out to voters.  As of today we have 283 likes.

Endorsements

Endorsements will be listed on our website.  Please encourage people to go directly to the website to endorse these three levies!  We will also publish full page endorsement ads in our local papers in January.

We already have endorsements from the following:
Issaquah Education Association
Issaquah PTSA Council
Briarwood Elementary School PTA

Clark Elementary PTA
Challenger Elementary PTA
Discovery Elementary PTSA
Endeavor Elementary PTSA
Issaquah High PTSA

Issaquah Middle School PTSA
Issaquah Valley Elementary PTA
Liberty High School PTSA
Newcastle Elementary School PTSA
Pine Lake Middle School PTSA

Skyline High PTSA
Sunny Hills Elementary PTA
Sunset Elementary PTA

If you have endorsement sheets please scan them and send to Anne Moore at annemoore5@comcast.net or mail to Anne at P O Box 1401, Issaquah WA 98027

Presentations
October
16, 7:00 AM            Sammamish Kiwanis
17, 11:15 AM          Sammamish Chamber lunch meeting

17, 1:15 PM            Pacific Cascade Middle School PTSA
17, 6:30 PM            Maple Hills PTA

17, 6:30 PM            Maywood Middle School PTSA     

22, 7:00 PM            Beaver Lake Middle School PTSA

23, 6:00 PM            Cascade Ridge PTSA
24, 8:45 AM            Cougar Ridge PTSA
28, 6:00 PM            Sammamish Chamber Board
November
5, 9:30 AM              Creekside PTSA
8, 12:00 noon          Providence Point Kiwanis

12, 7:00 PM            Apollo PTA
14, 7:00 PM            Grand Ridge PTSA

18, 7:00 PM            Sammamish City Council

If you know of any community group or civic organization who would like to have a levy presentation please contact our Speakers Bureau Coordinator, Alicia Veevaert, at aliciavee@comcast.net.  We can tailor our presentation to the length of time available.

Legislative Update June 2013

Posted on by

Legislative Update

By Marie Sullivan, WSSDA Director of Governmental Relations

June 11, 2013

Governor calls for 2nd special session, no clear path forward

After taking the Senate Majority Caucus to task at a “media availability” this morning, Gov. Jay Inslee announced this afternoon he would call legislators back for a second special session starting tomorrow at 9 a.m. No one was surprised.

The second special session can run up to 30 days. Unlike last year, when the Legislature needed just a few more hours after midnight to complete a second special session, the outlook isn’t positive. As one reporter joked, the Capitol may be the only state building with the lights on if lawmakers fail to reach agreement before the biennium ends June 30th.

Earlier in the day, Inslee chastised the Senate Majority for using school children as a lever to get an ideological agenda passed. The Democratic governor specifically mentioned the focus on further reforms to workers compensation and expanding pay day lending as having nothing to do with a two-year operating budget to meet the state’s paramount duty to fund K-12 schools. Inslee said House Democrats had compromised, and handed out a chart to illustrate the point he was making.

Sen. Rodney Tom, one of two Democrats to join 23 Republicans to form the majority caucus last winter, said a government shutdown will be avoided. The Bellevue Democrat is the Senate Caucus Majority Leader.

What’s the hold up?

At issue are a number of policy bills the Senate Majority Caucus is demanding pass as part of the budget negotiations and House Democrats’ insistence on closing tax loopholes to meet McCleary.

House Democrats dramatically reduced their K-12 spending plan when they passed ESHB 1057 on June 6. ESHB 2034, the so-called “trailer bill,” linked funding for early learning, higher education, and some aspects of the 2009-redefined program of basic education to closing seven tax preference policies.

The two Senate education-related bills still in play are ESSB 5242, informally titled “mutual consent,” and SSB 5946, an omnibus bill that includes elements of 3rd grade reading intervention, school discipline limits, Learning Assistance Program (LAP) changes, and professional development for teachers, beginning educator support, school directors and school administrators. The latter is a new concept that has not been discussed in policy committees. One short subsection would require any salary increases beyond inflation for school staff to be spent on district-directed professional development for activities such as common core standards.

During a hearing June 10 before the Senate Ways & Means Committee, Dr. Jonelle Adams, WSSDA Executive Director, asked lawmakers to amend SSB 5946 to authorize WSSDA to conduct the training for school directors included in Sec. 501. The bill passed out of committee this morning without the WSSDA amendment but with a commitment from the bill sponsor to make the modification.

ESSB 5242 passed the Senate 25-23 on Sunday, June 9. It is on the “go-home list” for the Senate Majority Caucus. The revised bill would:

  • ·         Require the State Board of Education to use the new Washington Achievement Index to identify all school districts during the past two school years that did not make progress in closing the opportunity gaps in any of the individual subgroups of students or did not make progress in closing the overall opportunity gap within the district. The SBE would be required to provide the list to OSPI by December 1st of each year, and OSPI must notify the school district that it is on the list by January 1stof each year.
  • ·         Add a definition of “displaced” to include a certificated instructional staff (CIS) member who no longer has an assignment because of reassignment, change in program, change in enrollment, or implementation of a federal accountability intervention model.
  • ·         Prohibit a CIS on probation from being transferred to another evaluator.
  • ·         Require assignment to be agreed upon by the principal and the staff member being reassigned.

o    The principal would receive input from at least two teachers employed at the school.

o    Starting in 2015-16, evaluation results must be considered in personnel decisions.

o    A district superintendent would be given the ability to override a principal’s decision on up to two staff assignments each school year.

  • ·         Put “displaced” CIS into a paid temporary position through May 15th of the year following displacement. If no assignment can be found, the district would place the CIS on unpaid leave until he or she is able to secure assignment. If a substantially similar position is found, the school district would reinstate the salary and benefits to the level prior to when they were placed on unpaid leave.
  • ·         Not apply to current contracts but would apply to new or renewed contracts after the effective date of the section.
  • ·         Submit the legislation to the voters at the next general election. If adopted, the effective date would be 90 days after certification.

For their part, the Senate Majority Caucus passed their operating budget (ESSB 5034) Saturday, June 8. The budget is similar to what passed the Senate more than a month ago with one exception – no Democrats voted in favor this time. The two-year spending plan makes investments in K-12 education but still includes proposals that aren’t widely supported by school directors. (The next Legislative Update will compare the House and Senate budgets.) Budget chair Andy Hill, R-Redmond, has said the Senate will consider a couple of revenue bills but only in return for policy reforms.

WSSDA urges focus on the budget

Following the start of the first special session, the WSSDA Board of Directors adopted positions May 16 on mutual consent, third grade reading interventions, and school grading.

In a letter to legislative leaders, WSSDA Board President Debra Long, a Central Valley school director, and Executive Director Jonelle Adams urged the Legislature to focus on passing a budget that makes a significant down payment on K-12 schools funding. The letter describes the Board’s opposition to the mutual consent legislation and the parameters for supporting a bill on third grade reading.

Long and Adams pointed to two significant education reform bills that passed during the regular session – SB 5329 (lowest-achieving schools) and SB 5491 (statewide indicators).

“While we appreciate the Legislature’s interest in various policy bills on topics such as mutual consent, it is the consensus of the WSSDA Board of Directors that the focus of this special session (and any subsequent special session) should be on passing a budget and adopting a schedule to ramp up funding by 2018, not on enacting new policy.” – excerpt from the June 11, 2013 letter

Facilitator Training FAQ

Posted on by
What the heck is going on here?
As you probably all know, the district is revising its homework policy and has invited the PTSA’s to be involved in a conversation about the homework our children do (or don’t do, as the case may be). On the website under Homework there are links to the district’s timeline, its current policies on homework, and “guiding questions” it would like parents to consider as they weigh in on the process. The webpage also has a good (and GROWING) number of links to research on the value of homework, etc.  Check it out when you get a chance:
As the discussion has evolved, we have decided that we’d like to approach this issue by having each school will hold a “community conversation” meeting, on some evening before the end of March.
Why did I get the list of IEA reps?
The teachers are also a part of this process and are eager to join in on our conversation. As you can imagine, teachers’ opinions on homework vary as much as parents’ opinions do, so this is definitely not an “us against them” thing — we all want what’s best for our children and a conversation in which multiple opinions and viewpoints are aired and explained will benefit all of us. So please contact your rep(s) and involve them from the beginning of the meeting planning process — this is a team effort.
Why do we need facilitator training?
There is an art to managing a “group conversation” and we are tremendously fortunate that one of our own advocacy reps has training in this that she’s willing to share with us. At the program after the January Council meeting, presidents (and any advocacy reps who can come) will get the briefest introduction to facilitating skills (how to keep people from saying the same thing over and over, keep them from rambling, etc.), plus a discussion of how to wrap up the meeting so that everyone attending feels they had a tangible opportunity to weigh in. The full-blown workshop will be in the evening of Monday Jan. 14, exact time to be determined as soon as I book the room. If you can, please plan for whoever is facilitating your meeting to attend that evening.
Can we do a survey?
Sure, and if you do set one up, please share it with the rest of us in case other schools want to follow suit. Surveys are a great way to involve families that cannot otherwise attend your meeting, but it shouldn’t replace the meeting itself, as there is great value in having parents hear the differing viewpoints.
What are the next steps?
1. Presidents and advocacy reps, working together, should contact their IEA reps and invite them to weigh in on planning the meeting, including choosing a date and a facilitator. Keep in mind that the facilitator will not be allowed to be a part of the conversation/express an opinion. Let me know if you have trouble finding a facilitator.
2. Sara Niegowski has specifically asked us NOT to put this on the principals’ plates at all — they are up to their eyeballs in TPEP stuff and will not have the bandwidth to participate meaningfully in this.
3. If you are in a middle or high school, make sure your ASB knows about this, and let them figure out how they want to make the range of student voices heard (conducting their own survey, inviting students to attend the conversation, etc.)
4. As soon as you have a date set, let Sara Niegowski and me know. Sara wants to put the dates on the district website, and I will pass them to Lida Buckner to put on the Council website. That way, if one of your elementary school parents can’t attend, they can go to another elementary school’s evening, since the conversations are likely to be similar. I would love to have all your dates by the January 10 council meeting — let me know if you are having problems with this.
Thanks again, and don’t hesitate to let me know if you have follow-up questions.

Activist Training Jan12, 2013 – League of Education Voters

Posted on by

Key Activists!

I hope each and every one of you is trying to come to our January 12th Training.  And, we encourage you to spread the word.  Attached is a flyer for the training that you can distribute at your meetings, or post in central places.
Bring a friend!  At $25 the cost can’t be beat!
We have one session that is just for you – from 8-9 we will do our invite only conversation with Frank about the legislative session.  It’s early, but its worth it.

We will have 3 workshops that cover:
  • Teachers and leaders from the Anacortes school district coming and talking about TPEP implementation (they are leading the state in this work)
  • Ross Hunter talking about the Ed Funding task force and what steps may or may not happen this legislative session
  • A session on parents and community influencing local bargaining
  • Linda Hanson will talk about McCleary and what it really means now
  • Childrens Alliance talking about why All Day K matters
  • Maggie and the LEV team talking about the Discipline issue
  • Robin Lake talking about successful implementation of Charters in Washington State
And we will have 4 – 10 minute “science fair” presentations – posters will be on the wall and you will walk to the presentation that interests you, we will have organizaitons like:
  •  DFER
  • Teachers United,
  • Cleveland Seattle Stem school
  • I Grad from Kent (a storefront program for recruiting and customizing programs for drop outs in Kent to graduate)
  • Federal Way Acceleration Policy
  • ELL certification in Kent
  • PBIS
  • Flipping the classroom (a teacher who is doing it)
And others who have not confirmed yet
Lastly, we will have a wine reception from 3-4 where we have asked people to have a resource table and a person manning the table.  The goal is to build relationships, meet new people.  We have asked quite a few groups, and expect quite a large number, so far we have confirmed:
  • PTA, Stand for Children, Parents Union
  • Roadmap Project
  • College Success Foundation
  • Black Education Strategy Roundtable
  • Our Schools Coalition
  • Excellent Schools Now Coalition
  • Plus, many of the science project participants will also participate in the wine reception!
To sign up:  Go to www.educationvoters.org and look for the button on the right of the screen!
I hope all of you can come!
—

Kelly Munn  |  State Field Director

Office: 206.728.6448

Mobile: 425.773.7878

Visit us at educationvoters.org

 

League of Education Voters

Working to improve public education in Washington State 

from cradle to career with ample, equitable, and stable funding

Questions for Parents

Posted on by

Homework guiding questions

The Issaquah School District’s policy states:

Homework, as an extension of the classroom, must be planned and organized; must be purposeful to the students; and must be evaluated and returned to students in a timely manner.  Homework may be assigned for one or more of the following purposes: 

    • Practice – to help students to master specific skills which have been presented in class;
    • Preparation – to help students gain the maximum benefits from future lessons;
    • Extension – to provide students with opportunities to transfer specific skills or concepts to new situations; and
    • Creativity – to require students to integrate many skills and concepts in order to produce original responses.

The purposes of homework assignments, the basis for evaluating the work performed and the guidelines and/or rules should be made clear to the student at the time of the assignment.

With that foundation:

  • Do you believe this policy is in practice in our classrooms?
  • When is homework a valuable learning tool? When is it not?
  • Do you believe that currently the amount of homework your child receives is appropriate?
  • What weight should homework be given in a student’s overall grade?

 

 

 

How to recruit an Advocacy Chair

Posted on by

What skills do they need? (In order of importance)

  • Interested in educating the community on children’s issues
  • Ability to engage the listener in a discussion
  • Ability to write effective emails (short and concise)
  • (Note that knowledge of legislation is NOT listed…they can easily learn about legislation, the first three priorities are tougher to learn)

Continue Reading→