National PTA Lauds President Obama’s Signing of Landmark Every Student Succeeds Act

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Dec. 10, 2015) — Today, President Barack Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 into law. This landmark legislation—which received overwhelming bipartisan support in the House and Senate—reauthorizes the long overdue Elementary and Secondary Education Act/No Child Left Behind (ESEA/NCLB).

This new law brings needed improvements to K-12 education in the United States, provides greater responsibility to states to meet the needs of all students and acknowledges the essential role of family engagement to student achievement.

“National PTA commends President Obama for swiftly signing the Every Student Succeeds Act into law and his commitment to improving education to make sure every student is prepared for long-term success,” said Laura Bay, president of National PTA. “The Every Student Succeeds Act is a marked improvement over previous law and provides great opportunity to strengthen family engagement in education and ensure all students reach their full potential. Now is the time for all of us to work together at the federal, state and local levels to make certain that this law makes a difference for the futures of our nation’s children.”

For years, PTAs and families have been advocating for a comprehensive, bipartisan reauthorization of ESEA/NCLB that includes robust family engagement provisions. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) contains a Statewide Family Engagement Centers program that will provide states and districts with the capacity to support effective implementation and enhancement of family engagement policies and initiatives. The law also includes improvements to Title I that will require districts to conduct family engagement activities that are proven to make a difference for students and schools. PTA remains committed to working with policymakers to embed evidence-based family engagement policies and practices in all aspects of a child’s educational continuum.

“PTAs, families and Statewide Family Engagement Centers play an important role in the successful implementation of ESSA and ensuring that all children receive a quality education by holding states and districts accountable,” said Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director. “National PTA is committed to empowering all families to be active participants in state and local implementation of the law, support student success and make the promise of ESEA/ESSA a reality for all children.”

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.

About Washington State PTA

The Washington State PTA was founded in 1905 by Abby Williams Hill of Tacoma, an artist who saw the need for an organization to support children in the state. Thanks to her leadership and vision - and the work of over 132,000 current members who have carried her vision forward - Washington State PTA has been a leading voice for children in Washington for over 110 years. 

National PTA Commends House Passage of Every Student Succeeds Act

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Dec. 2, 2015) — The following statement can be attributed to National PTA President Laura Bay:

“This evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Every Student Succeeds Act, which would reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act/No Child Left Behind (ESEA/NCLB). ESEA/NCLB has been due for reauthorization since 2007.

“National PTA applauds Representatives John Kline (R-MN) and Bobby Scott (D-VA) for their bipartisan leadership to produce the Every Student Succeeds Act. The association commends all members of the House for their support of the bill and commitment to ensure all students receive a high-quality, well-rounded education that prepares them for long-term success.

“Our nation’s students, families and educators have waited far too long for comprehensive reauthorization of ESEA/NCLB. The Every Student Succeeds Act is a marked improvement over current law and will provide much needed certainty for families and schools. National PTA urges the Senate to take swift action and pass the bill to get it to the president’s desk before the end of the year.”

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth.

National PTA Assessments and Score Report Webinar + Free Raffle

From National PTA:

Join National PTA Tues., Oct. 20 for a webinar for parents on assessments and score reports. During the session, we'll discuss tips, resources and hear from special guests:

• Lucille Davy, senior advisor for the Hunt Institute, will review the key changes in standards, assessments and score reports.

• Bill Jackson, CEO and founder of Great Schools, will review the new parent assessment guide offered on GreatKids.org that help parents understand what the assessment scores mean.

• David Park, EVP of strategy & communications for Be A Learning Hero, will review the new parent resources offered on BeALearningHero.org that help parents understand their child's strengths and weaknesses.

We'll also raffle five $100 Amazon gift cards to the child's school of randomly selected attendees. Winners will be notified by Fri., Oct. 23 via email. Space is limited, so register today to reserve your spot!

SBE Community Forum at ESD 112 in Vancouver

The State Board of Education will hold a board meeting November 4-5 in Vancouver. Public comment is scheduled during the board meeting, but the Board recognizes that those times may not be convenient for working community leaders, so we're holding an additional open forum to gather feedback from members of the community. 

Please join board members for an open discussion about important topics such as strategies for closing the achievement gap, standards, and assessment. The community forum will be November 3 at ESD 112. 

If you are unable to attend the public comment or community meeting, we are happy to respond to any written questions you may have about the board and its work. Currently, the Board is working on important issues impacting the achievement index, school accountability, graduation requirements, and student discipline.

Board members appreciate the opportunity the community forum provides for close conversations with members of the community and educators. We hope you'll be able to attend. Register here.

Contact 

Stefanie Randolph

Communications Manager

Washington State Board of Education

stephanie.randolph@k12.wa.us

(360) 725-6501

2015 Legislative Assembly Registration is Now Open

The 2015 Legislative Assembly is right around the corner. Registration for accommodations  and the one day event is now open.

2015 Legislative Assembly

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Red Lion Inn | Olympia | Registration

Hotel Reservations: Please book your hotel room by October 9, 2015 to take advantage of the Washington State PTA room block discount.

Questions about Legislative Assembly? Please contact Brook Valentine, Washington State PTA Legislative Chair.

WSPTA BOARD PRESIDENT STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT DECISION

Tacoma, WA (August 13, 2015): Washington state’s highest court issued an order sanctioning the state for failing to develop a plan to fully fund K-12 education per the court’s 2012 McCleary decision. The governor and lawmakers will meet Monday to begin addressing the court’s recent decision.

The Washington State Parent Teacher Association (WSPTA) President Barbara Martin, issued this statement today concerning the Supreme Court’s ruling on McCleary:

“Fully Funding McCleary is the WSPTA’s number one legislative priority and we are extremely pleased with the Supreme Court decision to ensure that fully funding education and holding the legislature responsible to comply with the constitution, is in the best interest of Washington’s children and will provide them with the best education possible.”

About Washington State PTA: The Washington State PTA was founded in 1905 by Abby Williams Hill of Tacoma, an artist who saw the need for an organization to support Washington's children. Thanks to her leadership and vision—and over 132,000 current members who have carried her vision forward—Washington State PTA has been a leading voice for children in Washington for more than 110 years. To learn more about the Washington State PTA, please visit www.wastatepta.org.

1304 S. Fawcett Avenue, Suite 300, Tacoma, WA 98402 (253) 214-7410

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National PTA Applauds Administration's Commitment to Strengthening Family Engagement in Special Education

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Aug. 13, 2015) — Last week, the U.S. Department of Education announced that nearly $14 million in grants will be awarded to states to operate parent training and information centers to assist families of children with disabilities. The centers are designed to promote effective education of infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities by strengthening the role and responsibility of parents and ensuring they have meaningful opportunities to participate in their children’s education.

“National PTA has consistently advocated for federal investment in family engagement as it is proven to make a difference for all children, schools and communities,” said Laura Bay, president of National PTA. “The association applauds the administration’s commitment to ensuring that family engagement remains a fundamental principle of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and that children with disabilities have access to education and services that will enable them to reach their full potential.”

With the grants, the parent training and information centers will provide parents with details and assistance on laws, policies and research-based education practices for children with disabilities. They also will inform parents how data can be used to guide instruction, how to interpret results from evaluations and assessments, and ways to effectively engage in school reform activities. The grants are being funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and authorized by the IDEA.

The parent training and information centers follow a similar approach as the Parental Information and Resource Centers (PIRC) program established by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act-No Child Left Behind (ESEA-NCLB). Both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate recently passed bills that would reauthorize the ESEA-NCLB as well as reauthorize and improve the PIRC program as Statewide Family Engagement Centers. The Statewide Family Engagement Centers would provide states and districts with the capacity to support effective implementation and enhancement of family engagement policies, programs and activities that are proven to positively impact student achievement, behavior and attendance and increase graduation rates.

“Family engagement is at the core of children’s success and school improvement,” added Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director. “National PTA remains committed to working with the administration and Congress to make sure investments continue to be provided that strengthen family engagement at all levels of education to support the achievement of every child, especially children with disabilities.”

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of parent involvement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c) (3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health and welfare of children and youth.

About Washington State PTA

Founded in 1905, the Washington Congress of Parents and Teachers, better known as the Washington State PTA, is the largest volunteer organization in the state, with more than 132,000 members in more than 800 local PTAs across the state. 

National PTA Lauds Senate Judiciary Committee Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Improve the Nation’s Juvenile Justice System

ALEXANDRIA, Va., (July 24, 2015) — Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that would reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA). The bill’s passage by the committee is an important first step to improve and strengthen the juvenile justice system in the United States. The JJDPA, which was signed into law in 1974 and last reauthorized in 2002, prevents children and youth from entering the juvenile justice system and protects those currently in the system.

“While the impact of the JJDPA over the last 40 years has been remarkable, reauthorization of the law is long overdue and improvements need to be made to the nation’s juvenile justice system. Loopholes in the JJDPA and amendments made to the law over the years have weakened its protections and resulted in thousands of children and youth being detained for minor offenses,” said Laura Bay, president of National PTA. “National PTA applauds the Senate Judiciary Committee and the leadership of Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) for passing the bipartisan Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2015. We commend their commitment to improving the juvenile justice system for our nation’s youth.”

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2015 would improve current law by:

• Ensuring the continuity of children’s education while detained and a smooth transition back into the classroom after;
• Providing guidance to states to reduce racial and ethnic disparities among youth in the juvenile justice system;
• Making sure detained youth are kept separate from adults; and
• Phasing out exemptions that allow youth detainment for minor offenses.

“National PTA has advocated for a fair, safe and rehabilitative justice system for children for more than one hundred years. The association continues to encourage and support policies and programs that work to prevent juvenile delinquency and provide youth in the system with services to help them become productive members of society,” added Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director. “We remain committed to working with Congress to ensure a JJDPA reauthorization bill is signed into law that enhances protections for youth and helps every child reach his or her full potential.” 

Learn More and Get Your Questions Answered on Washington's K-12 Learning Standards and Assessments

The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and Ready Washington (ReadyWA) invite you to join a telephone town hall meeting about Washington’s K-12 learning standards and assessments. This is your opportunity to learn more and ask any questions you may have about learning standards and assessments in our state.

OSPI and ReadyWA will host a telephone town hall for the communities below on the following dates:

Wednesday, July 22 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Southwest Washington, Olympic Peninsula, Kitsap Peninsula and Tacoma

Thursday, July 23 | 7:00 pm - 8:00 p.m.

Central and Eastern Washington

Tuesday, July 28 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Northwest Washington

Thursday, July 30 | 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Puget Sound area

Tuesday, August 4 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

South Puget Sound

To participate and live-stream a telephone town hall on your computer or mobile device on the dates above, please visit the Tele-Town Hall on K-12 Education website.

To help ensure all students are ready for success after high school, the Common Core State Standards were established. Washington’s K-12 learning standards are aligned to the Common Core State Standards and provide clear, consistent guidelines for what every student should know and be able to do in math and English Language Arts from kindergarten through 12th grade. The Smarter Balanced assessment system, which is aligned to the new standards, provides a way for teachers to measure student progress on those standards throughout the year and make adjustments and interventions as necessary to ensure students are on the pathway to success. The assessments are administered in grades 3-8 and 11.

To learn more, visit the OSPI website and the Ready Washington website.

The Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 Senate Passage

The Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 (ECAA) was passed by the Senate on a vote of 81-17. National PTA applauds the leadership of Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) for crafting the historic and bipartisan legislation. We believe that this bill is a solid foundation for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act—No Child Left Behind (ESEA-NCLB). The Senate bill will soon go to a Conference Committee with the House to work out the differences between its reauthorization bill, the Student Success Act (H.R. 5).

Throughout the consideration of the reauthorization of ESEA-NCLB, National PTA and PTA members across the nation strongly advocated for the inclusion of several provisions to improve family engagement in the bill. Thousands of PTA members and advocates called, emailed and tweeted at Senators voicing their support for amendments to improve family engagement in the bill. Because of this impressive grassroots advocacy by PTA members, the Senate adopted an amendment by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Jack Reed (D-RI) that will provide school districts and schools with the capacity to effectively engage families in their children’s education. The inclusion of this program in the Senate bill is a huge victory for children and families. The House bill (H.R. 5) also includes this program.

Furthermore, in large part to the efforts of local PTA members, the bill contains several other laudable family engagement provisions such as the inclusion of parents in the development of school district plans to support student achievement and promote family engagement strategies in early childhood learning programs. Additionally, through the leadership of Chris Coons (D-DE), Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Jack Reed (D-RI), language was also included to encourage Title I school districts to invest additional resources in family engagement. In total, 178 amendments were introduced, with 65 accepted and 13 rejected. Several accepted amendments included the creation of a student data privacy commission to inform policymakers on updates to current laws governing this issue, addressing student access to digital learning resources at home, and the establishment of a full-service community schools grant program. Other amendments that were adopted include a proposal from Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) allowing certain funds to be spent on mental health awareness programs and one by Sen. Bennet that would require states to limit the total time students spend on tests.

National PTA has long advocated against any proposal that would permit federal dollars to follow a student to another public school or for private school vouchers. The association was pleased that several amendments that attempted to do so were defeated.

Now that both houses of Congress have passed bills to reauthorize the ESEA-NCLB, they must come together to work out the differences between the two bills in conference committees. Once there is agreement, the bill will go back to each chamber of Congress for another vote. The final step is to send the bill to President Obama for his approval. We are excited that this long overdue re-authorization is closer to a reality. National PTA will continue to work to improve educational opportunities and experiences of all children across the United States.

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Lindsay Kubatzky is the government affairs coordinator at National PTA.

WASHINGTON STATE PTA CONGRATULATES LAURA BAY AS NATIONAL PTA PRESIDENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kathryn Hobbs

Washington State PTA

(253) 214-7410

www.wastatepta.org

WASHINGTON STATE PTA CONGRATULATES LAURA BAY AS NATIONAL PTA PRESIDENT

The Washington native was installed during the 2015 National Convention

Tacoma, WA (July 1, 2015): Laura Bay was installed as the National PTA President at the June 2015 National PTA convention in Charlotte, North Carolina. For the last two years, Bay has served as National PTA President-elect. Prior to serving as President-elect, Bay served a two-year term as Secretary-Treasurer and served on the national PTA Board of Directors and on the finance and field service committees. From 2007-2009, Bay served on the organizational viability committee for National PTA. As a passionate advocate for children’s issues and their education, she believes that PTA is the organization that actively supports and engages parents, teachers, and communities for children and their education.

“I had the distinct pleasure of attending Laura’s installation as National PTA president,” states Washington State President, Barbara Martin. “Her vision for focusing on health and safety, education, and programs received overwhelming support. Washington State PTA is very proud of Laura and wishes her much successes as she leads our great association.”

Since entering her son’s kindergarten classroom over two decades ago, Bay began dedicating herself to PTA. Bay launched her PTA involvement in local, council, and regional activities and served in a variety of roles. She was also an active parent at each school building and at the district level, having served as a parent voice at staff meetings and on budget committee.

Bay believes that the power of PTA can be found with the diverse volunteers that share a passion to engage parents, support their communities by voicing educational needs, health and safety issues, and to cultivate leaders to advocate for children anytime and anywhere.

While she led Washington State PTA as the state president, 2007-2009, Bay was focused to increase the leadership potential in all levels of PTA; Bay implemented the pursuit of hiring a new executive director. Bay also led the Washington State PTA in a collaboration with other organizations for the successful passage of Engrossed House Joint Resolution (EHJR) 4204 – Simple Majority Initiative. Bay was also able to provide testimony before state senate and house committees, led a rally on the state capitol steps and immersed herself in a statewide PTA campaign for the signing of HB 2261 (Basic Education Funding) with other education-focused organizations.

Prior to serving as Washington State President, Bay served on the Washington State PTA Board of Directors for six years in various roles: region director, secretary, and leadership director.

Bay and her husband, Robert, reside in Poulsbo, Washington, where they enjoy time with their three adult children: Andrew, Matthew, and Celeste. Bay was an educator for the Bremerton School District and currently works in the district office as a coordinator for assessment and instruction.

About Washington State PTA: The Washington State PTA was founded in 1905 by Abby Williams Hill of Tacoma, an artist who saw the need for an organization to support Washington's children. Thanks to her leadership and vision—and over 132,000 current members who have carried her vision forward—Washington State PTA has been a leading voice for children in Washington for more than 106 years. To learn more about the Washington State PTA, please visit www.wastatepta.org.

1304 S. Fawcett Avenue, Suite 300, Tacoma, WA 98402 (253) 214-7410

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WASHINGTON STATE PTA ANNOUNCES NEWLY INSTALLED BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kathryn Hobbs

Washington State PTA

(253) 214-7410

www.wastatepta.org

WASHINGTON STATE PTA ANNOUNCES NEWLY INSTALLED BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board of directors to meet for strategic planning session.

Tacoma, WA (July 2, 2015): The Washington State PTA (WSPTA), the largest volunteer child advocate association in the state, announced the 2015-2016 board of directors. The board of directors will convene for the first time July 10 – 12, 2015 for a strategic planning session. The strategic planning session is designed to strengthen leadership and provide support to the newly installed officers, and ultimately, create the framework of the association for the next two years.

“Each day we, as WSPTA members, work with great passion advocating at every level on behalf of our kids. These inspiring actions move us towards fulfilling our vision, making every child's potential a reality,” states newly installed Washington State PTA President, Barbara Martin. “It must be realized in every decision we make as the state's premier child advocacy association.”

During the planning session, the WSPTA board of directors will commit to increasing effective family and community engagement, increase the number of PTA leaders, and ensure that the WSPTA continues the mission that PTA is a powerful voice for children, a relevant resource for families, schools and communities, and is an advocate for the well-being and education of all children.

“My passion is working for children, schools, and PTA,” said Mary Levesque, Region 7 Director. “When we work together to achieve common goals, we can help children reach their full potential.”

The 2015-2016 Washington State PTA Officers:

Barbara Martin, President* Leanne Hawkins, Vice President* Karen Albers, Finance Officer Julie Haase, Secretary* Brook Valentine, Legislative Director* Jenny Forbes, Membership Director* Monika Scotti, Region 1 Director * Jane Dulski, Region 2 Director Kimberli Swenson, Region 3 Director * Esperanza Badillo- Di lorio, Region 4 Director *

Kristi Shafer, Region 5 Director * Janice Kutzera, Region 6 Director Mary Levesque, Region 7 Director * Lily Salas, Region 8 Director * Tania Skinner, Region 9 Director * Marisa Peloquin, Region 10 Director Amanda Shipman, Region 11 Director Connie Andrews, Region 12 Director Karen Albers, Region 15 Director (acting)

*Newly Installed

About Washington State PTA: The Washington State PTA was founded in 1905 by Abby Williams Hill of Tacoma, an artist who saw the need for an organization to support Washington's children. Thanks to her leadership and vision—and over 132,000 current members who have carried her vision forward—Washington State PTA has been a leading voice for children in Washington for more than 106 years. To learn more about the Washington State PTA, please visit www.wastatepta.org.

1304 S. Fawcett Avenue, Suite 300, Tacoma, WA 98402 (253) 214-7410

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BARBARA MARTIN INSTALLED AS WASHINGTON STATE PTA PRESIDENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kathryn Hobbs

Washington State PTA

(253) 214-7410

www.wastatepta.org

BARBARA MARTIN INSTALLED AS WASHINGTON STATE PTA PRESIDENT

Tacoma, WA (July 1, 2015): Barbara Martin, of Sammamish, was recently installed as the Washington State PTA’s 42^nd State President for a two year term, which began June 1, 2015. The election took place during the Washington State PTA’s 103^rd annual convention, held in Bellevue in April.

“With strong leadership and an engaged membership, we can and must ensure that Washington State PTA remains relevant as the state’s premier child advocacy association”, said Martin. “Let us work together to continue to be courageous and to work most effectively to benefit all children.”

A fifteen year PTA member, Martin began her PTA career in Redmond with leadership roles at Rockwell Elementary, Redmond Junior High, Redmond High School, and is a founding member of the Rachel Carson Elementary PTSA in Sammamish. She served as Co-President of Lake Washington PTSA Council, the second largest council in the state, with over 15,000 members. At the state PTA level, she served as Secretary, chaired the Strategic Plan Committee, and recently ended her two year term as Washington State PTA Vice President.

The association’s whole child philosophy pertaining to its mission of advocating for the well-being and education of every child is Martin’s passion and she considers PTA leadership “a calling”.  Martin states, “Fiscal responsibility will always be a priority, as the need to be ever mindful of our members’ investment is paramount to the health of our association.”

Outside PTA, Martin was Director of Marketing for Windstar Cruises and currently runs a small marketing consulting firm. Additionally, she volunteered for Youth Eastside Services and the Lake Washington Schools Foundation, where she and her husband, Scott, are members of the Founders Circle. Martin was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has lived in western Washington since 1989. She has two children, and enjoys reading, traveling with her family, and ballroom dancing.

About Washington State PTA: The Washington State PTA was founded in 1905 by Abby Williams Hill of Tacoma, an artist who saw the need for an organization to support Washington's children. Thanks to her leadership and vision—and over 132,000 current members who have carried her vision forward—Washington State PTA has been a leading voice for children in Washington for more than 106 years. To learn more about the Washington State PTA, please visit www.wastatepta.org.

1304 S. Fawcett Avenue, Suite 300, Tacoma, WA 98402 (253) 214-7410

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