AWSP
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Advocacy & Legislation

AWSP provides a strong and respected voice on state and nationwide issues affecting K–12 schools and principals. We vigilantly monitor and research trends impacting our members’ profession, reputation, and practice. We value our members who travel to Olympia and Washington, D.C. to provide the principal’s perspective. 

We offer several ways to help you keep pace with the legislative arena, including Legislative Update (our a weekly e-newsletter during session), how to find your state legislator, how to track the status of bills and find out how your lawmaker voted, and practical tips for talking with legislators.

We focus our governmental relations efforts and legislative platform through a statewide, grassroots Legislation Committee. This collaboration identifies and prioritizes issues critical to our members, so we can work smarter on your behalf in Olympia and around the state.

Every voice matters, and it’s important for all of us to stay informed and connected.

2025 Legislative Platform



“It is difficult to envision a higher return on investment in K-12 education than the cultivation of high-quality school leadership.” ~ Wallace Foundation, 2021

The 2025 AWSP Legislative Platform focuses on leadership development, fully funding basic education, and increasing student support to ensure all students succeed, with priorities for principals and school staff.

photo of Erika Burden
Connecting with our legislators at both the local and national level is critical to ensure our legislators recognize the importance of supporting educators in their efforts to keep students safe and reach every student in their classrooms and buildings.
- Erika Burden, 2020 NASSP Advocacy Champion of the Year

Get Involved


Legislative News

Statewide Attendance Guidance Webinar

Gina Yonts
Sep 8, 2020

Attendance webinar blog

On September 10, from 4:00-4:45 pm, AWSP hosted the first in a series of free attendance support meetings for school leaders and their building attendance leads. We know the school leader’s plate is full to over-flowing…and we want to help support you with timely information and problem-solving around attendance procedures and new guidance from our partners at OSPI.
 
OSPI's attendance lead, Krissy Johnson, has joined some of our AWSP Associate Directors to work with attendees to create a network focused on understanding the most recently released guidance, share common problems of practice, and problem-solve to support your school around compulsory attendance. Principals play a valuable role in helping to bring key leaders together, so principals and attendance clerks are strongly encouraged to attend this first meeting together!

 


Available On-Demand.
Topic: Statewide Attendance Guidance Webinar

 

Register and watch

Thank you to the amazing principals who attended last week’s Attendance Guidance Webinar hosted by AWSP and OSPI. Over 350 school leaders, their attendance clerks and district truancy support members hopped on the webinar to learn about attendance and the new guidance for the current school year.

The questions and supports you requested are going to be addressed in a series of two more attendance meetings specifically for you and your team. This next week, Attendance Clerks are invited to attend a peer to peer discussion session on Monday, September 21 to discuss challenges and solutions. Additionally, AWSP and OSPI will be hosting a special Principal Attendance Office hour on Thursday, September 24. Both of these meetings will include a brief presentation from leading districts in our state on pressing topics related to attendance, question and answer as well as breakout rooms to discuss questions and approaches with your peers. Register yourself or your attendance clerk, after registering, you will be able to access the recording automatically. 
Photo of Roz Thompson, smiling with shoulder-length hair, next to text that reads: ‘Roz Thompson, Government Relations & Advocacy Director’ in blue and orange on a light green background.

Legislative Update E-Newsletter

Want updates on what's going on? Trying to understand the process and learn how to make an impact?  Follow us on social media, check out our blog or this page for the latest legislative news page, and read our Legislative Update email newsletter every Friday during session.

Questions? Reach out to Roz.

Email Roz

Join Our PAC

School leaders in Washington state can take an active role in the political process by joining AWSP’s political action committee or PAC, the Washington School Principals Legislative Effectiveness Association.

AWSP-WSPLEA supports AWSP’s governmental relations efforts at both the state and national levels. It also raises and spends money to support candidates and issues that are important to the principalship and to K–12 education. Make a difference — join the PAC today!

Join Now

School Funding Coalition

The School Funding Coalition represents the voices of nearly 8,000 school district leaders from our state’s 295 school districts. We bring a front-line understanding of school district financing and the education funding issues the Legislature continues to grapple with—especially as state budget decisions are contemplated in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coalition includes AEA, AESD, AWSP, WASA, WASBO, WSPA, and WSSDA. We believe that each and every student needs stable support, safety, access to learning, and well-equipped staff. Learn more in our Immediate Student Needs document below.

2024 Legislative Priorities