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.
“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.
The Advocacy Advisory Council serves as both liaison and resource to the AWSP Board on legislative matters. Members communicate with principals and assistant principals around the state on issues of concern, monitor legislative action, and assist with testimony as appropriate. Advisory Council members also identify and prioritize the association’s yearly Legislative Platform(PDF) for approval by the AWSP Board.
Learn MoreOur Advocacy & Action Center provides all the updates, tracking, resources, and action plans you need to stay informed and make your voice heard. Use it to stay informed and take action on the issues you care about. Legislators need to hear from you. Not sure where to begin? Already got a meeting scheduled? Our tip sheet will show you some of the best ways to communicate with lawmakers and their staffs.
Take ActionWe reached the one-year anniversary of school closures to in-person learning this past week, and work continues to get all school buildings open once again. The ever-changing requirements and guidance for our schools keeps coming, among them being Governor Inslee’s announcement last Friday that requires all school districts to provide all K–12 students with the opportunity to receive at least two days per week of in-person learning no later than April 19. OSPI published a Q&A document that you may find helpful.
Today, the CDC announced that it "now recommends that, with universal masking, students should maintain a distance of at least three feet in classroom settings.” We would hope that our state’s Department of Health will soon provide this same recommendation for our schools, specifically for school next fall. We know you are all working hard right now to make staffing and scheduling plans for the 2021–22 school year.
In my regular Friday meeting with the Department of Health and the Governor’s Office, they said they had just received this new information from the CDC and would take time to read it and consider feedback. They are working on updated guidance for graduation and moving up ceremonies to fall in line with indoor and outdoor events as a part of the Roadmap to Recovery plans as our state moves to Phase 3. Right now, Phase 3 guidance for sporting events for indoor facilities is for up to 400 people, not to exceed 50% capacity for the location, and physical distancing and masking protocols are enforced. Larger venue events are capped at 25% occupancy, or up to 9,000 people, whichever is less, and must follow spectator guidelines. Expect more information on graduation ceremonies next week.
Our Legislature received good news this week when the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council projected an additional $1.3 billion for this current, two-year budget cycle. An additional $1.9 billion increase is forecast for the 2021–23 budget cycle. Budget writers are working hard to determine how state revenues will intersect with the federal funds that will be coming to our state through the American Rescue Plan. K–12 schools in Washington will receive a combined total of $2.6 billion from three rounds of federal funds.
The Senate and the House are expected to release their budgets next week and we hope to see our state legislators at least hold district funding steady for the 2021–22 school year despite changes in enrollment and transportation ridership this past year. It is important in these next few weeks you keep telling your stories about the need for consistent staffing levels, as well as what additional supports your students and staff may have. Contact your legislators from our Advocacy & Action Center to share your story. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Compose your own Message”. Thank you!
A big thank you to an incredible group of principals who took part in a lunchtime webinar hosted by the League of Education Voters, titled “Principals from across Washington state on education in the time of COVID.” These leaders spoke passionately and eloquently about the challenges and successes of dealing with the pandemic over the past year and how we should move forward to reform our education system. They also have very specific ideas for how our state and districts can support the work of building principals. Grab your headphones or earbuds, head out for a walk, and listen in to the webinar.
It was a busy week for hearings and we send more thanks to Patrick Vincent, principal at Union Gap School, who testified in support of HB 1113 regarding attendance policies. Thank you also to Michael Harrington, principal at Finley Middle School, who testified in support of HB 1214, which adds training requirements for classified school staff. Additional thanks to AWSP’s Kurt Hatch who testified in support of HB 1426, which would add requirements to the certification renewal process for teachers and administrators with regards to equity, leadership, and government-to-government relationships with tribes.
A few more bills will be heard next week. Friday, March 26th is the last day to pass bills out of policy committees from the opposite house. The following Friday is fiscal committee cut-off.
We also stay in touch with our partners in the “other” Washington. We look forward to April 20th when NASSP holds their virtual Advocacy Conference. Find more information and register for free.
Stay tuned for more advocacy news and thank you for all that you do for students and staff.
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 RozSchool 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!
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.