Effective principals and assistant principals ensure each and every student and staff member is provided with equitable and safe environments where they can learn and achieve their educational goals and aspirations. Students and staff members deserve a highly effective school leader.
In order to grow, support, and sustain our current and future school leaders, AWSP asks the 2025 Legislature to invest in:
GROWING, SUPPORTING, AND SUSTAINING HIGHLY EFFECTIVE LEADERS
• Support a robust system of leadership development, especially targeted support for early career principals who serve in schools with the greatest needs.
• Provide increased administrative staffing ratios in the Prototypical
School Funding Model (PSFM).
INCREASING SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
• Fund additional behavioral and mental health support for students.
• Fully fund outdoor
learning experiences.
• End the sale of flavored tobacco and vapor products.
FULLY FUNDING BASIC EDUCATION SERVICES
• Special education
•
Materials, supplies, insurance, and other operating costs (MSOC)
• Transportation
Research from the Wallace Foundation* shows that “it is difficult to envision a higher return on investment in K-12 education than the cultivation of high-quality school leadership.” Effective school leaders are critical for successful school environments. Strong building leaders positively impact student achievement, teacher retention, and school culture.
However, principal workload, increasingly unrealistic expectations, and job vulnerability are impacting current administrators’ willingness to stay and causing prospective administrators to choose other career paths.
Our state must unite to respond through a holistic and multi-faceted approach addressing current policies, legislation, and funding so that we can attract, prepare, and retain highly effective principals and assistant principals.
Sharing the AWSP legislative platform empowers our members to advocate for policies that support principals, schools, and students across Washington. By downloading and sharing our platform, members can help amplify our collective voice and influence decisions on critical issues impacting education. Together, we can drive meaningful change that ensures equitable resources, fosters student success, and strengthens the role of educational leaders statewide.
