This month, AWSP released an initial rollout of the AWSP Leadership Framework 3.0. AWSP is looking for districts from all nine ESDs who are willing to “test-drive” and review this draft by Feb. 1, 2020, to provide feedback that will inform the final version. The final version will be implemented statewide during the 2020-21 school year. If you are interested in becoming a Framework Feedback district, contact us by Nov. 1. Framework Feedback districts will receive a complimentary print copy of the Framework 3.0 draft for each administrator.

For decades, thousands of children and adults around the state have been going to Cispus Learning Center in Randle, WA. But did you know about our facility in eastern Washington? Located outside of Spokane, Chewelah Peak Learning Center offers outdoor learning, leadership training and an affordable retreat center for youth groups or hobbyists; a perfect place to reflect, re-focus and re-energize.

In our annual Summer Conference Luncheon special edition of AWSP News, we highlight three of our Principals of the Year and are back with everyone's favorite segment, our celebrity interview where we ask, "who's your favorite principal?" Thanks to the Seattle Mariners organization and Manager Scott Servais for this All-Star edition.

Passed this session, HB 1599 transforms the assessment expectations for graduation and how students can approach fulfilling requirements for earning a diploma. We know principals and districts are clamoring for more information, so we partnered with OPSI and the SBE to bring you two episodes of AWSP TV on this topic. First up is our episode with OSPI's Deputy Superintendent Dr. Michaela Miller (our returning champion).

In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Airlines, and his visit with our CEO Network,our Association of Washington Student Leaders summer programs, our student leadership curriculum, our incredible professional learning cohort-based series, our principal mentoring program for principals in their first three years, a bill removing the personal and philosophical option to exempt children from the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, resources on changes to the requirements for school and child care immunizations, getting your accreditation through your ESD, Summer Conference, this year’s NAESP National Conference, senior graduation, High School and Beyond Plan resources for teachers and counselors, and the end-of-the-year activities you lead in your school.

In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss an email we received about the selfless dedication of principal Dorothy Day of Oak Harbor Elementary; registration for two of AWSP’s Launching Principal Leadership and Building Effective Leadership; Summer Conference and our surprise guest for our Special Edition of AWSP News; our Assistant Principal Leadership Network; AWSL's La Cima, Deaf Teen Leadership camp, and native American camps; ASB Finance workshops; the Blue Ribbon Schools Program; and Pride Month and additional resources to support LGBTQ students in your school.

In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss a visit from Kaiser Permanente Susan Mullaney, principal Jason Smith from John R. Rogers High School in Puyallup and his national recognition, our state principals of the year, the Washington College Grant, registration for AWSP’s Launching Principal Leadership Network AND Building Effective Leadership Network, a Ph.D. candidate wanting to learn more about principals as transformational and instructional leaders, a survey on Washington’s STEM educator pipeline, the winter/spring issue of our Washington Principal magazine, and our business partners VEBA and PEMCO.

AWSP is helping recruit participants for a doctoral research study titled, “An Exploration of Methods for Promoting Student Performance Used by Transformational Leaders and Instructional Leaders.” The research will explore the methods of principals, who self-identify as transformational leaders and/or instructional leaders, used to promote high student achievement.

In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss the end of session, our Spring Board meetings, AWSL and the student representatives to the State Board of Education, the 2019 Native American Leadership Camp, a cool way to motivate and support your kids during testing, the Professional Educators Standards Board, this year's Summer Conference, changing your status with us if you change jobs, our business partner Clear Risk, and introduce Jack Arend (our newest Associate Director).

While not completely accurate, this headline reflects the feeling of many principals Washington grappling with changes to state laws for suspensions and expulsion. To be clear, schools can still use exclusion as a tool, but the new discipline rules put a significant squeeze on when and how it is applied.

The great mystery is the upcoming release of the agreed upon 2019–21 budget. It is to be released Saturday, the 27th. While budget negotiations were occurring behind closed doors, both chambers passed a number of bills. A few pertain to this report.

In our sixth episode of AWSP TV, OSPI's Sue Anderson (Director of Educator Effectiveness) talks to our Ron Sisson about putting the G (growth) in TPEP, as well as a few more topics around evaluation, coaching, mentoring, and induction.

After this last deadline, attention now moves to both chamber floors. Action will primarily consist of both chambers debating and voting on bills that have passed either chamber. I’ve earlier explained the concurrence, dispute, and/or conference committee avenues of resolution. Simultaneously, meetings often held in backrooms away from public and member scrutiny, are being held as issues like the budget and revenue enhancements are bargained.

In this episode of AWSP News we discuss your district’s principal contracts, some of the strategies a few districts are using to boost principal salaries, a new report from Wallace Foundation, National Assistant Principals Week, our “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” campaign winners, School Library Month and a handful of book recommendations from Scholastic, our sponsor City university, the Native American Leadership Camp and Administrative Professionals Week and Day.

Here are some recent articles that might interest you if you are trying to keep track of budget discussions. This article is by DJ Wilson of the Washington State Wire and it explains how the budget process actually works. The Washington Research Council published this comparison chart of the House and Senate budgets. And, OSPI has budget tools for the 2019-20 school year on its webpage. Click on the Multi-Year Budget Comparison Tool to see how your district fares in the Governor’s budget, the House budget and the Senate budget.

Following marathon hearings by the fiscal committees in both houses, the chambers are now publicly engaged in floor action where numerous bills are debated and voted upon. As is generally the norm, for every nine bills brought to either floor and approved by the body, the tenth bill becomes hotly contested. That’s when the theatrics occur. One example, is after passing a number of bills fairly easily, a bill dealing with union dues, SHB 1575 brought things to a halt as the Republicans demanded the bill be read in its totality, a very rare occurrence.

This research used child-led tours to investigate how young children’s spatial autonomy is enacted in two contrasting environments: their home and a forest setting. Spatial autonomy, by inviting children to form a relationship with their environment, can promote agency, a sense of self, self-confidence, and a healthy relationship with their environment.

“No! No! No!” was the constant refrain heard as the committees and floor debated numerous amendments to the budget proposals. Requests for spending totaled more than the amount either house was willing to spend or to make a priority. Concurrently, policy committees continued to hear and then move bills. All of which have been reported previously in greater detail.

Welcome to another episode of AWSP News, where we discuss this year’s National Assistant Principals Week, how Vicki Puckett and the Mercer Island School District empower and use student voice, how the Association of Washington Student Leaders can help you harness student voice, and a great example from Bob Walters on how to use our pay gap video with your district administration.

The big news was the release of the House Budget. Released at noon, Tuesday, public hearing on same day at 3:30, passed out of committee the next day and to be voted out of the chamber Friday. Wham! Bam! Done deal. The Senate will release it's budget Friday, March 29th. The public hearing will be Monday, April Fools’ Day, so at least there is some time to review prior to that time.