Advocacy in Both Washingtons This Week
This week, Scott and I traveled with eight principals from Washington state to the “other” Washington to advocate for education issues on behalf of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association
of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
A huge thank you to these amazing school leaders who attended the national advocacy conferences on behalf of AWSP. We appreciate the time and effort you made to advocate for school principals and the staff and students they represent! Our delegation:
- Chris Visserman, Central Kitsap, AWSP President
- Cameron Grow, Pullman, AWSP Past President
- Lauri Landerholm, LaCenter, NASSP Middle Level Federal Relations
- Cari Trowbridge, Mead, NAESP Elementary Federal Relations
- Raquel Martinez, Pasco, NASSP Board of Directors
- Eric Anderson, Wenatchee, AWSP High School Leadership Committee Chair
- Dave Riddle, Mt. Vernon, AWSP Middle Level Leadership Committee Chair
- Tricia Kannberg, Spokane, AWSP Elementary Leadership Committee Chair
We met (mostly in-person) with eight members of Congress and had three additional meetings with staff members who represented their members of Congress. We focused on a few key points: the educator workforce shortage, student and staff mental health,
school infrastructure, and urging members to finally pass the 2022 appropriations bill, which would increase federal education funding. Another important priority for our group was to establish relationships with our federal delegation and to share
specific stories about how this school year has gone, how students and staff are faring, and how federal ESSER funding has been used (or how it potentially may be used in the next few years).
Back here in Olympia, the Legislature continued with some very long days and nights working on getting bills from the opposite house passed off the House and Senate floors by today’s cut-off. Today is the final significant deadline before Sine Die
(the last day of the session) scheduled for next Thursday, March 10. The next few days will be spent reconciling different versions of bills and dealing with bills that are related to budgets.
Budget
Here is a look at how the amended budget bills stand at this point. Legislators will be working over the next few days to reach a final compromise budget that is traditionally the last bill passed before they adjourn.
Both budgets do these things, although with some differences:
- provide enrollment stability (Senate: $346.5 million/House: $314.7 million)
- provide a commitment to fund additional support positions such as nurses, counselors, social workers, and psychologists through an update to the prototypical funding model (Senate: $173.8/House: $107.9 million)
- increase salaries/benefits due to inflation (IPD, or implicit price deflator, Senate: 4.7% House: 5.5%)
- support Outdoor School for All (Senate: $10.0 million/House: $20.0 million)
Many other education-related budget items are being considered. OSPI and education advocates continue to work with legislators and their staff to shape the best outcomes for school districts. Superintendent Chris Reykdal sent a letter to budget writers
urging them to “quickly phase-in support staff, focus on dual credit (lift the cap to 1.6 FTE for running start), stabilize LAP funding, support transitional kindergarten programs, fund seismic improvements, and suspend work not related to recovery”.
Bills
My bill tracking list is getting a little smaller as the days go by. For example, you might notice HB 1162 (performance exhibition pathway for graduation)
is no longer on the list. Interestingly, funding for the State Board of Education to implement this bill was amended into the budget bill, so HB 1162 is now considered “necessary to implement the budget” so it may survive after all. You
never know until the very end.
If you want to share your thoughts about any of these budget items or bills, please send your legislators an email. You can also invite them to meet with you via video conference or at your school so you can advocate on behalf of the principalship and
your school’s needs.
Budget
Students
- HB 1611 | Highly Capable Students
- HB 1723 | Telecommunication Access
- HB 1736 | State Student Loan Program
- HB 1833 | Electronic Option for School Meal Needs
- HB 1878 | Increasing Participation in Community Eligibility Provision
- HB 2068 | Creating the Imagination Library Program
- HB 2078 | Outdoor School for All
- SB 5497 | Student Board of Education Members
High School/Dual Credit
- HB 1805 | Opportunity Scholarship Program
- HB 1835 | Postsecondary Enrollment (FAFSA completion support)
- HB 1867 | Dual Credit Data
- SB 5498 | Awarding Diplomas Posthumously
- SB 5789 | Innovation Challenge Program (similar to HB 1835)
- SB 5878 | Arts Instruction
Health/Safety
- HB 1759 | Secure Storage Info on School Websites
- HB 1800 | Increasing Access to Behavioral Health Services for Minors
- HB 1834 | Student Mental Health Absences
- HB 1890 | Children and Behavioral Health Work Group
- HB 1941 | Active Shooter Drills
Workforce/Staff
- HB 1617 | School/State Holidays (Juneteenth)
- HB 1699 | Educators Working in Retirement
- HB 1942 | Paraeducator Training
- SB 5252 | School District Consultation with Tribes
- SB 5628 | Concerning Cyber Harassment
As usual, please reach out to me with any questions. Thank you!