Legislative « MarvistaPTSA

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Description

The Legislative Committee follows proposed legislation that affects our children’s educational futures and keeps our local Marvista PTSA informed of the issues, changes and potential consequences.

Every two years, Washington State PTA chooses a legislative priority platform. We continue to support all of our legislative principles as well as National PTA’s public policy agenda, but we focus on the priorities. In year two of this cycle (like this year) we consider adding priorities as “also supported” and we consider amendments. Clik the following link to view our updated platform for this next legislative session.

Washington State PTA’s 2011-12 legislative platform

Dear advocates,

We knew more cuts were coming, and today Gov. Gregoire gave us a glimpse of what might be ahead. She released preliminary spending reductions and asked all who care to review them. She will finalize her recommendations in November ahead of the special session.

Costs to kids? Cuts affecting the well-being and education of children come in at $592 million. And those are just to children and family programs, early learning and K-12 public schools. Other cuts will hit the adults in children’s lives, leaving kids more vulnerable.

The governor identified $4 billion in possible reductions, and then selected $2 billion in preliminary choices. This was the first phase of her work. Starting Monday, her staff will review revenue options that might offset some of the cuts. The biggest hits below (when measuring by dollars) are to levy equalization and class-size increases (grades 4-12).

Click the link below to see a breakdown of the preliminary cuts that affect our association’s priorities. For the full list of $4 billion in alternative cuts, click here.

Budget reduction packet: (Includes press release, letter to the legislature, alternatives for cutting)

Information on current budgets Contact the governor

Proposed budget cuts affecting PTA priorities

- Ramona Hattendorf, government relations coordinator, Washington State PTA