ISSAQUAH HIGH PTSA

 

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LEGISLATION

 

The 2008 Legislative session closed on March 13. Here in Issaquah the end budget caused us to be approximately $1.7 million short.  This year the shortfall will be pretty much covered by the increase in the amount we can collect in our M&O Levy.  Jake Kruper (ISD Finance Director) indicates that every 1% increase in COLA costs us $400,000 in local money. 

Also the Legislators have moved us away from the Math WASL and towards an End of Course (EOC) assessment.  High school students graduating in 2013 still must pass either the Math WASL or the Math EOC assessment.  Starting with the graduating class of 2014 only the End of Course assessments will be used. This is still awaiting the Governor’s signature.

The legislators also reduced the number of open-ended questions and increased the number of multiple choice questions on the WASL which will save us $12.4 million.  The contract with the company that provides the WASL was up for renewal which made these changes possible.

There was an increase for Libraries of approximately $4 per student.

A letter from the IHS PTSA was sent to the College Board in New York requesting consideration of expanded tests sites in our region. A response had been received and work will continue to explore options for a test site in our areas, possibly within the Issaquah School District.

For a recap from the WSPTA Legislative Lobbyist on the 2008 session, go to Legislative Session Recap.

 

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Washington State PTA Sets Short Term Priorities.

The Washington State PTA had over 200 members from across the state convene at Seatac and spend two days prioritizing our legislative goals for the coming session.  Education funding came out overwhelmingly on top with the top five issues staying focused on education issues.

 

Prioritizing issues is just the first step in advocating our issues. Now the real work begins.  We need to talk to our legislators, and we need your help.  Just hearing from the same people does not get the job done.  Legislators want to see and hear from people from all across their district and they want to know that this matters to everyone, not just the three people they see over and over again.  So we need you!

 

How can you help?  Send email action alerts. Only takes about a minute of your time.  Sign up at the www.wastatepta.org website or contact your local PTA Legislative Chair and they will sign you up.

 

Top Priorities:

  1. K-12 Education Funding  number of votes (229)
  2. Math and Science Education (152)
  3. Quality Teaching (148)
  4. Student Support Services (134)
  5. Special Education Funding (115)
  6. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate (105
  7. Highly Capable Programs (103)
  8. School Recess (93)
  9. Funding Inequities (92)
  10. De-Link WASL as Graduation Requirement (84)
  11. World Languages and International Competencies (81)
  12. School Construction and Renovation (78)
  13. Sex Offender Monitoring (75)
  14. School Traffic Safety (62)
  15. State Tax System (60)
  16. Washington State Assessment System (59)
  17. Comprehensive School Behavioral Systems (58)
  18. Conditional Scholarships (52)
  19. Assessments for English Language Learners (51)
  20. (tie)Simple Majority for School Bonds (45)
  21. (tie) WASL appeals process (45)
  22. Foster Youth Supports (44)
  23. Release of Student Information (43)
  24. Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (40)
  25. Family Education Leave (34)
  26. Social Studies Education (33)
  27. Dream Act (27)

 

 

 

For additional legislative information and/or updates, contact Deborah Parsons, Legislation chairperson.