This year, our community showed up in a big way at the WSPTA Legislative Assembly. We sent 15 advocates, more than double the 6 who attended last year, and our voices helped shape Washington State PTA’s legislative priorities for the 2026–2028 term. Thank you to Apollo, Cascade Ridge, Clark, Endeavour, Gibson Ek, Grand Ridge, Issaquah Valley, Liberty, Maple Hills, Maywood, Skyline, and Sunny Hills PTSAs for making advocacy a priority and sending delegates. That kind of commitment across 12 local PTSAs is what makes our district a force at the state level!

Now we need your help making sure families know what those priorities are. The Post-Legislative Assembly Communications Toolkit makes it simple. It has a newsletter article template, Council social media posts you can share directly, and quick tips for sharing at your GMM or on your website. It works whether or not your PTSA sent someone this year. A few minutes of sharing goes a long way toward building the informed, engaged parent voice our legislators need to hear from this session.

If your local PTSA has an Advocacy Chair, now is a great time to connect with them and your Communications Lead to plan how and when to roll out the messages. If you don’t have an Advocacy Chair yet, consider this your invitation to fill the role! It’s a flexible, rewarding position that connects your families to the issues affecting our students, and you don’t need to be a policy expert to get started. In the meantime, partner with your Communications Lead to get the content out, and reach out to us at advocacy@issaquahptsa.org with questions or for support getting an Advocacy Chair up and running.

By Shannon Mayo, Advocacy Chair, Issaquah PTSA Council, and Renee Wheeler, President, Issaquah Special Education PTSA

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Supporting All Students to Make Meaningful Progress on October 20. The conversation brought together our state legislators, PTSA leaders, advocates and Issaquah School District leaders, and many participants shared their own experiences and what would help our students. We made it clear our lawmakers will keep hearing from us throughout the legislative session.

All families will receive a recap in the Issaquah PTSA Council newsletter, with actions they can take on their own. PTSA Presidents, Advocacy Chairs and Communications Leads can help turn that into a district-wide voice. Here’s how:

1. Get your board advocacy-ready

If your PTSA doesn’t have an advocacy chair or point person yet, now is a great time to name one. Please share WSPTA Action Alerts with your community through your newsletter, website and social channels so families are ready to respond quickly when bills move.

2. Attend a WSPTA Legislative Preview (and invite your members)

• Legislator Panel, Tuesday, December 15, 7:00–8:00 pm: WSPTA Legislative Consultant Marie Sullivan and a panel of legislators discuss priorities for the 2027 session. Sign up
• What to Expect in the 2027 Legislative Session, Tuesday, January 5, 7:30–8:30 pm: Marie Sullivan covers post-election changes, session protocols and how to engage effectively during this long session. Sign up

3. Plan for Focus on Advocacy Week and Focus Day

WSPTA’s Focus on Advocacy Week is February 8–12, 2027. This year it falls the week before our mid-winter break, so families will still be tuned in. Each day, WSPTA will share a priority issue with an action to take. Advocacy Chairs and Communications Leads, please plan now to work together so you can quickly share each day’s action with your families through your newsletter, social media and other channels. Together, we can make Issaquah’s voice impossible to miss.

We also hope you’ll join WSPTA for Focus Day in Olympia on Monday, February 15 (Presidents’ Day). PTA members and students are welcome! Since it’s a school holiday, it’s a great chance to bring a few members and students from your PTSA along. Meeting lawmakers in person makes a real difference.

4. Help families find legislator town halls

Our lawmakers often host town halls during session, and they’re one of the best ways for families to be heard. Keep an eye out for town halls in your legislative district, and share them on your PTSA’s social media so your community can engage. We’ll share dates on Issaquah PTSA Council’s social media too, so feel free to repost.

5. Share the Issaquah Special Education PTSA with your community

Issaquah Special Education PTSA is a great resource for families, students and educators. Please help spread the word in your newsletter and on social media, and encourage your community to consider becoming a member.

A great place to start is the Fall General Membership Meeting, the first of the 2026–2027 school year, on Monday, November 9, 7:00–9:00 pm, online. Special guests Stephanie King, Executive Director of Special Services and Integrated Support, and AJ Taylor, School Board President, will share updates from the Issaquah School District. Join on Zoom To help spread the word, share the meeting post on Facebook or Instagram.

Want help getting your board started with advocacy? Email advocacy@issaquahptsa.org.

Thank you for all you do for every student in our district.