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WSPTA Legislative Assembly

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Attention All PTSA Boards and Advocacy Chairs,

please register and start recruiting for the Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly, October 18-19, 2025, at the Doubletree Hilton SeaTac. We were thrilled to see so much information like content and agenda early this year. 

Every PTA needs the skill set, network and knowledge base to step up to the plate and effectively engage with local, state and federal decision makers. This year will include a “training camp” with opportunities for hands-on practice and interactive learning to prepare us to speak up for kids and swing for the fences in our communities and the upcoming legislative session.

In addition, Legislative Assembly is where delegates from local PTAs across Washington state gather to learn about, debate, and vote on the organization’s public policy positions.  This year will include voting on legislative principles, a legislative issue, and resolutions. Step up to the plate and let your voice be heard!

Your Advocacy Committe Chair – Shannon Mayo advocacy@issaquahptsa.org

https://www.wastatepta.org/events-programs/legislative-assembly-2025/

Our Kids and Schools Need a WIN!

Join us to go to bat for kids! The 48th annual Washington State PTA Legislative Assembly will take place on October 18-19, 2025 at the Doubletree Hilton SeaTac.

Every PTA needs the skill set, network and knowledge base to step up to the plate and effectively engage with local, state and federal decision makers. This year will include a “training camp” with opportunities for hands-on practice and interactive learning to prepare us to speak up for kids and swing for the fences in our communities and the upcoming legislative session.

In addition, Legislative Assembly is where delegates from local PTAs across Washington state gather to learn about, debate, and vote on the organization’s public policy positions.  This year will include voting on legislative principles, a legislative issue, and resolutions. Step up to the plate and let your voice be heard!

Register today!

Event Agenda*:

Saturday, October 18: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

  • 8:00 AM – Doors Open
  • 9:00 AM – 10:45 AM – General Session 1: Welcome and overview of the Day, guest speaker
  • 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM – “Training Camp” classes
  • 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM – Lunch
  • 1:15 PM – 3:00 PM – General Session 2: Adoption of agenda and standing rules, parliamentary review, panel discussion
  • 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM: “Training Camp” classes
  • 4:15 PM – 5:00 PM – Panel discussion
  • 5:15 PM – 6:00 PM – Networking

Sunday, October 19: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

  • 8:00 AM – Doors Open
  • 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM – General Session 3: Guest speaker, voter education, voting
  • 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM – Lunch
  • 1:00 PM – 2:45 PM – “Training Camp: classes
  • 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM – General Session 4: Guest speaker, voting, event wrap-up

* Please note that agenda is subject to change

Legislative Assembly

Fully Fund Education

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Urgent- we must take action prior to 1:30pm Jan 22nd.  Our state is not fully funding the cost of basic education, forcing districts across our state to make cuts to essential services. WSPTA calls for full funding of the “big 3”: transportation; materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC); and special education.

WSPTA is supporting three bills that have been introduced in the Senate and are scheduled for a hearing on January 22: Senate Bills 5187, 5192, and 5263.

We need as many people as possible to sign in “pro” to show our legislators that this matters to us! This should take about 3 minutes to complete. 

Please click the links below, select “pro,” use “parent advocate” as your organization (you do not need to supply your street address).

  1. Student transportation: Click here
  2. MSOC: Click here
  3. Special education: Click here

By using our collective voices, we can make a difference for the 1.1 million students in Washington state.

PTSA Equity Presentation

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Leading with Equity 
This presentation will better help you sharpen your equity lens and develop a deeper understanding on inequities students and families may face. We will define some equity terms used by the district and review some key training components. There is much work to be done. The district is looking for partners. Come join the conversation in supporting our students with equitable outcomes.  

Thursday, May 20th, 2021
9:30-11:30am

Questions? Contact our Issaquah PTSA Council Family and Community Engagement Coordinator, Alicia Spinner: face@issaquahptsa.org

Special Education Webinar #4 is Available!

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Webinar #4 (recorded on 3/9/2021) focuses on these questions –

  • I received a question from a parent interested in the role of paraprofessionals w/in Special Ed.
    • How do the education/certification requirements for a special education teacher compare to special education paraprofessionals?
    • Is there specific training provided to paraprofessionals in special education settings?
    • When and why is a para chosen as a student’s IEP pull out instruction leader instead of a certificated Special Education teacher?
    • Is there a daily system of feedback between the para and the teacher to track progress or lack thereof?
  • Families are still having a hard time getting access to in-person appointment services for LRC1 students. I’ve received feedback that parents are requesting appointment services for students with learning regression during IEP meetings but still being told it isn’t an option. Are you aware of these situations and how can more students get access to in-person assistance? 
  • The district is currently bargaining with the teacher’s union and other unions to allow secondary students to return to hybrid in-person learning at least one day per week.
    • If those union agreements can be reached, would that provide an opportunity for LRC2 students to attend their general education classes in-person with their peers?
    • If union agreements can be reached, could students with IEPs (both LRC1 & LRC2) be given access to more time in-person teaching than students without IEPs?
    • Would separate bargaining need to occur for the special education population to take advantage of those opportunities like what happened with the K-3 memorandum of understanding (or MOU)?

You can find it on the Special Education Page.

2020-2021 Executive Board

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Welcome to our newly elected executive board for 2020-2021:
  • President: Erin Eaton
  • Treasurer: Pauline Tamblyn
  • Secretary: Cindy Kelm
  • Vice President of Middle & High Schools: Carla Geraci
  • Vice President of Elementary Schools Central: Lauren Bartholomew
  • Vice President of Elementary Schools South: Nicole Morgan
  • Vice President of Elementary Schools North: OPEN 

October 2018 Best Practices

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  • Make sure all of your elected officers are trained, and at least one of your elected officers has attended PTA and the Law.
  • Print these documents from the WSPTA website and become familiar with them. They will help remind you of the items you need to gather and complete to keep your PTA in good standing, and will help you keep your timeline on track.
  • Standards of Affiliation – This sheet should be filled in and complete by the end of November, with the possible exception of your PTA’s corporate renewal, which will be filed during the month that your PTA was first incorporated.
  • Standards of Excellence – Show your membership that your PTA is following best practices by applying for the Standards of Excellence Award (due March 1st). Refer to the timeline checklist each month to see what your PTA should be doing during this time, and gather/create documents as you go. If you put your notebook together a bit at a time over the course of the year, it’s quick and EASY!
  • Make sure your voting delegates have been turned in to the Council secretary, and that you or one of your delegates is planning to attend each Council membership meeting.
  • Register for Legislative Assembly here: https://www.pt-avenue.com/conference/  (October 21-22, Green River College, Auburn). Encourage your board members to attend. Make sure you have submitted the names of your PTA’s voting delegates to WSPTA (due Oct. 12).
  • Send the Legislative Principles, Issues and Resolutions Survey to your membership. Share the data with your Legislative Assembly delegate(s), so their vote will properly represent your membership at Leg. Assembly.
  • Brand and Market your PTA! Educate EVERYONE in your school community (not only your membership) about each and every program and event that your PTA supports. Show them how your PTA benefits your students. If you sponsored it, put a sticker on it! If you have an event, hang a banner! This is how you attract members and encourage donations. 🙂

Region 2 Back-to-School Conference with PTA and the Law – August 21st

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FREE training and leadership development for all PTA leaders! Come learn, network with your fellow PTA leaders, and meet part of your PTA support team. All Washington State PTA trainings and events are for PTA officers, board members, committee chairs, and interested members only.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018
3:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT

Location
Bellevue High School
10416 SE Wolverine Way
Bellevue, WA 98004

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/region-2-back-to-school-conference-with-pta-and-the-law-tickets-47969309496

Training is vital for your entire board. Please join us for this FREE training and leadership development opportunity for all PTA leaders. PTA and the Law will be offered, and is one of the most important classes you will take every year. Come learn, network with your fellow PTA leaders, and meet part of your PTA support team.

Come start off your PTA year in the know! So many opportunities to learn, ask questions and network with other leaders in one location. Join us at Bellevue High School for a variety of class opportunities as well as PTA & The Law. New this year — we will be offering class sessions earlier in the afternoon, as well as a light dinner prior to the evening class sessions and PTA & The Law.

You are welcome to attend the entire event, or just stay for one session.

Session 1, 3:00 – 4:30 PM:

  • President 101: PTA Basics for First-Time Presidents
  • Navigating a Meeting: An Interactive Journey
  • Managing your Non-Profit PTA
  • Planning your PTAs Fall Membership Drive
  • Volunteers: Find them and Keep them

4:30 – 5:30 PM:

  • Dinner – we highly recommend that your RSVP for dinner so we can have a more accurate head count.
  • Networking
  • Concil Roundtables

5:30 – 6:00 PM:

  • Region Updates (all attendees in PAC)

Session 2; 6:00 – 7:30 PM:

  • Foundation of FACE
  • The Effective Vice President
  • Advocacy at the Local PTA
  • Secretary: More than Just Minutes
  • Treasurer Basics

Session 3; 7:35 – 9:00 PM:

  • Branding and Marketing
  • Managing your Nonprofit PTA
  • President: Plan to Succeed
  • Membership: The Ask
  • Pump Up your Communications

PTA and the Law: 6:00 – 9:00 PM

PTA and the Law deals with state and federal rules and regulations for running a charitable, tax-exempt nonprofit corporation in Washington state and will explain how these rules can and do affect your PTA.

  • Laws and regulations can change every year, so whether you went last year, have not been in a few years, or have never been to this class, this presentation is for any officer or committee chair.
  • Per the WSPTA Standards of Affiliation agreement, the annual training requirement states that at least one elected officer must attend PTA and the Law, and all other elected officers must attend at least one WSPTA-approved training before this year’s WSPTA convention. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet this requirement.

All Washington State PTA trainings and events are for PTA officers, board members, committee chairs, and interested members only.

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/region-2-back-to-school-conference-with-pta-and-the-law-tickets-47969309496