PTA NEWS

Every Child ~ One Voice

 

In this July 13th issue:  Leadership Retreat, President and Washington Learns; New Membership Theme; GLE Help Please

 

WASHINGTON STATE PTA HOSTS LEADERSHIP RETREAT

All are invited……

August is the time for thinking about leadership and honing skills for next year.  WSPTA is hosting this retreat in Vancouver, Washington August 4th and 5th.  Join active PTA members and partake of structured classes and informal networking to share best practices and ideas. Details to be found on the web. Click the link below and plan to join your colleagues in Vancouver.

 

www.wastatepta.org/meetings/meetings.htm

 

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WSPTA PRESIDENT TESTIFIES AT Washington Learns

 

Governor Gregoire’s appointed steering committee for Washington Learns met this week, focusing on “big ideas” from the three broad education areas: early childhood, k-12, and higher education.  During the public comment time, President Linda Hanson with PTA researcher Barb Billinghurst presented the results of WSPTA’s recent case studies on education funding.  Her testimony is found through the following link,

www.wastatepta.org/WAlearns_PTAresponse.pdf or by accessing headlines on the website: www.wastatepta.org.  Thanks to Barb who has done great work for PTA and children with her invaluable research skills.

 

Link to Case Study Research referenced in the testimony:

http://www.wastatepta.org/press_release_june20_06.htm

 

Notes from the meeting:

Background – This group, with subcommittee chairs on the three major areas, was charged with addressing issues around education funding.  Consultant reports have been received.  Some estimates are that to meet recommendations might show a need for billions more (perhaps 8 or so) to fund education adequately.  During the meeting on July 10th, the Governor and other members of the committee stressed “phase in” often,

suggesting that there may not be a political will to increase funding to the levels expressed immediately.  Editorial Comment:  There seems to be much excitement for early learning, especially with the recent announcement of Gates Foundation support of this effort with a “public private partnership.”  Excitement for K-12 needs to be cultivated.

 

Big Ideas Discussed (noted that all may not be funded)

Early Learning Council – Stressed “learning to learn” from birth through age ten. Presented by Bob Watt.

1.                                Support Parents as their child’s first and best teachers (strategies outlined)

2.                                Refocus and change public perception about education fro children birth to age 10

3.                                Provide fair, sufficient and stable funding for early learning

4.                                Support early educator professional development, compensation, and competency

5.                                Build community level capacity in support of the “learning to learn” years

K-12 Advisory Committee – Presented by Terry Bergeson

1.                                Redefine constitutional definition of “basic education” to be based on 4 student learning goals in HB 1209 and 5 measurable system goals adopted by K-12 advisory committee and reaffirm that state is responsible for funding this definition of basic education.

2.                                Re-engineer and personalize our schools based on research-driven and evidence based investments.

3.                                Restructure our system of educator development and compensation to attract, prepare, retool and retain world-class, culturally-competent and diverse teachers and education leaders.

4.                                Realign curriculum and instructional supports to grade level expectations and rigorous graduation requirements.

Higher Education Advisory Committee – Presented by Denny Heck

1.                                Raise overall educational attainment

2.                                Provide fair, sufficient and stable funding

3.                                Improve articulation and transitions for students

4.                                Improve efficiency, accountability, and governance

5.                                Increase and sustain research capacity in Washington’s higher education system.

 

 

NEW MEMBERSHIP THEME FOR 2006-2007:  
Many Faces, One Vision

 

The new membership PTA/PTSA theme logos are now posted on the WSPTA Membership Resources page:
www.wastatepta.org/programs/membership.htm

 

The new 2006-2007 Membership Handbook, membership flyers, and other new membership resources will be available in early August.

 

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HELP PLEASE!  GLE Brochure Distribution

You may remember that we have 100,000 brochures to help parents of 8th and 10th graders know what is expected of their children – and how parents can help kids get there.  To look at brochures, click below. www.wastatepta.org/press_release_may25_06.htm

 

We have distributed many brochures – see figures below – but we have many more to distribute.  Would you be willing to take some to distribute in your community – libraries, churches, and more?  And perhaps check to see if your school would like some – or some more?  Please contact Fred Dye at fdye@wastatepta.org and he will get you what you need.  Thanks for helping.  We want to let our sponsors know (WaMu and Boeing) of the great donations they have made and how the brochures are being disseminated.

 

We have shipped a total of 26, 650 GLE brochures across the state of Washington.

Region 1 has distributed the most GLEs at 5,560

Region 10 is in second place at 3,000 distributed

Region 3 is in third place with 2,806 distributed

 

 

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.

Anatole France