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What is Child Advocacy?
Child advocacy refers to a range of individuals, professionals and advocacy organizations who speak out on the best interests of children. An individual or organization engaging in advocacy typically seeks to protect children's rights which may be abridged or abused in a number of areas. A child advocate typically represents or gives voice to an individual or group whose concerns and interests are not being heard. Child advocacy can be done at the micro level (for one child or a few children), mezzo level (for group of children or at a community level) or macro level (for a category of children affected by a social issue). Read more on Child Advocacy here. |
A History of Child Advocacy in the PTA
For more than 100 years, National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA) has worked toward bettering the lives of every child in education, health and safety. Founded in 1897 as the National Congress of Mothers by Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst, National PTA is a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Today’s PTA is a network of millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. |
Legislation
Washington State PTA’s Legislative Agenda for 2020-2021
Every year Washington State PTA takes legislative priorities focusing on the well-being and education of all children to Olympia for the Legislative Assembly in October. Below is a list of their top 5 legislative priorities for 2020.
Social Emotional Learning
Prioritize school climate through strong social and emotional learning supports to maximize learning opportunities that help Washington students succeed in school and life.
Amply Fund Basic Education
It is time to keep the promise made to the children of Washington State in the McCleary decision by fulfilling Washington State’s paramount duty to amply fund basic education.
Closing the Opportunity Gap
Provide teacher training and student supports that include effective solutions to close the educational opportunity gap by:
Standards for Para-Educators
Provide a quality education for all students receiving instruction from para-educators by establishing:
Breakfast After the Bell
Washington State currently ranks 45th for utilization of the federal school breakfast program and currently, only 1/3 of eligible children have access to this program.
Every year Washington State PTA takes legislative priorities focusing on the well-being and education of all children to Olympia for the Legislative Assembly in October. Below is a list of their top 5 legislative priorities for 2020.
Social Emotional Learning
Prioritize school climate through strong social and emotional learning supports to maximize learning opportunities that help Washington students succeed in school and life.
- Integrate social emotional learning and trauma informed practices in the education system, teacher and principal preparation programs and professional learning.
- Ensure adequate staffing of psychologists, counselors, social workers, behavioral specialists and nurses in schools.
Amply Fund Basic Education
It is time to keep the promise made to the children of Washington State in the McCleary decision by fulfilling Washington State’s paramount duty to amply fund basic education.
- Funding solutions must be progressive revenue sources that are sufficient, sustainable, and equitable.
- Solutions must not cut services that support the whole child, or rely only on redistributing existing education funds.
Closing the Opportunity Gap
Provide teacher training and student supports that include effective solutions to close the educational opportunity gap by:
- Completing the implementation of the recommendations of the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC), and
- Implementing the 2016 HB 1541 to close the educational opportunity gap.
Standards for Para-Educators
Provide a quality education for all students receiving instruction from para-educators by establishing:
- Statewide standards, training, and career development for para-educators,
- Minimum employment standards, certification and endorsements,
- Training for teachers who have para-educators assisting in their classrooms, and their principals.
Breakfast After the Bell
Washington State currently ranks 45th for utilization of the federal school breakfast program and currently, only 1/3 of eligible children have access to this program.
- Supports legislation instituting and funding a Breakfast After the Bell Program in high needs schools.
- Initiate policies that encourage early adoption of Breakfast After the Bell Programs at the district level.
Contacting Your Legislators
Currently, WSPTA does not have a template/form letter for contacting legislators. However, in this busy time of the session, it is recommended to send an email or call your legislators directly to express support or concerns that are on our high priority list. You can find your legislator's contact information at the bottom of this page.
Remember to keep the tone respectful, limit the topic to one per email, ask your legislator for their position, ask for their support or assistance to change the bill, and provide contact information so they can verify that you are a constituent. It is good practice to ask them for a response and/or contact you, but realize that they are entering the half-way point in session, so activities start to speed up.
If you call your legislator, keep the message short: who you are, why you are calling, specific bill number (if appropriate) and the best number to reach you. Speak slowly because the legislature uses a program that translates your call into an email; sometimes the results are very funny. Keep it short, to the point, and ask for a return call.
Currently, WSPTA does not have a template/form letter for contacting legislators. However, in this busy time of the session, it is recommended to send an email or call your legislators directly to express support or concerns that are on our high priority list. You can find your legislator's contact information at the bottom of this page.
Remember to keep the tone respectful, limit the topic to one per email, ask your legislator for their position, ask for their support or assistance to change the bill, and provide contact information so they can verify that you are a constituent. It is good practice to ask them for a response and/or contact you, but realize that they are entering the half-way point in session, so activities start to speed up.
If you call your legislator, keep the message short: who you are, why you are calling, specific bill number (if appropriate) and the best number to reach you. Speak slowly because the legislature uses a program that translates your call into an email; sometimes the results are very funny. Keep it short, to the point, and ask for a return call.
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Contact Your LegislatorsDistrict 45 Legislators
Senator Manka Dhingra Democrat Representative Roger Goodman Democrat Representative Larry Springer Democrat House Representative, District 8 Representative Dr. Kim Schrier Democrat |
Advocacy Links
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