Advocacy
All Montlake PTA members and families have a powerful opportunity to:
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Learn about the policies that affect our students and all students in our state and district
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Use our voices to Advocate for leaders and policies that will best serve students in our district
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Every voice is important. Join us in helping make our education system the best it can be!
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Here are some resources to help you Learn and Advocate. If you have questions, suggestions, or want to get further involved, reach out to us!
MONTLAKE PTA ADVOCACY PRINCIPLES
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The Montlake PTA stands committed to advocate for all kids, families and communities in Seattle, our state and across our country.
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We are committed to on-going advocacy conversations with Seattle Public Schools and Washington State lawmakers. During those conversations we are committed to upholding seven key principles outlined below:
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We advocate for evidence-based solutions that enable schools and systems to provide quality education, safe environments, and other resources to enable all students to learn, feel included and thrive.
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We believe decisionmakers must provide specific details and plans for both short- and long-term changes well in advance of any choice being made so that impacted communities can effectively digest the breadth of information and collaborate in the implementation of said plans. We believe everyone would benefit from longer term planning spanning 5 to 10 years into the future.
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We support fact, research-based and neurodiversity-affirming decisions that enhance, grow and uplift all diverse facets of learning including special education, advanced learning and multilingual opportunities.
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We support robust, comprehensive and meaningful after school care that is available to all who need it.
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We support minimizing disruption to student learning and existing individual communities.
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We support seeking opportunities for gradual change aimed at enhancing equity and diversity across the greater community.
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We advocate for better and smarter financial responsibility at the district level as well as better and smarter financial support for schools at the state level.
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LEARN
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These are a few resources we think are helpful for understanding how SPS and Washington State Education policy and funding work:
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The Rainy Day Recess Podcast covers news and conversation about Seattle Public Schools. Many of the episodes are informative.
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Washington State PTA (WSPTA) has some helpful resources on their website including on their main Advocacy and Resources pages.
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Seattle Times Education Lab is a helpful source for local news coverage.
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All Together for Seattle Schools is a new parent-led coalition, separate from local Seattle PTAs, that has formed to advocate for transparent communication from the district and for increased school funding from the state legislature. They share a variety of resources about SPS and WA State school funding on their website here.
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ADVOCATE
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There are many different ways, big and small, to use your voice to advocate for our students and schools. Even quick actions to send a form email or register support for a bill that truly take less than 1-2 minutes can really make a difference! So please consider joining us in using your voice - our students are counting on us.
The following resources highlight some advocacy priorities and wins and ways to advocate, but to stay up to speed on the latest opportunities in an evolving landscape, email us at advocacy@montlakepta.org and we can let you know what's opportunities are high impact right now!
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Fully funding WA public education: Addressing critical gaps in education funding is a key issue. WA state's investment in K-12 education as a percentage of gross state product has consistently been below the US average and is dropping. Districts are limited in how much they can make up this gap, and this is a real challenge for the SPS budget.
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Washington State PTA has identified five key areas for advocacy
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Closing the Funding Gaps
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Addressing the Student Mental Health Crisis
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Addressing Funding, Inclusion, and Supports in Special Education
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Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence and Suicide
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Expanding School Construction Funding Options
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WSPTA is asking families across the state to join the Billion Dollar Bake Sale effort
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WSPTA maintains an updated list of Advocacy Action Alerts. You can check out the page any time to see the latest advocacy action opportunities or subscribe for alerts or newsletters.
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SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION
The Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools has formally ended the effort to close and consolidate schools for the 2024/25 school year. However, administrators and some school board members have made it clear that closures and consolidation will likely return as a topic for discussion as early as the 2025/26 school year.
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Advocating for lawmakers in Olympia to fully fund all aspects of public schools will go a long way in curbing these conversations in the future. So, advocacy efforts at the state level now are that much more important.
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When Montlake PTA becomes aware of any new and specific proposals for closures and consolidations in the future we will alert all families via email and our newsletter. We will also share any action items that we become aware of surrounding this discussion.
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Any questions? Want to get involved? Want to be notified of key action opportunities? Email advocacy@montlakepta.org