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AWSP Legislative Platform

AWSP's legislative platform for the 2012 legislative session was set by members of the AWSP Legislation Committee. For more information about this platform, please contact Jerry Bender, AWSP director of governmental relations, at 800.562.6100 or jerry@awsp.org.

 

The Platform:

Protect Current Basic Education Funding

Washington State’s K-12 schools have endured painful and damaging cuts the past few years. Investing in our future is critically important in the face of a struggling economy. While we understand the state’s plight, AWSP simply cannot support additional cuts to education. Protecting the current level of support for basic education is our highest priority this legislative session.

 

Initiatives for 2012:
 

Education Funding

• Fully fund basic education by 2018.
• Suspend unfunded/underfunded mandates.

Principal Leadership

• Maintain funding for the Teacher Principal Evaluation Pilot program, including support for implementation by principals.
• Maintain funding for the Washington State Leadership Academy and the Washington State Leadership Intern Program.

Retirement and Health Care

• Solve the “two month problem” for administrators using the Early Retirement Reduction Factor (ERRF) eligibility option in the 30th year of service.

Student Achievement

• Review and revise graduation requirements proposed by the State Board of Education after basic education is fully funded.


• State and federal testing:
  • Maintain current testing standards in reading, writing and math as graduation requirements.
  • Fund the increased level of infrastructure and staffing needed to administer the tests.
     
• Strengthen high school STEM education (science, technology, engineering, math) by funding training for K-12 principals in STEM instruction.
• Promote and fund early learning intervention systems that support K-2 students.

Outdoor Education

• Increase educators’ skill level in science and outdoor education by completing the Burley Mountain Dormitory at Cispus Learning Center.
   

2011-12 Legislative Platform Flyer

• Download the 2011-12 AWSP Legislative Platform flyer
  
   

Archives

• 2010-11 Legislative Platform brochure


• 2009-10 Legislative Platform brochure
  
   

Additional Information

 For information on specific bills, legislative calendars and contact information about state and federal lawmakers, visit the Washington State Legislature's home page.