WSSDA's Legislative Positions and Priorities are established through proposals submitted by school boards and by the WSSDA Legislative Committee. All proposals are considered by the WSSDA Legislative Assembly, which is made up of delegates from each school board around the state. The Assembly meets every September to vote on 50-80 proposals. Adopted proposals (along with the association's Standing Legislative Positions) guide WSSDA leadership and staff in working with the Legislature on education issues.
Legislative Assembly delegates also rank their top ten legislative positions and proposals in priority order. The results of this ranking are considered by the Legislative Committee and the WSSDA Board of Directors in formally establishing the association's Legislative Priorities—a "short list" of WSSDA's foremost legislative issues for each upcoming session of the Washington Legislature.
Based on recommendations from the Legislative Committee, the WSSDA Board of Directors adopted three priorities for the upcoming legislature’s special session and 2012 regular session. The board reserves the right to refine and update priorities, based on input from membership.
The 2011-12 top legislative priorities are:
- Stay focused on implementing the new definition of basic education and funding formula changes as adopted in 2009 by the Legislature under ESHB 2261 (Chapter 548, Laws of 2009).
- Establish a comprehensive, stable and sustainable funding system for education.
- Fund Local Effort Assistance/Levy Equalization.
In addition, the board considered some guiding principles to be used in budget discussions over the coming months. These include:
- Avoid mid-year or retroactive cuts in the 2011-12 school year.
- When making funding cuts, provide statutory relief from locally bargained contracts to create flexibility to best meet student needs.
- Don’t drain one-time district cash reserves to meet basic education obligations.
WSSDA adopts an annual legislative agenda that includes proposals approved at the Legislative Assembly and proposals that have been approved at least twice at a Legislative Assembly and are formally adopted as Standing Legislative Positions (SLPs).
On September 24, school directors from across the state gathered in Pasco, Washington to set the 2012 legislative agenda. Forty-seven new positions were adopted, along with 41 SLPs, and delegates ranked their top 10 priorities following the end of the business meeting.
Typically the board would adopt priorities at its November board meeting during Annual Conference. The board acted early to make sure WSSDA’s voice was heard and part of the deliberations leading up to the Nov. 28 special session.
For a full list of priorities and positions, please use the links at the right. Positions are listed in priority order.