Did you know it takes just two minutes to show your support for key legislation that will impact our schools and community? There are more PTA priority bills in committee this week down in Olympia and you can make your voice heard by signing-in to support them.  

• Concerned about making sure our students get the mental health support they need? HB 1834, which requires that student absences for mental health reasons be categorized as excused absences, will be in the House Education Committee on Thursday, January 20 at 1:30 p.m.  
• Want to make sure those asynchronous learning hours count? SB 5735, which counts asynchronous instructional hours toward required instructional hours, will be in the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee on Wednesday, January 19 at 10:30 a.m.  
• Worried about ensuring access for historically excluded students to highly capable programs, HB 1611, which focuses on equity in programs for highly capable students, will be in the House Education Committee on Friday, January 21 at 10:00 a.m.  

For any or all of these, go to the committee sign-in page, check senate or house, committee and date, select the bill you are interested in, and check “I would like my position noted for the legislative record.” Fill in a couple pieces of information about you and you’re done!  

Want to learn more about how the legislative process works? This WAPTA video provides a 20-minute overview that covers everything from bill tracking to the legislative calendar to what happens in committees and on the floor.