AWSP
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Advocacy & Legislation

AWSP provides a strong and respected voice on state and nationwide issues affecting K–12 schools and principals. We vigilantly monitor and research trends impacting our members’ profession, reputation, and practice. We value our members who travel to Olympia and Washington, D.C. to provide the principal’s perspective. 

We offer several ways to help you keep pace with the legislative arena, including Legislative Update (our a weekly e-newsletter during session), how to find your state legislator, how to track the status of bills and find out how your lawmaker voted, and practical tips for talking with legislators.

We focus our governmental relations efforts and legislative platform through a statewide, grassroots Legislation Committee. This collaboration identifies and prioritizes issues critical to our members, so we can work smarter on your behalf in Olympia and around the state.

Every voice matters, and it’s important for all of us to stay informed and connected.

2025 Legislative Platform



“It is difficult to envision a higher return on investment in K-12 education than the cultivation of high-quality school leadership.” ~ Wallace Foundation, 2021

The 2025 AWSP Legislative Platform focuses on leadership development, fully funding basic education, and increasing student support to ensure all students succeed, with priorities for principals and school staff.

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Connecting with our legislators at both the local and national level is critical to ensure our legislators recognize the importance of supporting educators in their efforts to keep students safe and reach every student in their classrooms and buildings.
- Erika Burden, 2020 NASSP Advocacy Champion of the Year

Get Involved


Legislative News

Legislative Update | Week of January 24, 2022

Jan 28, 2022, 08:54 AM by David Morrill
The third week of the legislative session was the last full week for new policy bills to be heard in committees and zipped by. Next week is the first significant cut-off date of this year’s short session. Bills must pass out of their committee of origin by February 3. Next week’s hearings are all about taking executive action, where bills may be amended and voted out of committee (or not).

 

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The third week of the legislative session was the last full week for new policy bills to be heard in committees and zipped by. Next week is the first significant cut-off date of this year’s short session. Bills must pass out of their committee of origin by February 3. Next week’s hearings are all about taking executive action, where bills may be amended and voted out of committee (or not).

Our focus next week will be on our Virtual Week on the Hill. We have about 15 meetings set up so far with legislators across the state. This is our chance to talk about our most important needs this session. As a reminder, check out our AWSP legislative platform for more information about our top issues. In our conversations next week, we’ll make sure to cover budget stability to support students and schools, mental health support for students and staff, and urge careful consideration of policy bills at a time when schools are overwhelmed.

In budget news, legislative leaders are having conversations to figure out how the supplemental budget can address enrollment stability for those districts that experienced a decline in enrollment. We want to ensure districts don’t have to cut staff positions this spring. There is good support for HB 1664, which would update the prototypical funding model to increase funding for school nurses, counselors, social workers, and psychologists. The two bills related to transportation funding (HB 1808 and SB 5595) continue to move, which is also good news.

HB 1226, related to the simple majority for bonds, is still out there waiting for action. Legislators across the state need to hear from people in their legislative districts about why a simple majority is needed for school construction bonds. Check out my Action Alert and take one minute to ask your legislators to support a simple majority for bond elections.

After next Thursday, I’ll have a better idea of which policy bills will keep moving. Our favorite policy bills this session are HB 2078 and SB 5925, which establish the Outdoor School for All program. These feel-good bills are companion bills (so only one will end up moving on), and they both received outstanding support in hearings this week in the House and Senate Education Committees. The best testimonies were from two students. Check them out below.

 

HB 2078 Student Testimony

 

SB 5925 Student Testimony

Important Bills

Budget

Students

High School/Dual Credit

  • HB 1162 | Performance Exhibition Pathway
  • HB 1687 | College Bound Scholarship GPA
  • HB 1760 | Dual Credit Program Access (similar to SB 5719 Dual Credit Costs)
  • HB 1835 | Postsecondary Enrollment (FAFSA completion support)
  • HB 1867 | Dual Credit Data
  • SB 5734 | PE and Health Credits
  • SB 5789 | Innovation Challenge Program (similar to HB 1835)
  • SB 5902 | Credit Flexibility

Health/Safety

  • HB 1676 | Tobacco and Vapor Product Tax
  • HB 1759 | Secure Storage Info on School Websites
  • HB 1800 | Increasing Access to Behavioral Health Services for Minors
  • HB 1834 | Student Mental Health Absences
  • HB 1941 | Active Shooter Drills
  • HB 2039 | Vapor Products (companion bill SB 5768)

Workforce/Staff

  • HB 1699 | Educators Working in Retirement
  • HB 1942 | Paraeducator Training

In this remote environment, it’s easy to share your voice in public hearings or via email. Learn more about testifying remotely. If there is a bill you are passionate about and you’re interested in testifying on behalf of AWSP, let me know.

Anyone can be an advocate! Our “Virtual Week on the Hill” will be next week, January 31–February 4, 2022. Send an email to your legislator or invite them to meet with you via Zoom so you can advocate on behalf of the principalship and the needs of your school.

Thank you for all that you are doing to support students and staff!

Photo of Roz Thompson, smiling with shoulder-length hair, next to text that reads: ‘Roz Thompson, Government Relations & Advocacy Director’ in blue and orange on a light green background.

Legislative Update E-Newsletter

Want updates on what's going on? Trying to understand the process and learn how to make an impact?  Follow us on social media, check out our blog or this page for the latest legislative news page, and read our Legislative Update email newsletter every Friday during session.

Questions? Reach out to Roz.

Email Roz

Join Our PAC

School leaders in Washington state can take an active role in the political process by joining AWSP’s political action committee or PAC, the Washington School Principals Legislative Effectiveness Association.

AWSP-WSPLEA supports AWSP’s governmental relations efforts at both the state and national levels. It also raises and spends money to support candidates and issues that are important to the principalship and to K–12 education. Make a difference — join the PAC today!

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School Funding Coalition

The School Funding Coalition represents the voices of nearly 8,000 school district leaders from our state’s 295 school districts. We bring a front-line understanding of school district financing and the education funding issues the Legislature continues to grapple with—especially as state budget decisions are contemplated in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coalition includes AEA, AESD, AWSP, WASA, WASBO, WSPA, and WSSDA. We believe that each and every student needs stable support, safety, access to learning, and well-equipped staff. Learn more in our Immediate Student Needs document below.

2024 Legislative Priorities