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.

photo of Erika Burden
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 31, 2022

Feb 4, 2022, 12:37 PM by David Morrill
As we near the halfway mark of this short legislative session, I want to thank all of you who were able to send emails or meet with your legislators this week! There are definitely a few benefits to virtual life, and one of those is the ease with which busy school leaders can meet with busy legislators. I was able to sit in 18 different meetings with legislators this week and to meet some new members and their staff. In scheduling these meetings with legislators, I invited principals living in their legislative district to attend. It’s great to have even a few minutes of conversation with the hope that in the future, these conversations can turn into longer ones, or even in-person school visits.


legislative update header graphic

As we near the halfway mark of this short legislative session, I want to thank all of you who were able to send emails or meet with your legislators this week! There are definitely a few benefits to virtual life, and one of those is the ease with which busy school leaders can meet with busy legislators. I was able to sit in 18 different meetings with legislators this week and to meet some new members and their staff. In scheduling these meetings with legislators, I invited principals living in their legislative district to attend. It’s great to have even a few minutes of conversation with the hope that in the future, these conversations can turn into longer ones, or even in-person school visits.

It’s never too late to reach out to your legislators to tell your story, make a specific ask for what you need in your district or school building, or to ask them to support a specific policy or funding request that supports student needs. Send an email to your legislator. Invite them to meet with you via video conference or at your school so you can advocate on behalf of the principalship and your school’s needs.

Yesterday was the first significant cut-off date when policy bills had to pass out of their committees. Monday, February 7 will be the next cut-off date when bills need to pass out of the fiscal committees. February 15 is when bills need to pass off either the House or Senate floor in order to remain “alive.” Of course, some bills may be marked “NTIB” (necessary to implement the budget). Those NTIB bills may be acted upon until the last day of the session when the final budget is adopted.

Budget

Discussions about the needed pieces of education funding are happening and they include:

  • providing a commitment to fund additional support positions such as nurses, counselors, social workers, and psychologists through an update to the prototypical funding model,
  • providing enrollment stability, and
  • increasing transportation spending.

The state must also address the cost of living adjustments in the budget due to inflation increases. Our economy continues to be strong, so how the math on all of this works out remains to be seen. We hope funding will be as stable as possible for districts and we get some important new investments K–12 education.

Bills in Play

Budget

Students

  • HB 1611 | Highly Capable Students
  • HB 2068 | Creating the Imagination Library Program
  • HB 2078 | Outdoor School for All
  • SB 5497 | Student Board of Education Members
  • SB 5537 | Compulsory School Attendance (age 6)
  • SB 5720 | Financial Literacy

High School/Dual Credit

  • HB 1162 | Performance Exhibition Pathway
  • HB 1687 | College Bound Scholarship GPA
  • HB 1723 | Closing the Digital Equity Divide
  • 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 5498 | Awarding Diplomas Posthumously
  • SB 5789 | Innovation Challenge Program (similar to HB 1835)
  • SB 5878 | Arts Instruction

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
  • SB 5768 | Vapor Products

Workforce/Staff

  • HB 1699 | Educators Working in Retirement
  • HB 1942 | Paraeducator Training
  • SB 5252 | School District Consultation with Tribes

Thank you, again, for all that you are doing for students and staff. Please contact me with any questions.

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