Government Relations

WASA believes the commitment of resources to the education and welfare of children is an investment in the quality of our future. This belief is the cornerstone of our legislative agenda. As administrators, we must provide effective leadership to initiate and manage change to achieve improvement in learning for all students and a quality system of K-12 education.

WASA's legislative activities include:

• Developing WASA's legislative positions and platform for each legislative session.
• Developing and analyzing legislation.
• Providing and coordinating testimony at hearings.
• Preparing education impact statements and special reports.
• Acting as liaison with legislators and staff.
• Organizing legislative strategies with members and coordinating efforts with other agencies and associations.
• Polling membership through online surveys for use with the media and the legislature.
• Preparing and disseminating an end-of-session report with a thorough review of all K-12 laws and budget provisions passed by the legislature.
• Coordinating the legislative agendas and strategies for the Alliance of Education Associations and the Association of Educational Service Districts.
• Communicating weekly during session by email to members through This Week In Olympia (TWIO) and Monday morning conference calls with the Legislation and Finance Committee.

Legislative positions and priorities are set by the WASA Legislation and Finance Committee in consultation with members in each region. During session, the committee holds weekly conference calls and meets five additional times throughout the year. Position papers, written by members and staff, are reviewed, amended and approved first at the region level and then by the Legislation and Finance Committee. The Board of Directors takes final action to adopt position papers and priorities for each legislative session.

WASA maintains active involvement with state associations and agencies, including the Governor's Office, OSPI, State Board of Education, Department of Labor and Industries, Department of Social and Human Services, Office of Financial Management, Health Care Authority, Public Employees Benefits Board, WSSDA, AWSP, WEA, WSPTA, WASBO, WAMOA, WAPT, WSNA, PSE, and WSRTA.

For more information, please contact Dan Steele, Assistant Executive Director, Government Relations.