Washington State Legislature Goes Into Overtime

After weeks of debating bills and working on a budget, legislative leaders didn't complete their work in the 60 days allowed under the state Constitution.  The Governor "called" the Legislature back in for a special session starting today, Monday, March 15.  The special session is expected to last one week but technically legislators can now have an extra thirty days.

Our coalition leaders and friends working in Olympia continue their vigilance to ensure that online public school funding is not threatened again this year.  Earlier, your many calls, letters and emails encouraged the members of the House Ways & Means Committee to restore funding for the K-6 online programs. While cuts to education are expected in the budget they are still writing, these cuts are expected to be broad based and don't target online public schools.  No other budget has proposed to shut down K-6 online public schools. 

Please stay tuned in case any change occurs that requires our action! Meanwhile the "Scrapbook of Student Stories" that you've sent to www.waonlinefamilies/stories/  is looking terrific! More thanks! We'll post the collection on our website, once the work is completed. It promises to be a powerful new tool to help strengthen the voice of our families when we need it for meetings with legislators later this year.

Thanks for all your help!