Support 6696 and 2776

To: Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown
House Speaker Frank Chopp
CC: Senator Rosemary McAuliffe, Chair, Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee
Senator Margarita Prentice, Chair, Senate Ways & Means Committee
Representative Dave Quall, Chair, House Education Committee
Representative Kelli Linville, Chair, House Ways & Means Committee
Representative Pat Sullivan
Senator Mike Hewitt, Republican Leader
Representative Richard DeBolt, Republican Leader
Governor Christine Gregoire

Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Dear Senator Brown and Speaker Chopp,

First and foremost, thank you for all that you do every day for the people of Washington, including the 1 million Washington children who are the future of this state. We appreciate your leadership in the last session to advance education reform in a concrete way that hasnt been done in 30 years. We are so grateful because we measure things in kid years, and for the first time your historic leadership on education reform reflects a level of urgency and commitment that really stands apart.

This letter is addressed to both of you because, as parents with no agenda other than simply advocating for children, distinctions of chamber, party, and parliamentary procedure are not the lens through which we view this issue we simply view you as Washingtons leaders representing Washingtons children.

We are writing to ask that the Senate and the House work together to pass a package of education bills (6696/2776) that addresses both RTTT and continued commitment to increase basic education funding. We fully agree that giving our state the chance to compete for RTTT funding is important. We also feel strongly about concurrently advancing the House and Senates commitment to basic education funding as laid out in 2261.

As the rest of the country and the world move forward with bold investments in their childrens futures, we want Washington State to take its place among the leaders in public education. Please come together to find a solution that preserves the progress made last year while creating new opportunities to bring world-class education to Washingtons children.

Thank you so much for your public service your dedication is deeply appreciated.

Sincerely,

Lisa Layera, Spokane WA
Fund Our Future Washington
LEV Key Activist
206-200-9980

Pat Montgomery, Auburn WA
Auburn PTA Council advocacy
LEV Key Activist
253-735-6791

Deborah Nolan, San Juan Island WA
PTA President, Friday Harbor
School Board Member, San Juan Island
LEV Key Activist

Nancy Hartnell, Kirkland WA
PTA Member
LEV Key Activist

Ramona Hattendorf, Seattle WA
Seattle Council PTSA President
LEV Key Activist

Jeannette Papadakis, Anacortes WA
School Director
LEV Key Activist

Kris Anderson, Tacoma, WA
Co-Legislative Chair, Tacoma Council PTA
LEV Key Activist
BEST Education Tacoma

Susan McBurney, Spokane WA
Fund our Future Washington
LEV Key Activist

Deborah Parsons, Issaquah WA
PTSA Council
LEV Key Activist

John Stokes, Bellevue WA
Bellevue PTSA Council Legislative Chair
LEV Key Activist

Deb Blakeslee, Tacoma WA
PTSA Member, Stewart Middle School
BEST Education Tacoma

Heidi B. Bennett, Seattle WA
Legislative VP, Seattle Council PTSA
LEV Key Activist

Patsy Treece, Bothell WA
Northshore School District Parent
Region 6 PTA Member

Mark Ray, Vancouver WA
Member, Skyview Boosters
Sarah Applegate, Olympia WA
Nationally Board Certified Teacher

Shannon Braddock, Seattle WA
PTA Legislative Representative
Stand for Children Team Coordinator
LEV Key Activist

Liz Piekarczyk, Snoqualmie WA
PTA President, Mount Si High School
LEV Key Activist

Christine Einslein, Redmond WA
LEV Key Activist

Curt Whitaker, Kent WA
Lake Youngs PTSA
LEV Key Activist

Jody Mull, Issaquah WA
Stand for Children Team Leader
LEV Key Activist

Leigh Stokes, Issaquah WA
Stand for Children Team Coordinator
LEV Key Activist

Stacey Riley, Tacoma WA
Co-Legislative Chair, Tacoma Council PTA
LEV Key Activist
BEST Education Tacoma

Deana Brower, Spokane WA
PTG President

Alison Meryweather, Issaquah WA
Issaquah PTSA Council Legislative Chair

Corinne Patten, Bothell WA
Lockwood PTA
LEV Key Activist

Barbara Whitaker, Auburn WA
Publicity Chair, Auburn Citizens for Schools

Bob Douthitt, Spokane WA
Board of Directors, Spokane Public Schools