Focus Day 2026 is a wrap! A group from the LWPTSA and several local PTAs attended meetings with State Representatives and Senators throughout the day at our state’s Capital. While in Olympia, they advocated for families and communities in demanding K-12 funding be protected, especially concerning Special Education, MSOC (Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs), and Transportation.
Focus Day 2026: A Full Day of Advocacy for Washington’s Public Schools
On Focus Day 2026, parent advocates from all over Washington traveled to Olympia to meet with lawmakers about the urgent funding challenges facing Washington’s public schools. Lake Washington, Bellevue, Issaquah, and Shoreline PTSAs collaborated throughout the day. LWPTSA was able to meet with legislators from Districts 41, 45, 48, and 1. The day centered on K–12 funding protection, the severe financial impact of ESSB 5814 (sales tax on services), special education underfunding, MSOC pressures, and the erosion of wrap‑around services that students rely on.
Why We Went to Focus Day: A Statewide PTSA Advocacy Effort
Focus Day is Washington State PTA’s annual statewide advocacy event, bringing together PTSA leaders, members, and student advocates from across Washington to speak directly with legislators about the most urgent issues facing public schools. Families and educators from dozens of districts — urban, suburban, and rural — traveled to Olympia to ensure lawmakers heard a unified message: fully fund education and protect the services students rely on.
This year’s Focus Day centered on the WSPTA 2025–2026 Legislative Priorities, which include:
- Ample, equitable, and sustainable K–12 funding
- Special education and inclusion
- Student and school safety
- Reducing barriers to learning
- Responsible, sustainable revenue
Four main points were discussed in conversations with Legislators:
- Maintain K-12 & Fund Public Schools
- Keep K-12 education funding at current and inflation-adjusted levels. NO reductions even to non-basic education activities.
- Prioritize K-12 in budget decisions
- Avoid cuts to, as well as close funding gaps for Maintenance, Supplies, & Operating Costs (MSOC), Transportation, and Special Education
- Undo the unintended burden of SB 5814 (2025) on school districts
- LWSD has an estimated expense of $1.5M to $2 M
These priorities shaped every meeting, every conversation, and the statewide march around the Capitol. The presence of PTSA advocates from all over Washington underscored that these challenges are not isolated — they are shared across districts and communities.
Detailed Recap of the Day’s Meetings and Events
🕘 9:00 AM — Meeting with Rep. Janice Zahn (District 41)
Key Focus: K–12 Funding, Prototypical Model, State Tax Structure
A 30‑minute discussion with Rep. Zahn alongside Bellevue and Issaquah School District PTSAs. She expressed strong support for public schools but was pessimistic about avoiding cuts in this session.
Key points emphasized:
- The prototypical school funding model does not work
- Washington’s tax system does not fully fund education
- She asked which areas we believed could withstand cuts
- Topics included K–12 funding, social education, MSOC, and transportation
Her tone reflected concern about the state’s structural inability to meet constitutional education obligations.
🕙 10:00 AM — Meeting with Rep. Roger Goodman (District 45)
Key Focus: Protecting K–12 Funding, Sales Tax Impact, Wealth Tax
Rep. Goodman was supportive, noting that both of his children attended LWSD schools. He made several strong point and commitments:
- He pledged to hold the line on K–12 funding cuts
- He supports a statewide cell phone ban in schools
- He understands the significant financial impact of the sales tax bill SB 5814 on LWSD
- He is concerned for all school districts, especially those with high percentage of low-income students
- He is an advocate for taxing high‑wage earners
His stance was one of the most unequivocally pro‑education of the day.
🕙 10:00 AM (Concurrent) — Meeting with Rep. Davina Duerr (District 1) & Rep. Shelley Kloba (District 1)
Key Focus: HB 2287 & ESSB 5814 Sales Tax on Services
Met with Reps. Duerr and Kloba with Shoreline School District PTSA. Legislators were receptive to concerns over protecting K-12 funding and undoing the financial impacts of SB5814.
Key points they emphasized:
- HB 2287 (Public Transportation Safety Net) in attempt to bring funding back
- Income tax will be challenged by WA State Constitutional Law
🕥 10:30 AM — Capitol Tour with Terry
A guided tour of the Capitol campus provided context for the legislative process and the day’s upcoming meetings.
🕦 11:30 AM — Meeting with Senator Derek Stanford’s Aide, Stephen Cardamenis (District 1)
Key Focus: K–12 Funding, Special Education, ESSB 5814, MSOC
The 11:30 AM meeting was held with Stephen Cardamenis, aide to Senator Derek Stanford, who shared the Senator’s perspectives and priorities.
Stephen emphasized Senator Stanford’s strong interest in protecting K–12 funding and supporting special education, while acknowledging the significant budget pressures.
Key points he emphasized:
- SB 5814 is directly harming district budgets, SB 5814 is directly harming district budgets
- The strain on MSOC (Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs), which continues to rise without corresponding increases in state funding
- His own experience with learning disabilities, underscoring the importance of strong Special Education funding and inclusive supports .
Stephen also highlighted real‑world impacts of last year’s cuts, including:
- Loss of 4th/5th grade band programs
- Reduction of paraeducators
This meeting reinforced the Senator’s alignment with many of the concerns raised by PTSA advocates.
🕛 11:00–1:30 PM — Midday Speakers
A series of speakers provided statewide context:
- Sen. Deborah Krishnadasan — Former PTA leader, pro‑education voice
- Sen. Noel Frame — Advocate for progressive revenue
- Megan Larkin, WA State PTA — Advocacy strategy
- Marie Sullivan, Consultant — OSPI data and legislative navigation
- Rep. Michael Keaton — Discussed the BOSS Act and statewide phone bans, working on bill HB 1295 to improve literacy standards in WA
- Rep. Gerry Pollet (District 46) — Discussed Sales Tax Impact & Special Education Cap
These sessions reinforced the systemic challenges districts face and the importance of coordinated advocacy.
🕐 1:30 PM — Statewide PTSA Group Photo & March to Stop Education Cuts
At 1:30 PM, advocates from PTSAs across Washington State gathered on the Capitol steps for a large group photo — a powerful visual showing statewide unity.
Immediately afterward, the entire group participated in a march around the Capitol building to protest education cuts and call for sustainable, fully funded public schools.
🕑 2:15 PM — Meeting with Osman Salahuddin (District 48)
Key Focus: Special Education Crisis & Budget Strategy
Meeting alongside Bellevue and Issaquah School District PTSA, Kylie, a high‑school student with disabilities who was told she needed to leave Washington to receive adequate services. Bellevue alone has 88 students in similar situations.
Salahuddin committed to:
- Signing a collaboration letter to budget leaders
- Helping secure meetings with Budget Chairs
- Not cutting K-12 funding
- Supporting the sales tax exemption for school districts
He also emphasized the need to protect K–12 funding. His mother is a Special Education Teacher and has an insider view of the struggles and underfunding of schools.
🕒 3:00 PM — Meeting with Rep. Larry Springer (District 45)
Key Focus: K–12 Funding Outlook, Sales Tax Relief
Rep. Springer expressed a desire to avoid K–12 cuts but was not optimistic that the session would end without reductions.
Key points:
- He cautioned that no legislator can promise full protection of K–12 funding early in the session
- He supports unwinding the sales tax burden on school districts but was unsure whether it would pass this year
- He was notably more optimistic about wildfire mitigation efforts, especially in the Leavenworth area
His tone reflected realism about the budget environment.
🕒 3:00 PM (Concurrent) — Meeting with Senator Lisa Wellman (District 41)
Key Focus: Sales Tax Exemption for Schools
As Chair of the Senate Education Committee, Sen. Wellman plays a pivotal role in determining which education bills advance.
She confirmed she is actively working on legislation to exempt school districts from sales tax, a major potential win that would immediately relieve pressure created by ESSB 5814.
Advocates thanked her for her leadership on special education and discussed the ongoing strain on MSOC budgets.
🕞 3:30 PM — Meeting with Rep. My-Linh Thai (District 41)
Key Focus: “Do No Harm” Policy, Wrap‑Around Services, Wealth Tax
Met with Representative Thai with the Bellevue and Issaquah School Districts.
Rep. Thai offered a candid assessment of the budget landscape:
- K–12 may not be cut directly
- BUT wrap‑around services — YES programs, mental health providers, community health centers — are at high risk
- Enrollment declines can still reduce funding even without “cuts”
- A Wealth Tax has bipartisan interest but is likely five years away
She also supports the sales tax exemption and emphasized the importance of family involvement in education policy. She was also concerned that communities that need the most will be the most harmed after this session. As many of those met, she is an advocate of the tax on high-wage earners.
Critical Issues Identified
1. The Sales Tax Burden (ESSB 5814)
Districts are now paying sales tax on contracted services — including substitute teachers — draining millions from operating budgets.
2. Special Education (SPED) Underfunding
High‑needs students, including 88 Bellevue students, are being told they must leave the state to receive adequate services.
3. The Wealth Tax Gap
A Wealth Tax is viewed as a five‑year strategy, not a solution for the 2025–26 budget cycle.
4. Paper & Building Budgets
Schools are using general funds to buy basic supplies like paper because fundraising can no longer fill the gap.
Strategic Action Items
Immediate Deliverables
- Data Packet: Provide slides, statistics, and district priorities to Reps. Duerr & Kloba.
- Collaboration Letter: Draft for Osman Salahuddin to sign and send to budget leaders.
- Budget Chair Research: Identify House Appropriations and Senate Ways & Means Chairs and request 15‑minute briefings.
Storytelling & Advocacy Tools
- “Paper Budget” One‑Pager: Use Amy Compton’s example to illustrate MSOC strain.
- SPED “Out‑of‑State” Fact Sheet: Highlight the 88 Bellevue students forced to seek services elsewhere.
- Sales Tax Impact Table: Show WSD’s $1.5-2M losses to support Sen. Wellman’s exemption bill.
Long‑Term Coordination
- Cross‑District Coalition: Co‑sign a joint letter with Shoreline and Bellevue on sales tax urgency.
- OSPI Report Card Audit: Pull data for each legislator’s district to show constituent impact.
Advocacy Resources: How to Follow Up With Your Legislators
Advocacy doesn’t end on Focus Day — in many ways, that’s where it begins. Legislators consistently tell us that personal stories from constituents are among the most influential forms of communication they receive. A short, heartfelt email from a parent, student, or educator can reinforce the urgency of fully funding Washington’s public schools.
Below are simple tools to help you take the next step.
Find Your Legislative District & Representatives
If you’re not sure who represents you in Olympia, you can look it up in seconds using your home address:
Washington State Legislature District Finder: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/ (app.leg.wa.gov in Bing)
This tool will show your two State Representatives and one State Senator, along with their contact information.
Use This Coordinated Letter Template
To make follow‑up easy, here is a universal letter you can personalize and send to your legislators. Adding a short personal story — even one or two sentences — makes it significantly more impactful.
Coordinated Advocacy Letter Template
Dear [Legislator Name],
Thank you for taking the time to meet with Washington State PTA advocates during Focus Day. We appreciate your service to our community and your commitment to strengthening public education across our state. We recognize the difficult decisions you face this session, and we are grateful for your willingness to engage with families, students, and educators.
As you continue your budget and policy work, we want to highlight several Washington State PTA legislative priorities that are essential to ensuring every student in Washington has access to a high‑quality, fully funded education:
- Protecting K–12 education funding Stable, reliable funding is the foundation of student success. Avoiding cuts ensures districts can maintain essential staffing, programs, and supports that students rely on every day.
- Fully supporting Special Education Districts continue to face significant shortfalls in meeting federally mandated services. The statewide special education funding gap remains substantial, and progress toward eliminating the cap is critical to ensuring equitable access for students with disabilities.
- Strengthening student transportation funding Transportation is a basic and necessary component of equitable access to education. Current state allocations fall short, forcing districts to backfill essential transportation costs with local levy dollars that were never intended for this purpose.
- Addressing the substitute teacher funding gap Districts rely on substitutes to maintain safe and functional classrooms, yet the state allocation remains far below actual costs. This gap creates operational strain and reduces instructional continuity.
- Exempting school districts from the sales tax on services The recent expansion of the sales tax on contracted services has created an unexpected and unbudgeted burden on school districts. Exempting schools from this tax would provide immediate and meaningful relief.
- Advancing the MSOC bill Modernizing and increasing Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs (MSOC) funding is long overdue. Updated MSOC allocations would better reflect the real costs of running schools in 2026 and beyond.
If helpful, we are happy to provide additional district‑level data, examples, or follow‑up materials. Many legislators requested supplemental information during Focus Day, and our PTSA teams are prepared to support those requests.
Thank you again for your leadership and for considering these priorities as you shape policy that directly impacts Washington’s 1.1 million public school students. Families across the state are counting on strong, student‑centered decisions, and your support makes a real difference.
Sincerely, [Your Name]
[Your PTSA / School / District]
[Optional: Contact Information]
Learn More: WSPTA’s Focus Day Summary
For a statewide perspective, WSPTA’s legislative consultant Marie Sullivan published a clear and helpful summary of Focus Day, including the major themes, bills discussed, and next steps for advocacy. You can read her full write‑up on the Washington State PTA website.
This article was written by Sushmita Srikant in collaboration with Marie-Therese Schambeck (Co-VPs of Advocacy LWPTSA), Colleen McCloskey (Co-President of LWPTSA) and Amber Hampton (Parent Advocate from Thoreau Elementary PTSA). Many of these meetings were held in collaboration with PTSA delegates from Shoreline, Bellevue and Issaquah Council PTSAs. Other attendees from Lake Washington PTSA who attended Focus Day and shared their stories at our meetings included
- Brooke Gialopsos — President, LWPTSA
- Amy Compton — Advocacy Chair, Horace Mann Elementary PTSA
- Pallavi Bhandarkar — Parent Advocate, Thoreau Elementary / Finn Hill Middle School PTSA
- Paul Stull — Advocacy Chair, Finn Hill Middle School PTSA
- Paula Templin — Parent Advocate, Einstein Elementary PTSA
- Morgan Sampson — Advocacy Chair, Horace Mann Elementary PTSA
More data on LWSD education funding gaps can be found at:
Legislative Priorities – Lake Washington School District
Copyright notice: Photos courtesy of Colleen McCloskey and Pallavi Bhandarkar, Jan. 19, 2026. Images may not be reused for promotional or commercial use except as permitted by content owners (LWPTSA Council and photographers). All rights reserved.