Advocacy is at the heart of what we do by empowering students and our members to have a voice at local and state levels in matters that focus on the health, well-being and safety of our children. 

LEGISLATIVE

We work to represent the needs of our community when defining legislative priorities. We also work to raise awareness and encourage our community to have a voice with respect to legislation that aligns with WA State PTA's Legislative Platform.

Contact our Legislative Chair for more information.

WA State PTA Top 5 Priorities

• Address the Student Mental Health Crisis
• Address Critical Gaps in Education Funding
• Prevent and Reduce Gun Violence and Suicide
• Address Funding, Inclusion and Support in Special Education
• Build and Maintain Safer School Facilities

FAMILY ASSISTANCE & PANTRY PACKS

The PTSA works closely with the school to support and meet these needs once identified. If your family is need of assistance for back-to-school items, food, scholarship for school events, clothing or other items, please contact our school counselor.

We also assist in finding volunteer drivers for the Pantry Packs program.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

We work to ensure we are organized, informed and prepared in case of an emergency by managing emergency supplies and providing preparedness education.

Contact our E-Prep Chair for more information.

E-Prep Resources

LWPTSA Emergency Preparedness - Meets regularly to share resources within our district.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION (DEI)

We are committed to bridging the disparities in our communities by being more diverse, equitable and inclusive in our efforts. Please read our Black Lives Matter Statement.

Contact our DEI Chair for more information.

DEI Resources

• National PTA 2023-24 Multicultural Calendar
• LWPTSA DEI Committee - Meets monthly to share resources within our district.
• National PTA "Notes from the Backpack" Podcast - Conversations with caregivers, experts and educators offering ideas and strategies to help our children succeed in and out of school.
  
• Equity Work - Ella Baker Elementary School (lwsd.org)

Resolutions & Position Statements

• LWSD Board Resolution No. 2318: Anti-Racism, Anti-Discrimination, Equity, and Inclusion in Education - Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen will interpret Res 2318 by developing a policy and indicators for compliance for LWSD Board approval.
• LWPTSA Equity Resolution, Advocating for an Anti-Racism, Equity and Inclusion in Education Policy - Allows PTSAs to advocate for a strong policy that addresses areas that need change, commits to ongoing review, and centers underserved and marginalized students, families, and educators - with a goal of all students having a sense of belonging, navigating a safe learning environment, and being equipped to succeed.
• National PTA Position Statement - Critical Race Theory
• National PTA Position Statement - Inclusive Curricula in K-12 Education  
  
• National PTA Position Statement - Addressing Systemic or Institutional Racism
  
• National PTA Position Statement - Shared Responsibility in Educational Decision Making
  
  

SUSTAINABILITY

Our goal is to promote sustainable practices within PTSA and our school community by being more mindful of the resources we consume and their impacts on local and global communities, especially those disproportionately impacted by climate change and environmental hazards.

Contact our Sustainability Chair for more information.

Sustainability Resources

• Ella Baker Green Team 2023 Recap - see what Baker Bears have done to make Ella Baker even more sustainable.
• LWPTSA Sustainability Committee - Meets monthly to share resources within our district.
  
• LWPTSA Waste Reduction Best Practices Guide - Resource for PTSAs to reduce waste when planning events/activities including CMA-approved (compostable) products.
  
• LWSD Food Service Sustainability Roadmap
• LWSD Green Team Advisor Guide - Resource for Green Team Advisors within LWSD.
  
• King County Green Schools - An LWSD partner providing resources to schools with a goal of becoming a "Sustainable School". Ella Baker Elementary has achieved Level 3 status by focusing on Waste Reduction, Energy Conversation and Water Conservation. PTSA will continue to support Ella Baker in these areas.

Resolutions & Statements:

• LWPTSA Sustainability Statement
• WSPTA Resolution: Mitigating Effects of Climate Change
• WSPTA Resolution: Mitigating Environmental Hazards
• National PTA Position Statement: Environmental Health Remediation, Sustainability, and Climate Change

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Our goal is to help foster a community of families of children receiving services and/or accommodations. We advocate for meaningful inclusion and promote Disability Acceptance.

Contact our Special Education Chair for more information.

Special Education Resources

• LWPTSA Special Education Group - Meets monthly to share resources within our district.
• Outdoors for All – Enriching the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through outdoor recreation.
• Game to Grow – Using games of all kinds for therapeutic, educational, and community growth.
• Athletes for Kids – Enhancing the lives of children who have disabilities and special needs and the high school athletes who mentor them.
• Friendship Circle - Leveraging the positive impact of friendship, understanding, and shared experience to transform the lives of children and teens with special needs and typically developing teens.
• Aspiring Youth – Helping students as they navigate their social world.
• Basic Beginnings - Providing children with autism and other special needs the opportunity to gain the necessary basic life and social skills to build confidence and independence for his or her future.
• Social Skills Lab - Home-based and virtual teletherapy speech sessions, evaluations and virtual peer/friendship groups.
• Washington Autism Alliance - Access to healthcare, education and services for people with autism spectrum disorders & related intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Arc of King County - To further the civil rights movement for all persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to thrive as equal, valued, and active members of the community.