The Advocate
The Advocate is updated in the first week of every other month September through May, containing articles relating to private school issues, representation, and local-to-national news relevant to independent schools.
WFIS Advocacy Efforts Continue
Each week of this unique session has generated an incredible amount of new information, bold ideas and conversations related to education policy and funding, as well as health and safety practices for reopening schools. School leaders have come together through WFIS...
Childcare crisis ripples through every part of WA State
WFIS values our collaboration with fellow members of ELAA on early learning issues. We make sure private school early learning directors are kept abreast of the complexities of policy and advocacy work during weekly meetings, and gain valuable insight from them about how proposed policy and changes will resonate in our schools.
A Win for Private Schools
In a surprising move, Democrat Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, advocated for private schools to receive $2.75 billion as part of the American Rescue Plan. Schumer, motivated by the powerful New York City Orthodox Jewish Community lobby, immediately came under attack by fellow Democrats, teacher unions, and public school associations.
Opinion: Washington’s students are losing in this power struggle
For months, teacher unions have touted safety concerns as the reason campuses can’t reopen, which has resulted in Washington ranking 45th for providing in-person instruction according to Burbio data, despite Washington placing fifth nationwide for the lowest rate of coronavirus cases. Seattle has the lowest Covid-19 hospitalization rate of any major U.S. city.
Biden announces teachers are essential workers, urges all states to vaccinate educators ASAP
President Biden wants K-12 back open for in-person learning as a vaccinated workforce. He wants State’s to treat in-person learning like the essential service that it is, including child care. Today he is directing every state to prioritize vaccination of educational workforce.
OSPI-Kaiser plan still on track for educators to be vaccinated as a group
WFIS supports schools that wish to reach out locally to establish an employee vaccination relationship. As the advocate for private schools, WFIS will continue to engage & advise leaders of the OSPI-Kaiser plan to develop systems that work for schools, to ensure all staff in a school receive the vaccination equitably and efficiently.
WFIS Advocate February 2021: private school news in WA State
Read our latest WFIS Advocate newsletter, launched today Tuesday February 23rd 2021. Private Schools month WFIS' working with State agencies 2021 Legislative Session snapshot Private schools staying connected and informed
WIAA Update on school sports
Rick Skeen is the Private Schools Representative on the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) as well as the Athletic Director at Kings Schools. The following details from Rick are the result of consistent WIAA efforts to return students to sports safely.
House Bill 1139 Lead Screening in Public and Private Schools
HB 1139 is scheduled for an executive session in the House Education Committee on Friday, February 12 at 10:00am. WFIS is seeking to strike private schools from this bill.
Private schools care about the health and safety of students. However, this bill mandates the same expectation for private schools as public schools without access to the infrastructure or funding to support the requirements.
COVID-19 Vaccinations for School Employees
The expectation is that in March all staff from all schools will have access to the vaccination.
Delay in vaccinating most Washington K-12 teachers, staff alarms legislators, union
Washington’s current guidance would result in an extended vaccination timeline for adults who work in schools. Teachers and other staff who are at least aged 50 could get their first dose in February if they are serving students in person… roughly 40% of the state’s 153,000 public school employees are in this age group. All younger employees aren’t eligible until April.