NEXT STEPS: Local Legislators Hold Town Hall Meetings–Saturday, March 12th, 2011

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Washington State legislators from the 1st, 21st, and 32nd districts will be holding town hall meetings in their districts on Saturday, March 12th. The Washington Coalition for Gifted Education’s lobbyist has strongly urged us to keep in close and continued contact with our representatives. Please try to attend a meeting for your district. If you attended Gifted Education Day in Olympia last month, this is a great opportunity to follow-up with your legislators. If you were not able to attend Gifted Education Day, please add your face and voice to the chorus to help our legislators understand the importance of continuing to fund gifted education programming in Washington, especially in this tough budget climate! This could be a great chance to spend family time with other Challenge Program families and maybe stop off at the CPA Coffee Chat before or after and share your stories with others sharing your concerns. Below are the meetings scheduled:

  • 10am-12pm, Third Place Commons; Lake Forest Park Town Centre, 17171 Bothell Way, Bothell, WA 98158

For insight into what should be emphasized in speaking with or writing to a given legislator, please click on the legislator name below.

Senator Rosemary McAuliffe (D-1)

She is always outwardly supportive, but we can never get her to *do* anything.  We have been asked to put pressure on her.  She is committed to the Governor’s reorganization project and not working on other stuff.  So, we need to work on the “budget piece” with her:

1) We know budget cuts are necessary, and we expect that education will need to take cuts as well, including the Highly capable funding.  BUT eliminating the program is so damaging because it is so difficult to get it back once it’s gone.

2) Do not allow a delay in including gifted education in basic ed.

(Ed Murray is the chair on the Way & Means committee and has stated he is committed to non elimination, so that is good.  We can bring that up in talking to Rosemary as well.)

Senator Paull Shin (D-21)

So sweet, and has always been a big supporter.  He is very loyal and extremely committed.  He is not as assertive as others, but he does well with signing letters. Ask him if he will send a letter to each member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee stating that Highly Capable children NEED their rights protected under Basic Ed—and ask him if he will then send us a copy of that letter that he sends out.

Senator Maralyn Chase (D-32)

Not too involved in child issues or K-12 education. She is involved with economic development. So focus on ideas about building a solid future for our state— these kids will assist with a strong economic future for Washington, if we can support them and keep them here.  It’s important for our state’s economy to have a good educational system that would encourage this.


Representative Luis Moscoso (D-1)

His newsletter after GED had a positive statement as well.  THANK HIM

Representative Derek Stanford (D-1)

We don’t know him yet- he is new.  BUT, he sent out a newsletter after Gifted Ed Day in support of our cause.  THANK HIM


Representative Marko Liias (D-21)

He is very, very bright- wouldn’t be surprised if he came out of a Highly capable program himself.  This is his first go-around with education.  He is very concerned with bullying issues.  So—talk to him about how Highly Capable kids are often targets of bullying, they are often out on the edges in school environment so they need social emotional support.  The best way to help these kids is to have good programs that meet these needs.  Otherwise we lose them in a variety of ways- to being picked on/ bullying, they develop behavior problems, or dropping out.


Representative Mary Helen Roberts (D-21)

She is supportive, but her passion is in Human Services. We want to be very careful not to be perceived as pitting the two against each other.  We are in no way diminishing the need for Human Services, we see these needs in kids in our schools- it is not a competition.  With all the the House Dems, it’s important to make them aware that Highly Capable programs  are not just for the (white) privileged ~ there are children of color, in poverty, who are homeless.    These programs ensure their basic needs in school.  So talk about this in terms of Child Welfare-

Representative Ruth Kagi (D-32)

She is supportive, but her passion is in Human Services. We want to be very careful not to be perceived as pitting the two against each other.  We are in no way diminishing the need for Human Services, we see these needs in kids in our schools- it is not a competition.  With all the the House Dems, it’s important to make them aware that Highly Capable programs  are not just for the (white) privileged ~ there are children of color, in poverty, who are homeless.    These programs ensure their basic needs in school.  So talk about this in terms of Child Welfare-

Representative Cindy Ryu (D-32)

She is supportive, but her passion is in Human Services. We want to be very careful not to be perceived as pitting the two against each other.  We are in no way diminishing the need for Human Services, we see these needs in kids in our schools- it is not a competition.  With all the the House Dems, it’s important to make them aware that Highly Capable programs  are not just for the (white) privileged ~ there are children of color, in poverty, who are homeless.    These programs ensure their basic needs in school.  So talk about this in terms of Child Welfare-