Advocacy Email - February 7, 2007

To: Advocacy Email List of the Washington State Coalition for International Education

Three members of the WAFLT (Washington Association for Language Teaching) Outreach Committee went to Olympia last Friday to give testimony on HB1517 before the House Education Committee. The bill's prime sponsor, Representative Schual-Burke, gave the lead-in testimony, and two high school students from Snohomish also testified. The Committee voted 100% to send it out of Committee. It's now headed to Appropriations. As soon as we hear a date for the Appropriations meeting, we'll let you know.

See: http://internationaledwa.org/involved/advocacy.htm

House Bill 1517 - Enhancing public school world language instruction.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1517
Sponsors: Representatives Schual-Berke, Priest, McDermott, Anderson, Quall, Kenney, Roberts, Lantz, Kagi, Moeller, Santos, Hunt and Hudgins

2007 Regular Session Actions

Jan 22, 2007	First reading, referred to Education. (View Original Bill)
Feb 2, 2007	Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Education at 1:30 PM. ED - Executive action taken by committee. ED - Majority do pass
Feb 6, 2007	Referred to Appropriations.

This bill would establish a full-time staff position at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to serve as world languages supervisor. It enumerates 10 duties to be fulfilled by the position. It proposes funding pilot projects at the elementary and middle school levels, including a dual language enrichment program in a major Asian language.

Action Needed Now (as of 2/7/2007)

1. Download and read the bill.
   http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1517.pdf (PDF)
    
2. Contact members of the House Appropriations Committee,
   especially Representatives from your District, to encourage them to support HB1517. Members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education  are listed here:
   http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/APPE/Members.htm
   
   Members of the overall House Appropriations Committee:
   http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/APP/members.htm
    
3. Come testify in Olympia when the bill reaches the House Appropriations Committee date TBA.
   Check the Legislature page for up-to-date information:
   http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1517&year=2007

If you haven't done this yet...

• Call or email the Representatives listed above to thank them for sponsoring the bill. Find email information here:
  http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/Default.aspx?Chamber=H
   
• Contact your own Representatives and urge them to support this bill. If you're not sure who they are, start here:
  http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
  
  Tip: It's easiest to email them using their online form, which you'll find when you get to the Legislator's home page.

 

____________________________________
Michele Anciaux Aoki, Ph.D., P.M.P.
Washington State Coalition for International Education
http://internationaledwa.org
michele@anciauxinternational.com
(206) 234-4029

 

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____________________________________

Washington State Coalition for International Education
http://internationaledwa.org
http://internationaledwa.org/involved/advocacy.htm
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