You+CAN+make+a+difference

==**Washington State government has cut and cut and cut spending on Basic Education from over 50% of the total budget to just over 40%. Legislators regularly tell parent organizations and district leadership that they __do not hear__ from voters expressing concern for this. Here is how and where YOU can express your concern (politely, of course).** == = = **__[|Find Your District]__**

**__Legislator Toll-Free Hotline__** **1-800-562-6000** (TTY 1-800-635-9993) //In Session:// 8AM to 8PM Monday-Friday & 9AM to1PM on Saturday //Not in Session:// 8AM to Noon & 1PM to 4:30PM Monday-Friday

**__Committee Agendas and Public Hearings__** Go to the Washington State Legislature home page [] for the most recent schedule for committee meetings. If the agenda says PUBLIC HEARING, testimony will be taken. Agendas will be updated to reflect what committee is hearing testimony on.

Make sure you’re up to date on the latest in Olympia. Sign up for the Washington State Legislative updates for education issues by signing up for email notifications (Listserv). Go to [] and sign up for the email notifications from the **House Education Committee**, **House Education Appropriations & Oversight Committee**, **Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee**, etc.

[|Education]
The House Education Committee considers kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) educational policy and finance issues

[|Education appropriations & Oversight]
The House Education Appropriations & Oversight Committee considers issues relating to funding and oversight of early learning, K-12, and higher education programs and agencies and makes funding recommendations to the Ways and Means Committee. In addition, the committee considers bills relating to early learning, K-12 and higher education with limited fiscal impact

**[|House Ways & Means Committee]** The House Ways and Means Committee considers the operating budget bill, global fiscal issues such as pension policy and compensation, and bills with larger fiscal impacts. The committee also coordinates the work of the Education Appropriations & Oversight, General Government Appropriations & Oversight, and Health and Human Services Appropriations & Oversight Committees in developing the operating budget. The committee also considers issues relating to state and local revenues, such as increases or decreases in taxes, exemptions from taxes, and changes in the administration of taxes.

[|Members by Committee]
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Most Relevant : Early Learning & K-2 and Ways & Means

=<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">//Make a promise to your children to __regularly__ contact your representatives and the legislators who have an impact on our schools and let them know what your schools mean to your family. Teach your children how government works and empower them to fight for their own futures!// =