The Board will represent the district’s interests in legislative action to promote the welfare of public education in the state of Washington or will direct those interests to be represented through the Superintendent or a designee. 

As a public entity, the Board must operate within the bounds of state and federal laws affecting public education. To effectively meet these responsibilities to the public and students of the district, the Board will work vigorously for the passage of new laws designed to advance the cause of effective schools and for the repeal or modification of existing laws that impede this cause.  

To achieve these goals, the Board will periodically study, discuss and weigh the merits of pending legislation for the purpose of establishing its official position through Board action. When established, these official positions will be the position of the district in the legislative process.  

Board Legislative Activities 

The Board will: 

1. Develop annual federal and state legislative agendas for the district consistent with the furtherance of the district’s strategic plan.  

2. Support and work for legislation that promotes quality education within Seattle Public Schools, the region and the State of Washington. 

3. Stay informed of pending legislation and actively communicate concerns and make its position known to elected representatives at both the state and national levels by regular contact with their legislators in-district, in Olympia and in Washington D.C. 

4. Seek adequate funding for schools and full funding for state and federally mandated programs. 

5. Set aside time to discuss legislative issues.  

6. Respond appropriately to requests for legislative proposals, comments on legislative proposals and development of priority positions. 

7. Inform the public of its legislative priorities and outcomes of its legislative efforts. 

8. Designate one of its members to serve as legislative representative with the Washington State School Directors’ Association. 

Board members, individually or as members of professional organizations, will not represent positions conflicting with the district’s on legislative matters unless it is made clear that such representation is not the official position of the district.