Save Parent Education Programs in Washington

The very short answer is that The State Board of Community and Technical Colleges revised the allocation model that determines the student funding for all 34 colleges. The new allocation model filters out certain student types. The model was passed with a inaccurate understanding of what type of students Parent Education serves. While Parent Education has been considered a Workforce focused program in SBCTC since 1947, the implementation of the new allocation model puts Parent Education under a "community education" designation. This is not, and has never been true. Additionally, this designation was made without input from the Organization of Parent Education programs, as well as the Vice Presidents of Instruction or President at each school that offers Parent Education.

We think it is important to see the context for these changes, as SBCTC's actions do not seem to fulfill the purpose of as described in RCW 28B.50.020(2)

Understanding the Conflict Between OPEP and SBCTC--A Timeline 

• Click here to Look Up Your State Senator and Representatives by address: Use your home address, your preschool's address, and the address of your affiliated college

• Check if one of your Senators or Representatives sits on an education related committee and consider them a main point of contact

• You can also send Governor Ferguson an e-message in support of our programs.

• The most important point:

  • Our solution requires no additional funding from the state. It simply codifies that parents and caregivers in parent education programs should be considered students within the allocation model. This has been the model since 1947.

• Adapt one of these templates

  • Script for Phone Calls 

  • Long Legislative Letter 

  • Shorter Legislative Letter 

• Personalize your letter by adding any of the following

  • Why you value parent education

  • How it has impacted your family

  • IF THESE APPLY, PLEASE INCLUDE: if you were able to take your experience as a co-op member and transfer that into the workforce

    • Did you become a preschool teacher, a paraeducator, or a parent instructor?

    • Did you use the credits you earned to maintain a certification, like STARS hours or OSPI clock hours?

    • Did you use your experience as a board member in returning to the workforce or explore a new career?

    • Did you take additional classes at a community or technical college?

Please fill out this form and we will connect you with an OPEP representative to work with.

Legislative Response Form 

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Email List Sign Up 

Visit our collection of resources about the value of parent education 

Use our Comments and Questions form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.