ABOUT
The 2024 Legislative Session is the second year of the 68th Biennial Legislature, known as the “short” session (limited to 60 days). Because this is a short session, the action will be fast and furious. Policy issues will be the major focus; however, fiscal issues will continue to be addressed, especially in K-12 education with the ESSER funding cliff approaching and ongoing underfunding of basic education programs.  

Educators’ plates are already overflowing and there is an urgent need to put a “pause on policy”—while also addressing our continuing budget concerns. It will be essential for education leaders to actively participate in the legislative process to ensure our needs are not forgotten. Additionally, it will be critical, perhaps more than ever before, for education leaders to speak with one voice.  

The WASA • WSSDA • WASBO Legislative Conference is your opportunity to hear updates on our shared legislative priorities, the current education budget and policy landscape, and how to effectively advocate for our collective needs. We encourage you to join your colleagues for this important event!

TARGET AUDIENCE
Superintendents, central office administrators, and school board directors.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS | JANUARY 28 | 1–5 P.M.
•    Keynote Lisa Braithwaite
•    Advocacy Efforts: Our association presidents
•    Messages from Elected Officials
•    State Superintendent Chris Reykdal
•    Student Voice and Their Advocacy Efforts
•    Legislative Priorities
•    Hot Topics

CONFERENCE REGIONAL PLANNING MEETINGS | JANUARY 28 | 5–6 P.M.
Regional Planning Meetings (RPMs) will be organized by legislative district and will occur from 5–6 at SPSCC. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss the conference's "hot topics" and coordinate logistics for meetings with legislators.

DAY ON THE HILL | JANUARY 29
Day on the Hill is an opportunity for school directors, student board representatives, superintendents, and school district business officials to come together to advance the “hot topics” introduced during the Legislative Conference by taking them to the Capitol. In lieu of scheduling individual legislator meetings, participants will be able to attend panel presentations comprised of education and budget leaders who will share insights on how best to influence for the legislative priorities (hot topics) in 2024 and beyond. The schedule for these sessions will be posted to the WSSDA website in mid-January. In the meantime, participants are encouraged to reach out to their legislators’ offices to schedule their own meetings either while on the hill that day or via Zoom in the week following.

OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Lisa Braithwaite
Public Speaker, Author of Presenting for Humans: Insights for Speakers on Ditching Perfection and Creating Connection

Lisa has been speaking, teaching, training, and coaching since 1992. Her first six years of speaking were spent in high school classrooms, teaching teenagers about domestic violence. She calls that her "trial by fire." Lisa’s dynamic style delivers strategies for communicating in a way that makes her message contagious!

Lisa has provided training for companies as diverse as Microsoft, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, Massachusetts Association of Realtors®, Louisiana Travel Association, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), USA Hockey, UC Santa Barbara, and AgWest Commodities.

REGISTRATION
Registration Rate for in-person or virtual attendance until January 4, 2024 | $249 per person
Registration Rate for in-person or virtual attendance beginning January 5, 2024 | $275 per person
REGISTER

CANCELLATIONS
A $75 administrative fee applies to all cancellations submitted by January 12, 2024.
No refunds after January 12, 2024.
No Show = No Refund.

HOUSING

Olympia Hotel at Capital Lake
2300 Evergreen Park Drive SW
Olympia, WA 98502
360.943.4000

MEALS
The following meals are included in registration:
•    Sunday Reception

QUESTIONS
Please contact Ryan Hickerson at rhickerson@wasa-oly.org with conference registration questions.
Contact Kim Fry at kfry@wasa-oly.org or Mike Nelson at mnelson@wasa-oly.org with questions about the conference.