1. Home
  2. Advocacy & Policy

Advocacy & Policy

A birds-eye view of a very large crowd of protestors

Fighting for equity and justice

We do whatever is needed – push, persuade, demand – to make sure our leaders pass laws that do right by our kids and communities.

The Equity in Education Center believes that no one can advocate better for our kids than our communities and our allies. We work with local, regional and state legislatures to ensure that laws, policies, and programs work for kids often trapped in the opportunity and achievement gap. We hold our leaders accountable until they secure the resources required to make all children safe, healthy, and vibrant.

The education system in Washington state needs to be responsive to a child that is homeless, hungry, or living in the trauma of poverty.  The education system in Washington state has to start funding programs at the local and district level that not only treat children equally but also treat children equitably. Some children need more programs, more resources, and more support than other children — and our schools and laws must offer those programs if we are to create a system that believes that each and every child can succeed in school and can enter a living wage career.

Legislative Successes

  • Helped craft a strong and inclusive Discipline Bill, which includes a reentry program for children who are suspended or expelled, stronger data collection standards, and a time limit for suspension and expulsion.
  • Secured a $2.365M grant from the Office of Broadband, Department of Commerce to engage 40+ community staff members to facilitate our communities ease with digital literacy, open our multi-lingual multi-cultural tech support center, and build a community-based broadband system
  • Secured $800 million in targeted programs for students of color, like the Learning Assistance Program, Transitional Bilingual Instructional Program, and the Extended Learning Opportunity Program.
  • Mobilized people of color on education issues, including 4,000+ participants at EEC’s Betsy DeVos Counter Rally; 1,000 activists for EEC’s Equity Rally in Olympia; and hundreds in EEC’s Eliminating the School to Prison Pipeline Workshop series.

2025 Legislative Priorities

  • Allowing parental involvement through school volunteering
  • Ending isolation and restraint in public schools
  • Increased investment in the Learning Assistance Program and Special Education
  • Sustained investment in the Digital Navigation program

WA’s education system is underfunded, but we have an opportunity to work with the community, researchers, and policymakers. We cannot afford to go backward.

Support a root cause analysis.

Sign the Petition