Help Every Washington Student Feel Safe, Supported, and a Positive Sense of Belonging

Upcoming LEVinar: Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in Schools: Advocacy and Policy Updates

Students and families who identify as LGBTQ+ are facing challenges in schools, but there are ways we can all step up to support them. Join us next Thursday, March 20 at 12:30 pm for a free, essential webinar on how to create safe, affirming, and inclusive learning environments for LGBTQ+ students.

This session will provide:

• Practical strategies to support LGBTQ+ students and families
• Insights on the latest executive orders and policy changes impacting schools
• Resources for educators, administrators, and community advocates

Now more than ever, our students need strong allies in their schools and communities. Join panelists from around Washington state to learn about best practices and tools to support our students.

Panelists include:

• Colleen Melody, Wing Luke Civil Rights Division Chief at the Office of Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown
• Felisciana Peralta, Executive Director of Equity in Education at the Puget Sound Educational Service District

LEV Blog: Understanding Washington state’s Complex K-12 Funding Structures

A top priority for many legislators in the 2025 Washington state legislative session is to take steps to address the education funding challenges many school districts are experiencing across Washington. Given Washington’s complex funding system, it can be challenging to understand how legislative proposals may impact districts differently. To help identify how key structures of our funding system work and to build understanding of how student needs impact state K-12 funding, League of Education Voters has created some materials to answer common questions and break down Washington’s complex K-12 funding structures.

New LEV podcast episode: Dr. Marcus Pimpleton, New League of Education Voters Board Chair

In this episode, League of Education Voters CEO Arik Korman interviews Dr. Marcus Pimpleton, Chair of the League of Education Voters (LEV) Board and Principal at Mariner High School in the Mukilteo School District, about how he bridges cultural divides, how he engages students as a leader, how to embed equity into Washington state’s K-12 system, what worked and what didn’t work in his own education journey, and how he would change Washington’s education system if he were in charge and there were no budgetary constraints.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, or Spreaker

Upcoming LEVinar: Equity in Education: From Research to Action

Join us for a free, dynamic 60-minute webinar on Thursday, April 3 at 12:30 pm exploring the latest research on student homelessness in Washington state and how data-driven insights can drive meaningful policy change. With the state legislature looking to renew its commitment to our K-12 education system, it’s critical to remind policymakers that good policy is informed by data. This discussion will highlight key research efforts and explore how they can be leveraged to create equitable educational opportunities for all students.

• Learn key findings from Building Changes’ latest K-12 report.
• Learn about the prevention work of Upstream through Chapin Hall.
• Hear from experts on bridging research and policy to address educational disparities.
• Ask questions and explore solutions through an interactive Q&A. 

Panelists include:

• Betsy Naymon, Senior Research Associate at Building Changes
• Dr. Forrest Moore, Policy Fellow at Chapin Hall
• Aaron Yared, MA, JD, Director of Policy & Advocacy at Building Changes

This is a must-attend event for researchers, funders, policymakers, and advocates dedicated to advancing equity in K-12 education. Save your spot today!

LEVinar recording: How to Support Washington state’s Undocumented / Mixed Status Students and Families in Schools

In a time of heightened xenophobia, anti-immigrant rhetoric, and threats of mass deportations, we must create safe schools for students who are undocumented or come from families with mixed status.

In this webinar, immigration experts and advocates discuss which immigration laws, executive orders, and revoked memos are impacting students and families who are undocumented / mixed status and which measures school boards and schools can take to protect our students.

Panelists:

• Malou Chávez, Executive Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
• Kathy Mulkerin, Electoral Pipeline Manager at OneAmerica
• Angelica Alvarez, Director of Student and Family-Centered Improvement Initiatives at the Puget Sound Educational Service District
• Abby Chien, Associate Director of Strategy and Partnerships at the Washington Student Achievement Council

Upcoming LEVinar: Special Education in Washington state - tentatively rescheduled to March 27

Special education is a primary focus in the 2025 Washington state Legislative Session.

In our free webinar tentatively rescheduled to Thursday, March 27 at 12:30 pm, Dr. Tania May, Washington state Assistant Superintendent of Special Education Services, will share an overview of special education in Washington state focusing on inclusionary practices and mental health supports, and will discuss legislation currently being considered in Olympia.

Presented in partnership with the Investing in Student Potential coalition – Designing systems to give every learner what they need, when they need it.