Being a parent is nonstop hard work, which makes following all the news happening in the city, state, and U.S. decision-making circles challenging. Here are highlights of Washington political news for families from last week (June 9-15) and a hint at what’s up this week. I hope you will consider taking action – reaching out to those representing you and your family in Congress and state offices— on the issues that impact families in our state.
_______________________________________________________________
Seattle parents march in mass
There were a whole lot of kids, pregnant people, and babies in the crowd of 70,000 that marched from Capitol Hill to Seattle Center on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump and his dismantling of democracy as we know it. Standing on a street corner as the stream flowed by, I counted hundreds that fit into one of those categories: baby, pregnant, or kid. That’s saying something, given Trump’s deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles to quell protests against the detaining of non-citizen immigrants. Parents here get what’s at stake. The deployment of soldiers on U.S. soil was the first in 60 years and was deemed illegal in court. California Gov. Gavin Newsom did not request the troops. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the president’s move a politically motivated, unnecessary, and dangerous escalation. One parent carried a sign that said it all — and explained why so many families joined the protest: “Because it will happen here too.”
That’s precisely what Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is worried about.
“It’s deeply disturbing,“ Ferguson said of the California military deployment. “He’s escalating the situation; it’s resulting in more violence because of the president’s calling in the National Guard over the governor’s objection, and that’s exactly what Donald Trump wants. My job as governor is to make sure we’re as prepared as we possibly can be here.”
Last Tuesday, Ferguson met with the state’s top military leader to discuss a plan in the case of a similar order to send military troops to Washington state.
As a parent, I was hopeful by the presence of so many families in Saturday’s peaceful “No Kings“ protest. Seattle has historically been a protesting town – over immigration, policing, climate, and recently over LGBTQ+ counter-protests against provocative Christian National statements. Under Trump, our children could be exposed to military presence in places where they live, study, and gather. And the president’s maneuver raises serious concerns for immigrant families. Many children in Seattle have classmates whose families could be targeted if Trump’s immigration crackdown escalates alongside troop deployments.
Beyond the immediate safety risks, normalizing military force on U.S. streets will change how our kids grow up understanding democracy, dissent, and civic life. What they see now will shape their view of government power for decades to come. This isn’t just about Los Angeles. It’s about whether force becomes the new default response to political conflict, even in our neighborhoods.
Kudos to all the marching parents and kids. Keep marching.
Take action: Contact and push on your state and congressional representatives and tell them your opinion on military deployments against Washington residents. Check out the full story on Gov. Ferguson’s preparations at the Washington State Standard.
Seattle School Board wants to hear from parents
The Seattle School Board is inviting input about what they should look for in a new superintendent to replace Superintendent Brent Jones when he leaves the office on Sept. 3.
The board is using the search firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates (HYA) to help find Jones’ replacement. This month, the board will host online and in-person meetings so the public can weigh in on the new superintendent’s profile and selection process.
Take action: The following community meetings will have interpreters and are open to anyone. Here is the current schedule:
- Monday, June 16, 6 p.m., online, Mandarin Chinese
- Tuesday, June 17, 6 p.m., online, Amharic
- Friday, June 20, 6 p.m., in person, Franklin High School, 3013 Mount Baker Blvd.
- Saturday, June 21, 3 p.m., in person, Cleveland High School, 5511 15th Ave.
- Thursday, June 26, 6 p.m., online, Spanish
- Thursday, June 26, 7:15 p.m., online, Somali
- Friday, June 27, 6 p.m., online
- Friday, June 27, 7:15 p.m., online, Vietnamese
- Saturday, June 28, 10 a.m., online
NOTE: Focus groups will be scheduled to gather input from those who use American Sign Language or who are part of the Indian Parent Advisory Committee and Equity and Race Advisory Committee. Can’t attend a meeting? Just fill out the district’s online survey by June 30.
Washington slips in education ranking
The K-12 education system in Washington state dropped some in national ranking, according to a report released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation on Monday.
Ten years ago, Washington was ranked 20th out of 50 states. The state dropped to 26th last year, but this year, it slipped further to 27th.
According to the new report, more than two-thirds of Washington’s 4th graders did not meet reading standards last year, and 70% of 8th graders did not reach the “proficient” level in math. Those numbers are close to the national average, but they bring the state back to where it stood in 2022.
However, Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal’s office has had issues with the report findings, according to a report in the Washington State Standard. The office questions the use of National Assessment of Educational Progress data in coming up with the rankings and said that state data shows “robust” improvement in math and reading scores since the pandemic caused those scores to plummet.
“Our performance in reading is strong, and OSPI and Superintendent Reykdal understand the need for increased focus on and funding for mathematics, particularly in late elementary and middle school,” spokesperson Katie Hannig said in an email to the Standard on Monday. “This is one of the superintendent’s top priorities moving forward.” Read the full story.
It’s needed. Still, I feel sad about it
Graduation day should be a carefree day of celebration and freedom, and I am sure seniors throughout Seattle have felt and will feel those things as their ceremonies continue this month at Seattle’s Memorial Stadium. So far, about half of the schools have had ceremonies, and the other half will happen this week.
But can I express for the record the sadness I feel about the fact that in order to attend Seattle Public Schools ceremonies, graduates and their loved ones will need to pass through security, including metal detection devices? They’ll also pass by Seattle police officers who will be on hand to provide additional protection. Thinking of getting your teen a “You Did It!” balloon? Don’t. They aren’t allowed.
I get it. Our city has seen its share of youth violence, and shootings in large crowds now seem ubiquitous around the country. Why take any chances?
It’s just a terrible shame that Seattle Public Schools and other districts around the state must institute such measures to keep their communities safe.
So, no bouncing their congratulations above the crowds, no Pop-Its, no confetti devices. Further, you won’t be able to go in and out of the stadium. Congratulations, Class of 2025, and welcome to one of this era’s sad realities.
Save Seattle’s popular outdoor learning program
Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss stood up for kids last week and pushed the Seattle City Council to fully fund the city’s renowned Environmental Education and Outdoor Learning program. Last year, the program’s 93 volunteers provided environmental education to 5,385 students from 65 schools, many of which had low resources. Next year, thousands of kids could lose access to the program due to budget cuts.
Instead, Strauss proposed a budget amendment to preserve program funding through the Every Child Ready Initiative.
“A recent poll found that Seattleites say our access to the outdoors is one of the best parts about living in our city. It’s part of what sets Seattle apart. We can save our city’s renowned environmental education program for a relatively small investment and ensure it will serve our kids and families for years. Building strong connections between our kids and their natural environment is priceless. Our kids are worth it,” said Councilmember Strauss.
Strauss’s idea drew support.
“As a former stay-at-home dad, our family has benefited from the Environmental Education and Outdoor Learning Programs,” Councilmember Bob Kettle said. “I know how important these programs are to kids and families all over the city, and it’s a good way to get our kids out into nature, to understand how beautiful and fragile the ecosystem around us is, and why it’s important to protect it.”
Strauss’s amendment was approved by the full council on June 12. The next move will come from voters. The Every Child Ready Initiative will be on the November ballot. Make your voice heard by voting.
Dear President: We need more docs, not fewer
I read with interest last week’s coverage in the New York Times of proposed federal cuts to student loans for aspiring doctors. If you’re raising kids, brace yourself. Under President Trump’s proposed policy bill, finding a doctor, especially a pediatrician, could get much harder.
The bill guts federal loan programs that thousands of future doctors depend on to complete medical school. Starting in 2026, students would face a cap of $150,000 in federal loans, far short of the nearly $300,000 it costs to become a physician. If they qualify, many students would be forced into the risky private loan market to complete their training.
That means fewer students will try, especially students from lower-income families or underrepresented communities, who are already less likely to pursue medicine. For families, it means longer waits for appointments, fewer pediatricians, and more kids falling through the cracks.
The country and Washington are already facing a doctor shortage. The research group Cicero Institute predicts the state will be more than 6,000 doctors short by 2030, and according to Cornell University, pediatricians’ residencies are decreasing. Yet Trump’s policy bill cuts funds for training at 59 children’s hospitals—places that produce over half the country’s pediatricians. Seattle Children’s Hospital is one of the 59 pediatric hospitals that would lose federal Graduate Medical Education (GME) funding under the proposed cuts.
Communities in Washington can’t afford fewer providers. The policy passed the U.S. House of Representatives last month and will go to the Senate for consideration soon. It is a family health crisis waiting to happen. Fewer doctors mean delayed diagnoses, untreated chronic conditions, and overwhelmed emergency rooms.
We should be making it easier to become a doctor, especially one who will serve children and communities in need. This bill locks the door to the profession for all but the wealthiest, and our kids will be the ones left waiting.
Take action: Contact your congressional representatives and tell them your opinion on cutting loans that ensure doctors of all walks can afford training, especially those interested in serving kids.
Check out the full story on this issue in The New York Times.
Let’s hear it for a good idea.
With news of the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes by ensuring private insurers cover childbirth at no cost to the mom.
