PACIFIC NORTHWEST MONTESSORI ASSOCIATION
~ Uniting Our Voices for Montessori Education ~
Our mission is to encourage, support, and advocate for excellent Montessori education. We bring Montessori professionals together regardless of their training background. With a common voice we advocate for the expansion and future of Montessori education. We provide meaningful communication and networking to our members. We provide high quality continuing education events and connect members to other professional development opportunities.
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OUR MISSION
The mission of the Pacific Northwest Montessori Association is to encourage, support and advocate for excellent Montessori education, as well as unite Montessori communities throughout the Pacific Northwest.
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S-H BILL 1128PNMA Voices for WA State Policy - URGENT Our School based leadership is called upon to speak to the 2SHB 1128 bill to create a Child Care Work Force Standards Board. PNMA in partnership with WFIS urges a NO vote on this bill: https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1128-S2.pdf URGENT: Speak to this bill while in committee before their session on FRIDAY, February 20! Contact your legislator. Here is a link to the Senate summary page for your comments and to contact your legislator: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1128&Year=2025&Initiative=false Montessori educators and centers have standards that support the connections of our teachers, staff and families and are regulated among all other child care in the state. Our teacher training and growth in our endeavors would be impacted by another more invasive process. The 1128 bill passed the House and is now in the Senate. Passage would mean a new oversight board directly influenced by the SEIU 925 child care union to investigate child care hiring and training practices across WA and in "certain occupations and geographic areas" (not specified) By implying pervasive low pay and poor working conditions and a "fissured nature" (not defined) of our profession, this bill seeks to overlap responsibilities of DCYF and L&I and duplicate work of current collaborative groups such as ELAC, Provider Supports, and the Early Learning Design Team. SEIU 925, with state employees & family home child care members, is defined as the organization that recommends several seats on the board and would influence the investigation of provider qualifications, training and hiring decisions. Their findings and recommendations would be made public through DCYF and L&I. The language of this bill paints with a broad brush across the whole field of child care in WA state and leaves room for unlimited influence on our practices. Please read the bill and help us voice our opposition. Thank you for all you do to promote Montessori education and provide quality programming for children and their families in WA State. Dee Hirsch, PNMA President |
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