Private School Days at the Puyallup Fair
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The WFIS eMemo is a publication of
Washington Federation of Independent Schools
P. O. Box 449
DuPont, WA 98327
253.912.WFIS(9347)
Judy Jennings
Executive Director
Jan L. Morrison
Assistant to the Director
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The Washington Federation of Independent Schools (WFIS) is the umbrella organization for private education in Washington State. With seventy percent of the independent student population enrolled in member schools, WFIS is the only statewide vehicle for regular communication and strategic development between the many different constituencies. WFIS schools are affiliates of the Catholic dioceses in the state; the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI); the Christian Schools International (CSI); Lutheran Schools; Montessori schools; the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS); the Seventh-day Adventist Schools (SDA); and numerous other religious and independent institutions, including the Waldorf Schools, Hutterian Brethren, and those institutions with sponsorship within the Jewish and Islamic communities. The WFIS Board of Directors consists of eighteen school heads representing the major constituencies chosen regionally by their respective bodies. WFIS is networked with similar organizations in other states through the Council for American Private Education (CAPE).
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Welcome to the end of another school year. You love knowing the end is near, but, most likely, the pace has accelerated to mind boggling proportions. Yet, as you are diligently working to close school and prepare for the next school year, I am asking you to pause, before closing down for the school year, and renew your WFIS membership.
Through WFIS, private schools are given the capacity to influence, challenge, redirect, and support issues central to their uniqueness. The federation exists to serve the needs of private schools.
The Washington Federation of Independent Schools is the recognized voice for all private schools in Washington State - it is your watchdog and advocate on both the state and national levels. WFIS advocates for ALL private schools in the State Legislature, OSPI and State Board of Education; we even work with the U.S. Department of Education.
Through WFIS, recommendations are made to the Governor's Office for various private school appointments on statewide committees. WFIS is also the appointing agency for all private school PEAB representatives to Washington's colleges and universities.
WFIS offers scholarship/grant information to member schools, as well as employee benefit packages, and the federation offers professional development to all private schools.
As you close school, please also take time to renew your membership in the federation for the coming year. In these challenging economic times, it is essential that our schools continue to have influence where critical decisions about finances, academic requirements, certifications, and regulations are made. The WFIS offers private schools a place at the table of discussion and decision-making in Washington State.
Go to www.wfis.org/member and enter your school code and e-mail address of record to update your account and print out your statement. If unsure of your access information, you may request it at the site or send a quick e-mail to jmorrison@wfis.org to expedite the proccess. (This message can easily be forwarded to your staff for processing!)
Please renew your membership before this fiscal year closes. Should you have any questions, check out the website at www.WFIS.org or call the WFIS office at 253.912.9347.
We are committed to serving and strengthening private schools in Washington State. It is your support that makes our advocacy on your behalf possible.
Sincerely,
Ron Taylor, Chair, WFIS Board of Directors
Superintendent, Bellevue Christian School
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The Bulletin Board
The 21st CCLC competitive grant RFP is now open and is due back to OSPI by June 30th at 5 p.m. The application will be available electronically via the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) iGrants system and you will be required to submit your application through the iGrants system.
Private schools requiring login credentials must contact the OSPI customer support at 1.800.725.4311.
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Puget Sound ESD and NCCE have partnered to offer the Digital Photography Bootcamp at the Pack Forest Conference Center, located near Mt. Rainier. This beautiful setting will be used for a fun and informative program that gives you a chance to learn how to use your digital camera to its potential in education (and for your personal use too).
Dates: June 29 (9:30am-7pm), June 30 (8:30am-7pm), and July 1 (8:30am-3pm)
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University of Washington Computer Science & Engineering is running a workshop this summer targeted at teachers of high school math, science and computer science, and we'd love to have you join us!
Dates: August 6-8
Cost: $30.00 (includes lunch)
The workshop's goal is to give teachers the knowledge and resources to incorporate computer science elements into their regular curricula, while giving them the opportunity to earn one university credit or 20 clock hours.
More details on how to apply can be found at http://cs4hs.cs.washington.edu/.
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Reminder: August 15 deadline to complete consultations and return information to OSPI for State Approved Private Schools schools that wish to participate in the use of activity funds to benefit teachers and administrators under the Title II Part A Teacher Principal Quality program, a federal program under No Child Left Behind.
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The June 2009 issue of CAPE Outlook, a monthly newsletter from the Council for American Private Education, is available for download as a free PDF document by clicking here or by entering the following URL in your browser: http://www.capenet.org/pdf/Outlook346.pdf
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Private school teachers are more satisfied than their public school counterparts with careers, classroom conditions, and school climate, according to a groundbreaking report released today by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. More
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Washington State Board of Education
Alliance for School Choice News:
(Washington, D.C., June 2, 2009)-More companies can now participate in Florida's popular parental choice program, thanks to a bill signed last night by Gov. Charlie Crist. The bill-which received strong bipartisan support in the Florida Senate and House-allows insurance companies to receive premium tax credits for making donations to nonprofits that help provide low-income students with scholarships to attend private schools. More
Washington, D.C. (May 28, 2009) - In a major victory for Arizona families, Governor Jan Brewer today signed "Lexie's Law," a $5 million corporate scholarship tax credit initiative designed to enhance educational opportunities for children with special needs and foster care students. More
(Washington, D.C., May 16, 2009)-In commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education, Alliance for School Choice Interim President John Schilling issued the following statement: More
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Membership Renewal Time is Here!
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