What does it mean to be a member?
Our members are our strength, we are parents, teachers, grandparents, caregivers, business leaders and community members, and we stand together as effective advocates for better schools and better results for all our kids.
Members believe in Stand for Children's mission and in What We Stand For, and work together at the state, district and school levels to make sure all our kids have access to an excellent education that will prepare them for success in school and in life.
What does membership mean for you?
- Better schools and a brighter future for your kids and all Washington kids. All kids deserve a high-quality education -- as a member, you will be making a real difference in the everyday lives of students across Washington state. Your advocacy means that students like Tasia from Tacoma have the support, inspiration and opportunity to achieve more.
"I want every kid to know that their circumstances shouldn’t stop them, that they are capable and smart. Education is a way out of living in poverty and I want to be a voice for people who need to be heard," says Tasia.
- Information. Education policy can be confusing, but we'll help make it understandable. We host tele-town halls where you can ask questions, learn about state policies, and talk about what's going on in your schools. Stand will keep you informed with regular updates on issues that matter to you, and our action alerts make sure that your advocacy happens at the right time to have the greatest effect.
- Community. Build connections and lasting networks with people in your community and statewide who care about improving education and who will support better schools now and in the future. Join us at our Member Summit or Legislative Kickoff for policy discussions and trainings on how to be a more effective advocate.
"What Stand has done for me personally is give me access not only to information, but to people," says Erin from Seattle, a parent and former teacher. "I knew nothing of the political process before joining Stand, and in just two short years, came to understand it well and realize that I really could affect change."
- Skills. Our goal is to empower you to create change. Learn how to be an effective advocate for children, including how to be involved with your child's school and teachers, and how to organize, lobby, testify, and respond to media.
- Credibility & Support. We Stand with you, support you, empower you, and will help you take an active role in your children's schools and in creating change at all levels. Whether the action is to testify at a school board meeting or legislative hearing, reach out to other parents or sign a petition, write a letter to the editor or leave a comment on a news story, or host a house party or town hall, you will have the tools you need to get results.
"We have to do a better job preparing students for the future," says Lindy from Spokane, a parent, grandparent and volunteer. "We don't need any more excuses."
Join us to challenge the status quo and change the odds for Washington students.
Sign up as a member, and make a small donation of $15, $30, $60, or whatever you can afford, and receive our free Electoral Guide for Parents, with details on how school board works, how the state legislature works, why elections matter and what you can do as a parent to influence state and local education policies.
The next step: Leadership
After becoming a member, you can increase your committment to better schools by becoming a Stand Leader.
- Vote on policy direction. Leaders have the opportunity to define and direct Stand’s state policy priorities and our local grassroots efforts, who we endorse in elections and our legislative agenda.
- Access. Leaders have direct access to staff and to each other through an email listserv and regular tele-town halls with our Policy Director, our Communications Director, our Lobbyist and our Executive Director.
"What I realized is that this is an organization that is making a difference for kids, so I can’t afford to not be involved," says Jody from Issaquah, and parent and PTA member. "Stand for Children is the organization that is making change and that legislators are listening to. If you want to be a part of making true change for education and for all our kids, then you want to be a part of Stand."
- Training. When a Leader wants us to come to their local community, whether that's Spokane, Vancouver, Yakima or anywhere else in Washington state, we will be there. Leaders are responsible for gathering the crowd, and we will provide training and toolkits on how to be a more effective advocate including contacting lawmakers, testifying, organizing and working with the media.
In exchange for advanced access, training and a vote on our statewide policy priorities, we ask that Leaders donate to Stand for Children Washington and pledge to organize at least 10 of their friends into Stand supporters and members.
Membership is the first step in becoming a leader for Washington's kids.
Learn more
Look over our accomplishments, who we are and how we're funded, and then join us to make a difference for all our kids.
