Lunchtime LEVinars
Welcome to Lunchtime LEVinars, free, interactive, online webinars on important and timely issues hosted by the League of Education Voters (LEV). These lunchtime webinars are designed to share information and build knowledge about the issues at the core of LEV’s policy priorities.
LEV will host each 30 to 60-minute webinar, which will include a 20–30 minute presentation by an expert from the field and 10 minutes of Q&A. Each webinar will be recorded and archived on our website.
Most Recent LEVinar
What to Expect in the 2026 Washington state Legislative Session
The budget deficits Washington state is facing, in addition to the uncertainty of federal funding in the coming years, could devastate many programs and services critical to the well-being of our students. In the 2026 legislative session, we must prioritize student needs by ensuring equitable access to essential school supports, such as mental health resources, special education services, and postsecondary opportunities. Students who identify as BIPOC, students with disabilities, students who are multilingual learners, students experiencing homelessness, and others historically marginalized by school systems face the greatest risks and bear the deepest burdens of inequities caused by funding shortfalls.
In this free webinar, League of Education Voters Chief Policy Officer Jacob Vela and government relations consultant Carey Morris, along with LEV partners, give an overview of the 2026 legislative landscape, outline priorities for the 2026 legislative session, and answer your questions.
Meet the Panelists:
- Paree Raval, a senior at Sammamish High School in the Bellevue School District and Director of the Office of Public Affairs at the Washington state Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC)
- Ananya Swaminathan, a senior at Redmond High School in the Lake Washington School District and a member of LYAC
- Aaron Yared, Director of Policy & Advocacy at Building Changes
- Andrea Kadlec, Attorney at Disability Rights Washington
- Fernando Mejia Ledesma, Campaign Director at Communities for Our Colleges
- Ruben Flores, Executive Director of the Washington State Council of Presidents
- Dr. Soleil Boyd, Executive Director of Children’s Alliance
- Dr. Terri Standish-Kuon, President & CEO at Independent Colleges of Washington
Moderated by Arik Korman, CEO of League of Education Voters.
Watch Now (captioning is available)
Bills mentioned:
- House Bill 1137
- House Bill 1195
- House Bill 1795
- House Bill 1834
- House Bill 2098
- House Bill 2132
- Senate Bill 5708
- Senate Bill 5828
- Senate Bill 5906
Events mentioned:
Information shared:
- Homeless Student Stability Education Program
- Washington Thriving
- Coalition to End Isolation and Reduce Restraint
- Restore funding to the WA Grant and College Bound
Upcoming LEVinar
Washington Thriving: Supporting Child, Youth, and Young Adult Behavioral Health
Washington’s young people are facing growing behavioral health needs, and leaders across the state are working together to build a more coordinated, equitable system of support. Washington Thriving is our state’s new strategic plan for developing a Prenatal to 25 strategic plan for well-being that centers lived experience and outlines a statewide roadmap to improve behavioral health for children, youth, young adults, and their families.
This free webinar features Washington state Representative Lisa Callan (D-5), Sarah Rafton, Policy & Advocacy Director at Behavioral Health Catalyst, and students from across Washington state. Together, they will discuss the challenges young people face, key elements of the Washington Thriving plan, and House Bill 2429, which would help implement the plan by establishing statewide coordination, creating a leadership council, and aligning behavioral health efforts across agencies.
Join us to learn how Washington can strengthen behavioral health supports from before birth through age 25 — and how community members, policymakers, and youth can help shape a healthier future for all.
Meet our student panelists:
- Mason Grose, a student at Toutle Lake High School in the Toutle Lake School District and a member of the Association of Washington Student Leaders (AWSL)
- Katelyn Cockrum, a student at Monroe High School in the Monroe School District and a member of AWSL
- Maya Morgan, a student at Shorewood High School in Shoreline Public Schools and a member of AWSL
Moderated by League of Education Voters CEO Arik Korman.
Spanish interpretation and English closed captioning will be available.
Monday, February 23, 2026
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Register Now
Previous LEVinars
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