Senate Page Program Frequently Asked Questions
Application Process
Q. When may I submit my application?
A. Applications open on November 1st for the following year's session. Since we are not able to accommodate all rescheduling requests, please submit your application once you know your activity schedule for the school year. You may note weeks you are unavailable on the application. Applications should be submitted no later than five weeks before the end of the legislative session.
Q. Who is my senator?
A. There are several ways to find the senator who represents your legislative district. Find out online at:
http://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/ or call the Legislative Information Center Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.
Q. If I have paged before, in either the Senate or House of Representatives, will I be allowed to page again for the Senate?
A. No. We have a waiting list of students hoping to be accepted into the Page Program. For this reason, the Senate does not accept applications from students who have paged previously in either the Senate or House of Representatives.
Q. What requirements do I need to meet to participate?
A. In order to serve as a page you need parent/guardian permission, a recommendation from a teacher and your principal, sponsorship from your Senator, and to be 14-16 years old. In order to receive the stipend of $65 per day you are required to provide a copy of your Social Security card.
Q. Can I participate if I do not have a Social Security card?
A. Yes! If you do not have a Social Security card you are still able to serve as a page while foregoing the daily stipend.
Q. If I have a disability will I be able to page?
A. Yes! The Washington State Senate is committed to making legislative activities and facilities accessible to all people. To meet this goal, the Legislature has taken steps to ensure that individuals with disabilities or mobility restrictions have full access to legislative activities, programs, and services. In order to ensure you have the accommodations you need, please call the Senate page Program before you arrive for your week of paging.
Q. When will I find out if I have been accepted?
A. The paging schedule is set four weeks in advance of the page's arrival date. An information packet is mailed at that time. The packet includes an acceptance letter, with date of page assignment, and other pertinent information. Everything you need to know to prepare for paging is addressed in the information packet.
Q. If something unexpected comes up and I have to cancel, may I reschedule?
A. Maybe.
It is very important that you let us know on your page application what weeks you are not available. We are frequently asked to reschedule students due to conflicts with sports activities, final exams, family obligations, etc. It may not be possible to accommodate these requests. Please do your best to anticipate any scheduling conflicts and specify weeks you
cannot page on the application.
Housing, Transportation, and Clothing
Q. How do I get to the Capitol? Where do I park?
A. Parking information can be found at www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Parking.aspx. The physical address of the Capitol building is 416 14th Avenue SW, Olympia, WA 98504. This information will be provided in detail in the information packet mailed to you prior to paging.
Q. I don't live close enough to the Capitol to commute. Where can I stay and how much will it cost?
A. The Senate maintains a list of local families who host pages. This list includes specific information about charges and accommodations. Charges for housing can range between $200and $275 for a 5-day week, which includes breakfast, lunch, and transportation to and from the Capitol each day. The housing list will be included in your information packet. Housing arrangements are your responsibility and is not organized by the Senate. Pages are also welcome to stay with friends, family, or in a hotel in the Olympia area.
Q. What if I cannot afford to pay for housing, clothing, and meals while paging away from home?
A. If you need financial assistance to be a Senate page, please go to the Gina Grant Bull Scholarship page.
Q. Do I need to buy new clothes for paging?
A. No. Pages are required to wear clean and pressed black slacks, a white blouse or shirt and black shoes (all black tennis shoes are acceptable). Make sure shoes are comfortable as you will spend much of your time on your feet. Senate rules require that men wear ties on the Senate floor. Ties are optional for other pages. Girls are not allowed to wear skirts.
Serving as a Page
Q. I would like to find out more about the page program and what to expect before I come to the Capitol. Where can I get this information?
A. You will receive a packet of information with your letter of acceptance. This packet will include a page handbook, a page housing list and other pertinent information. If, after reading this information thoroughly, you have questions, please call or e-mail one of the people on the contact list on the back page of the handbook or on this website under
Page Program Contacts.
Q.
What do pages do?
A. Pages perform a variety of tasks including making deliveries to Senate offices, going on errands, assisting offices, presenting the colors at the opening of each day's session, and working in the Senate chambers. Pages will spend two hours a day in Page School learning about the legislative process.
Q. What days and hours will I work?
A. page work Monday-Friday. You will be required to attend a 2-hour orientation the Sunday before you are scheduled to begin paging. The page work day begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 4:50 p.m.
Q. How much and when will I be paid?
A. Pages are paid $65 for each day worked
(Monday through Friday). You will receive a check in the mail approximately two weeks after paging.
Q. What do I do if I have a problem?
A. We hope your time as a Senate page will be one of the best experiences of your life. The Page Supervisors, Page School Teachers and Page Dispatchers are here to help you. No problem is too big or too small. Please let the page supervisor know if a problem exists so they can help resolve it.
Learning about the Legislature
Q. How can I learn more about the Washington State Capitol and the places I will be seeing while I’m a page?
A. To learn more about the Capitol and campus you can take a
virtual tour or use the
campus interactive map.
Q. How can I learn more about the Washington State Legislature?
A. The Washington State Legislature's website www.leg.wa.gov is an excellent resource for information about the Legislature. You can find information on your senator, the legislative session, and bills going through the legislative process.