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Funding Washington Schools |
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Our Schools, Our Students — Our Choices for Funding Their Futures |
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Why This Website? WA Schools Are In Crisis: a State problem playing out locally Welcome to FWS, a resource for learning how Washington State funds its K-12 public schools. All Washingtonians are impacted by the chronic funding issues eroding public education, and the opportunities for Washington students. A neutral repository of history and resources on K-12 finance, but with a premise: Washington's schools are underfunded Rising costs and declining State funds have strained our local schools to the breaking point: ¨ There is Opportunity for Solutions — ESHB 2261 education reform bill in progress since 2009 ¨ Advocacy Works — inform and support your policymakers as they debate ed funding issues - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This homepage list current news and offers links to a chronology of education reform events. C u r r e n t E v e n t s 2 0 1 2: For updates on legislation and reform news, see What’s New links above.
Apr 11: 2012 Legislature’s second Special Session comes to a close, Legislature adjourns sine die. Feb 03: NEW Ed-op on Spokane’s 2012 levy “To Be Fair, Parents and Schools Sometimes Treat Their Children Differently” by Barb Billinghurst. Jan 05, 2012: WA State Supreme Court issues decision on State's appeal of McCleary v. State ruling: Washington State is failing to meet its constitutionally paramount duty to fully fund K-12 education such that the Court will retain jurisdiction to ensure the Legislature will do so per ESHB 2261 and SHB 2776 reforms! But the court did not require the Legislature to otherwise take specific action, ordering instead the State to update the Court on how it is addressing the problem - TBD. See the full text of the Court’s decision (the Court’s findings are pages 2-4; historical context on pgs. 3-36; procedural history on 36-38; rationales of anaylsis on 38-76; Conclusion on 76-77); Seatlle Time article; the plaintiff NEWS’ statement; recap by WSSDA analyst. Dec 13: Gov. Gregoire announces her “Next Steps for Education Reform”, policies to put forward as legislation in the 2012 session, particularly to teacher and principal training, professional development and evaluation. Gov. Gregoire’s November press release & overview of supplemental budget cuts for the shortfall in 2011–13. Nov 21: Central WA’s KVEW TV does 3 episodes on Levy Equalization, Basic Ed and impacts on school districts: #1, #2, #3. Jul 12: Summation of 2011 Ed Legislation, from WSSDA - what passed into law, and what did not succeed to influence ed. Jul 12: Final report on local levy roles in K-12, by the Levy & Local Effort Assistance Technical Working Group (authorized by HB 2776 on K-12 Funding Distribution Formulas) - see key findings on page 2 of Executive Summary. Jun 16: Governor signs 2011-13 budget bills; $1.8 billion in ed cuts - WSSDA’s recap of impacts on education; 2011 ed bills. H I s t o r y: Education Reform Bill #2261 became law in 2009, is in-progress to implement by 2018+ Feb. 04, 2010: Milestone News! Judge Erlick ruled in NEWS' favor on all elements of lawsuit against the State. The court declared the State out of compliance with the Constitution and ordered the State to determine the actual cost of providing an ample education to all K-12 students and to determine a stable and reliable source of funding—the full Ruling doc. Nov. 12, 2009: The WA State Supreme Court overturns the King County Superior Court ruling brought 3 years ago by the Federal Way School District — cost-of-living inequity ruled constitutional: education reform lost out in the case. May 2009: The K-12 Education Funding Reform Bill of 2009, of the decade, ESHB 2261, became law — its various components are being implemented in stages by various work groups and committees (primary oversight committee is the Quality Education Council (QEC)). The bill marks the first major change to the definition of Basic Education in over 30 years. · Quality Education Council (QEC) panel— all the QEC meeting docs; link to QEC members’ Web sites. · K-12 Funding Formula Technical Working Group recs on funding formulas, schedule and funding sources. · Department of Early Learning to develop a proposal to phase in a program of early learning for all children. · Outline of 2261 & Work Group Chart as passed by Leg. & signed by Gov. - by LEV / George Scarola May 20, 2009: Governor Gregoire signed ESHB 2261 into law (Governor exercised her right to veto two bill sections). Apr. 20, 2009: Bill ESHB 2261 as passed by Legislature; and Governor Gregoire’s Veto Message (Go to more info). Jan 14, 2009: Final Report of the Joint Task Force on Basic Education Finance - key findings on the definition of Basic Ed and funding formulae in the committee report to the Legislature as directed by SB 5627 in the 2007 Legislature. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Archives: 1) Current Events back to Jan. 2009 includes impacts on K-12 of the 2011-13 budget 2) Archive of Event History in 2008 Additional context for the evolution of current education reform in WA: ESHB 2261—2009’s Education Reform Bill, the History of Funding K-12, the Basic Ed Finance Joint Task Force, more Basic Ed Finance Topics, and the Basic Ed Finance Docs . |
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"It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders...." WA State Constitution
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Understand the consequences of underfunded K-12 students |
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Education Advocate Organizations in Washington State Children's Alliance - Fund Our Future WA - League of Education Voters - Network Excel. WA Schools - Stand For Children - WA State PTA |
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