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Funding Washington Schools

Our Schools, Our Students — Our Choices for Funding Their Futures

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.

Rising costs and declining State funds have strained our local schools to the breaking point!

All Washingtonians are impacted by the chronic funding issues eroding public education,

and the erosion of opportunities for Washington students.

FWS is a neutral depot of K-12 finance history & resources, but with a premise: schools are underfunded.

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The FWS Guiding Principles

¨ 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

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Homepage has current news and links to a timeline of WA education reform events.

Site tabs at the top of the page link to many resources and pages.

C u r r e n t E v e n t s 2 0 1 3: For updates on legislation and reform news, see What’s New links above.

May 08: The Columbian article - Fixing levy system tougher than finding $1B for schools.

May 05: Seattle Times - State teachers union flexing sizable political muscle again.

Apr 29: WA Legislature ends Session sine die - will return for Special Session May 13th.

Apr 12: Explore WA State’s Fiscal Omnibus Info on K-12 budget and other catagories - click & learn.

Apr 11: Washington Wire: House Dems Come Up With Biggest-Spending Budget Plan Yet – Can You Say Special Session?

House releases 2013-15 Budget; Crosscut: House Democratic budget emphasizes education;

Seattle Times: State House Democrats propose raising $1.3 billion through taxes.

Rep. Hunter: Senate Budget – Unconstitutional Fund Transfer?

Apr 05: Senate passes 2013-15 Operating Budget bill ESSB 5034 - adds about $1 billion to education / McCleary.

McCleary Slideshow and Board Resolution resources circulated in Seattle by PTA member H. Bennett.

May 31: Clear synoposis of key current WA ed funding budget tradeoff choices, by WSPTA’s Ramona Hattendorf.

Mar 28: Gov. Inslee releases his 2013-14 Budget Priorities - $1.26 billion for basic education and enhancements.

Mar 16: 2013 Wa State Fiscal Information: School District financial data - review stats per school district.

March articles: 21st - Seattle Times - “How would you balance the state budget and fund education?”. 15th - Crosscut : “Legislature is running out of places to hide from school funding decisions”. 7th - Seattle Times: State Senate passes education policy bills; Lawmakers should support ed-reform bills. 5th - Seattle Times Op-ed: Funding education in Washington state requires more taxes. 02/28 - Seattle Times “State Supreme Court throws out two-thirds vote to raise taxes”.

Archives: Current Events of 2012-13, includes context for 2013-15 education budget

H i s t o r y: Education Reform Bill #2261 became law in 2009, is in-progress to implement by 2018+

Jul 18: Washington Supreme Court gives another win for basic education! Seattle Time article. Coalition to critique reports.

Jan 05, 2011: 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; Court will retain jurisdiction to ensure Legislature funds ESHB 2261 and SHB 2776 reforms! But the court did not require the Legislature to take specific action, ordering instead the State to periodically update the Court; Seattle Times article; NEWS’ statement; WSSDA recap.

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 K-12 education.

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 this case.

May 20, 2009: Governor Gregoire signed ESHB 2261 into law, the K-12 Education Funding Reform Bill of the decade; bill marks the first major change to the definition of Basic Education in over 30 years. Bill components to be implemented in stages (primary oversight committee is the Quality Education Council (QEC) - no funding amounts or sources are identified or tied to bill 2261.

· Outline of 2261 & Work Group Chart as passed by Leg. & signed by Gov. - by LEV / George Scarola

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.

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Archives: 1) Current Events back to Jan. 2009 includes impacts on K-12 by biennial budgets

2) Archive of Event History in 2008

More context for the evolution of ongoing 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 .