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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. Fully fund the laws in practice, or change the laws—ed reform arrives via all vehicles. The FWS 2009 Guiding Principles K-12 Finance: 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. Advocacy Works — inform and support policymakers as they debate ed funding issues. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Current Events Now: November election season begins in earnest — many seats contested — more Election Resources here! July: Recent new resources - · WA SBE Core Standards website — http://www.corestandards.org/ · Principal leadership demonstrates increased student learning — Wallace Fndnt Report Apr 13: 2010 Legislative Session closes, budget settled (K-12 sections 501-517, p. 181-233) —schools can determine impacts on their 2010-11 budget. LEV’s Bill-to-Budget Chart. WSPTA’s summary of impacts on K-12 education. Seattle times article, Seattle PI article, Tacoma News Tribune article, Our sincere gratitude to the Washington Legislature for their dedication throughout this difficult Session—thank you! A special call out to Senators Tom, King, Kauffman ,McAuliffe, & Oemig, and to Reps. Hunter, Dammeier, Goodman, Maxwell, Priest, and Sullivan — all leaders on core education legislation! Mar 30: Gov. Gregoire signs 2010 education bills—Seattle Times recap, Seattle PI Is it enough?, Tacoma News Tribune. Feb 17: Recent articles: Court prompts an conversation about ed funding; Washington should lead on teacher and principal evaluation; Widespread support of school levies will have multiple impacts on Clark County. Feb. 04: Milestone News! Judge John 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. More at Network for Excellence in Washington Schools (NEWS) Trial. More news articles on the verdict. Jan 14: OSPI School District Data from ‘08-09 now available: specific reports include Funding per Pupil per District (9 pg PDF, avail. as Excel also plus a re-sort showing District ranking), Statewide Average Financial Tables and Charts (13 pg PDF) and State Summary School District Financial Reports (42 pg PDF); QEC’s Final Initial ESHB 2261 Report. Nov. 12: 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. Archive of past Current Events & Breaking News Present Activity: Education Reform Bill #2261 becomes law, in-progress to implement 2010-11 The K-12 Education Funding Reform Bill of 2009, of the decade, ESHB 2261, became law in May 2009— 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, with much of the work still to be done by the bill’s work groups, particularly in the areas of finding an adequate funding source for implementation and the evolution of teacher compensation / career professionalization. · 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. · State Board of Education Accountability System proposal and timeline to the legislature for implementation. · 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: Governor Gregoire signed ESHB 2261 into law (Governor exercised her right to veto two bill sections). Apr. 20: Bill ESHB 2261 as passed by Legislature; and Governor Gregoire’s Veto Message (Go to more info). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - More background info on the transformation of education reform in WA State is available at 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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19% of WA 9th graders ultimately earn a college degree…. |
