Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State School Funding Updates

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State School Funding Updates:

Washington State School Funding Updates

Here's the latest.

The GOP-majority Senate passed their budget plan, SB 5875, two days ago after many hours of debate with the vote coming in the middle of the night.  It passed 25-24.  

In terms of fulfilling McCleary, here are their main points:

- no new revenue.  The Republicans find the money to fund public education by cutting (some would say slash and burn) many different programs like the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program and early learning programs. It also does not fund the proposed Department of Children, Youth and Families that would consolidate programs for families in crisis.

- they end local levies that fund basic education and, instead, create a state property tax that would fund some of education spending.  (This would not end local levies for other purposes.)  While all districts would see an increase, districts like Seattle would see fewer dollars in order to support districts in other parts of the state that are not "property-rich."

From Crosscut:

But Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, argued that numerous areas, especially in the Puget Sound area, would get hit with much higher property tax increases while others will see decreases. Inslee said that the GOP plan assumes King County residents are much wealthier than the rest of the state and can easily pay a disproportionate share of property taxes.

- it is unclear if this bill truly fully funds schools per the Supreme Court ruling.  It appears that it falls short by at least a couple of billion dollars.  

- they move from a proto-type school funding to per pupil funding.  I'll note right up front this is exactly what charter and Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State School Funding Updates: