education funding
WA Board of Education sets its priorities for next legislative session
The Washington State Board of Education on Wednesday adopted a legislative platform that prioritizes funding for equity initiatives and special education. While the platform does not promote specific bills or budget requests for the upcoming legislative session starting January 2024, some priorities are connected to bills that the board believes will be up for consideration. […]
WA Supreme Court says state isn’t responsible for 100% of school construction costs
The Washington Supreme Court ruled Thursday the state is not required to fully cover school construction costs, dealing a blow to districts unable to raise the local tax dollars they need for new buildings and other facility upgrades. In its unanimous decision, the court said Washington’s constitutional mandate for the state to amply fund basic […]
Lawmakers react to southwest Washington teacher strikes
About 2,000 teachers across Vancouver-area school districts began the school year on strike. State lawmakers wish this wasn’t the case. Republican Sen. Lynda Wilson of Vancouver pointed out that teacher strikes in Washington are illegal, which is true — although there aren’t really any penalties. Mercer Island Democrat Sen. Lisa Wellman, who chairs the chamber’s […]
State will keep fiscal tabs on three cash-starved Washington school districts
As students return to Washington classrooms, state education officials are closely monitoring how three cash-strapped public school districts are spending money. Marysville, La Conner and Mount Baker districts, all located in western Washington and part of Northwest Educational Service District 189, are in this position because they are beginning the school year without a balanced […]
State rakes in nearly $850M from capital gains tax
A new capital gains tax is delivering huge dividends for the state. Washington hauled in nearly $850 million in first-year collections, which is more than triple the amount lawmakers counted on when they passed a new budget in April. The unexpected first-year bounty will be poured into early learning and child care programs, and school […]