Public school funding issue far from being settled
OLYMPIA — Classes begin this week for most of Washington’s 1.2 million public school students amid continued sparring on whether the state will be providing enough money to cover the cost.
Legislators insist the school funding law they passed in June increases the flow of dollars to districts and, in a couple of years, ensures the state is paying the full freight of a basic education for all students as demanded by the Washington Supreme Court.
But Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal is convinced the state’s plan isn’t providing enough money for special education and he is prepared to break the new law to force a change.
Reykdal said he will let school districts continue using local property tax levies to pay for this component of basic education knowing it’s a practice lawmakers and justices want to end. He argues it’s the only way to ensure districts can comply with federal requirements governing special education.
“You are stuck in an almost impossible situation,” he said in a letter sent to superintendents Friday. “I/we cannot forsake federal law in an attempt to meet state law. Where you clearly make the case that you have no reasonable choice but to use local levy proceeds, I will approve those levy plans.”
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