We had been so hopeful. These of us serving Washington public colleges eagerly anticipated Gov. Jay Inslee’s proposed 2024 supplemental price range, on the lookout for the promised “important” funding in training.
After we noticed his proposed price range, our hopes had been dashed. His proposal not solely doesn’t handle the large price range deficits dealing with Washington college districts now and sooner or later, however some initiatives would price us greater than the proposed funding.
The funding state of affairs for Okay-12 training is difficult, however there are affordable options that would really assist. In early December, we despatched a letter to all state legislators and the governor describing in easy phrases present funding points, impacts, and options, co-signed by college board and union leaders from 18 districts serving over 30% of state college students.
Principally, the massive price range deficits that the majority districts confronted final spring will proceed, not on account of mismanagement of funds, however quite to an out of date state funding method that by no means meets right this moment’s college students’ wants. The state is just not fulfilling its “paramount obligation” to totally fund public colleges.
Let’s study the governor’s budget, which proposes 10 operational initiatives totaling about $130.5 million. So as to add perspective, this statewide quantity would barely cowl the projected shortfall within the Seattle colleges alone. Solely three proposed initiatives have funding over $7 million, so let’s have a look at these.
1. Improve the hourly wage for paraeducators by $3/hour ($64 million):
What does this actually imply? Districts that don’t presently pay paraeducators on the proposed degree would want to make use of native levy moneys to provide equal pay to nonstate-funded paraeducators. Nearly all of us have employed much more paraeducators than the state funds. We’d like extra paraeducators than supplied by the present funding mannequin, and we want funding to provide all of them a residing wage. This proposal would price districts greater than we’d achieve.
2. Complement present federal funding for eligible colleges to offer free meals to college students ($30 million):
Whereas defraying some meals service prices, this might be minuscule by way of districts’ basic funds.
3. Improve the particular training funding cap from 15% to 17.25% ($17 million):
Most massive districts are at or under the present 15% cap. A rise may assist some to a small diploma, however the distinction is minimal in comparison with our wants. And, if our particular training share will increase, our expenditures improve quicker than revenues. The proposed price range doesn’t handle this extra expense.
These every sound good on the floor. However in reality, the governor’s proposed price range is akin to bringing a watering can to a blazing forest fireplace.
Fortunately, our state legislators resolve the ultimate price range. We implore them to help our Okay-12 college students by implementing two options:
· Within the brief time period, allocate at the least 44% of the $1.2B forecast state surplus (to be proportional to present Okay-12 funding within the state price range) within the 2024 state supplemental price range. Distribute the cash primarily based on scholar enrollment, permitting every district to make use of it to fulfill our personal college students’ wants. This strategy supplies about $500/scholar throughout the state, sufficient for many of us to keep away from extra large cuts on high of these made final spring. Whereas this doesn’t remedy the entire downside, it helps us get again on monitor. And with state surpluses forecast for the foreseeable future, this degree of supplemental funding ought to proceed till the state fixes the general funding mannequin.
· For a long-term answer, sponsor and/or help a invoice for a state process pressure to evaluate the present state of affairs, examine how different states fund Okay-12 training, and develop suggestions for a revised funding mannequin to amply meet our wants, now and into the long run.
The time is now for Washington to turn out to be a beacon for exemplary public training. Our future depends upon it.