Fund SPS

Hello wonderful fellow advocates,

What a journey this Legislative Session! The dust is still settling, especially on the Millionaire's Tax, but what we do know is that our fight for our children’s education is far from over. We live in tumultuous times, but our continued collective action does make a difference, however slow and small it may seem now.

Within these tumultuous times comes a State Legislature that faced difficult choices this session and a state budget that once again does not perform Washington’s paramount duty enshrined in Article IX of our state constitution to, “make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex.”. Education funding took a back seat to broader social programs even with the passing of a 9.9% tax on income over $1million. Our children deserve a fully funded education and yet school districts around the state are still struggling. This isn’t bad school management, it is systemic and detrimental to the future of our children and Washington. Schools in Seattle and our own community at Fund SPS are facing trying circumstances; Fund SPS will be stepping back due to our own community’s shifting budget priorities.

We are proud of the connections we've forged within Seattle and around the state. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey, there are too many to name them all, but thank you to the mighty crew of the North Beach Elementary community, All Together for Seattle Schools, the Washington State PTA, Billion Dollar Bake Sale, and the many, many schools we’ve spoken to across the state. Meeting and collaborating with fellow advocates has been a true joy. Our shared unity for all of Washington’s children is strong. It is our hope that we can continue these connections in the next phase of our journey.

We deeply appreciate sharing your voices for education funding and learning with us. Please stay engaged and connected! Our strength comes from our collective desire to invest in the future of Washington and our children.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for being part of our journey!
Stay in touch.

It's the final week of the Legislative Session and education funding continues to march away from progress. Let's stay alert and keep advocating for our children.

Read the fullest here or in the link tree in our bio: https://www.wastatepta.org/week-8-its-the-final-countdown/

Form the WSPTA Legislative Blog: Funding cuts

Instead of investing any new funds in K-12 to close persistent funding gaps, the final operating budget will cut K-12 programs by at least $85 million and perhaps as much as $140 million.

The following are the K-12 education programs targeted by House and Senate Democrats in the budget or through ESSB 6260:

-Cuts to Transition to Kindergarten.

-Cuts to Local Effort Assistance (LEA). Last session the legislature promised to provide a $400 per student enhancement in calendar year (CY) 2027 to LEA-eligible districts. Both approaches renege on that promise, although the House would offer $300 per student, while the Senate would offer only $150.

-Extending bus depreciation by two years. Both budget proposals would extend bus depreciation payments from the current 13-year cycle to 15 years for the big buses, and from 8 years to 10 years for the smaller buses.

-Unfunded mandate to implement school health rules. Since 2009, the operating budget has included a proviso that would prohibit the State Board of Health and Department of Health from amending or adopting health and environmental rules, which would impose costly requirements on schools without the legislature providing funding. That would change this year, with the Senate proposal requiring all districts to implement Phase 1 activities of proposed school rules without any state funding, regardless of school district size.

-Cuts to school district Medicaid reimbursements. The House budget would cut $3.4 million in the Health Care Authority’s Medicaid match funding, lowering the state match for school districts supporting students Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) from 50 percent to 25 percent.

-Rollbacks to Running Start.

-The final operating budget is expected to be released around Wednesday, so more information will be available in the final Sine Die report.

ACTION ALERT from he WSPTA:

The legislature is once again proposing to cut public education - failing Washington's most vulnerable students and repeating a familiar pattern of broken promises on school funding.

Write to the Legislative Budget Writers NOW (also available via the link tree in our bio): https://tinyurl.com/3kwjmv3h

Districts Are Already at the Breaking Point

Districts across Washington are using voter-approved levy dollars just to keep the lights on - covering basic costs like MSOC, transportation, and special education services that the state has chronically underfunded.

What’s on the Chopping Block:

Transition to Kindergarten (TK): Senate −$39M | House −$19M. TK provides voluntary, school-based pre-kindergarten for children, particularly those from low-income families or with developmental delays, who need an additional year of structured early learning to build the foundational skills for kindergarten success.

Local Effort Assistance (LEA): Senate −$59M | House −$25M. LEA helps communities with lower property values fund vital school programs, ensuring students aren’t shortchanged because of their zip code.

Running Start: Both chambers −$14M. Running Start allows high school juniors and seniors to take college courses tuition-free, opening doors to higher education for students across Washington.
School bus depreciation: Both chambers −$21M. This funding supports the replacement of aging school buses, keeping students safe on their way to and from school.

MSOC (Materials, Supplies & Operating Costs): No new investment in either budget. MSOC covers the everyday costs of running a school - utilities, insurance, and basic supplies - and has been chronically underfunded for years.

Write to the Legislative Budget Writers NOW and share widely: https://tinyurl.com/3kwjmv3h

From the WSPTA:

No Cuts to K-12 Funding: Contact Legislators Now!

State revenue is up, and this year’s state budgets should reflect that reality by protecting K–12 funding. With less than three weeks left in the 2026 legislative session, the Senate and House have released their proposals, with final votes set for February 27 and 28. After years of under-funding, rising costs, and growing student needs, many districts are now in binding conditions or close to a negative balance. MSOC, transportation, and special education remain significantly underfunded despite progress made in 2025, and last year’s $245 million in cuts only deepened the strain on schools.

This moment is the final opportunity to protect K-12 funding this legislative session. Please contact your legislators no later than February 26, urging them to make no new cuts and avoid unfunded mandates. Protecting K–12 funding is one of the Top 5 issues on WSPTA’s member-adopted legislative platform, and your voice plays a critical role in ensuring Washington’s public schools have the resources they need to serve every student well.

Contacting your legislators takes just a few minutes, and numbers matter! Share this action alert with your networks and encourage them to contact their legislators via the link below.

Write to your Legislators now: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/state-revenue-is-up-no-cuts-to-k-12-funding?source=direct_link&&link_id=3&can_id=b3c8df3e7ef8805751950b44ca960c7a&email_referrer=email_3111533&email_subject=action-state-revenue-is-up-no-cuts-to-k-12-funding&

Monday, 2/19 was the Legislature’s fiscal committee deadline and education funding is basically off the floor for the Legislature this session.

While this is happening SB 6346, establishing a tax on millionaires, is making its way through the legislative process. However, the majority of the funding from this tax is slated for the general fund. This is not good enough! The time to speak up is now: State Superintendent Reykdal is calling upon Olympia to prioritize, fully fund, and expand K-12 education, the WSPTA is calling for fully funded education; let’s raise our voices and demand our Legislators prioritize our children and finally fully fund public education.

From the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction:
"In the current school year, basic K–12 education, including special education, materials and supplies, student transportation, and targeted resources for students who need additional support, is underfunded by $750 million...
"When school districts need to use local revenue to pay for basic needs, students lose access to supplemental programs and supports like tutoring, arts programs, nurses and counselors, afterschool programs, and other services that support a well-rounded education."

We call upon our Legislators to follow the proposal outlined by Superintendent Reykdal and fully fund and expand basic K–12 education.

Read Superintendent Reykdal's proposal here: https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2026-02/ospi-revenue-proposal-one-pager.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawQJZFZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJHVExaVW1MUmZXR2RwZmU2c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmiirjLb2is9P-uVnhS4E1cgPCsQQoqlZtrB09USdUWFvFI5JO6q8iO8DBJU_aem_gVSj5RLsXn2dikicrfdi1Q

Email your Legislators now: https://ujoin.co/campaigns/4221/actions/public?action_id=6332&fbclid=IwY2xjawQJZFRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETJHVExaVW1MUmZXR2RwZmU2c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHh-CY99iHn0UV-iiBcPwX0OyqMOoIAGNTWQhHIfoTs1TWfrWykmjzdNLP1rx_aem_V2y8KGf6c81Q2sauebL_hQ

Email your Legislators here: https://ujoin.co/campaigns/4221/actions/public?action_id=6332

From the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction:

"In the current school year, basic K–12 education, including special education, materials and supplies, student transportation, and targeted resources for students who need additional support, is underfunded by $750 million...

"When school districts need to use local revenue to pay for basic needs, students lose access to supplemental programs and supports like tutoring, arts programs, nurses and counselors, afterschool programs, and other services that support a well-rounded education."

SB 6346 calls for a 9.9% tax on people making more than $1 million a year beginning in 2028. The levy is expected to raise more than $3 billion annually.

We call upon our Legislators to follow the proposal outlined by Superintendent Reykdal and fully fund and expand basic K–12 education.

Read Superintendent Reykdal's proposal here:https://ospi.k12.wa.us/sites/default/files/2026-02/ospi-revenue-proposal-one-pager.pdf

Email your Legisltors now: https://ujoin.co/campaigns/4221/actions/public?action_id=6332

This Legislative session isn't shaping up to be much for education funding! We can still make an impact by easing the tax burden on schools. Take a quick moment to send a letter to your Legislators.

❗Take Action: Pass SHB 2257 to Fix Tax Burden on Schools

Action Alert: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/take-action-pass-shb-2257-to-fix-tax-burden-on-schools/

Urge your Washington State House Representatives to pass SHB 2257 and make sure it includes the exemption for K-12 school districts today!

Last session's ESSB 5814 expanded sales tax to fund education and other legislative priorities —but now it's costing school districts thousands or even millions in sales taxes. SHB 2257 corrects many of the problems it created for school districts.

Action Alert!

Sign in PRO for HB 2116: Updating School Enrichment Funding

Sign in PRO here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/House?selectedCommittee=31634&selectedMeeting=33877

More information about school enrichment funding:https://educationvoters.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/League-of-Education-Voters-2025-Local-Levy-Levy-FAQ.pdf

Not sure how to sign in for a bill? You can learn more on the Fund SPS website: https://fundsps.com/leg-basics

Action Alert!
Sign in PRO for SB 6125: Providing enrollment stabilization funding.

Sign in PRO here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Senate?selectedCommittee=12228&selectedMeeting=33762

Not sure how to sign in for a bill? You can learn more on the Fund SPS website: https://fundsps.com/leg-basics

Action Alert!
Sign in PRO for SB 5918: Providing funding for school materials, supplies, and operating costs.

Sign in PRO here: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Senate?selectedCommittee=12228&selectedMeeting=33664

Not sure how to sign in for a bill? You can learn more on the Fund SPS website: https://fundsps.com/leg-basics

Action Alert!

Sign in PRO for SB 5918: Providing funding for school materials, supplies, and operating costs.

Sign in PRO here:https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Senate?selectedCommittee=12228&selectedMeeting=33664

Not sure how to sign in for a bill? You can learn more on the Fund SPS website: https://fundsps.com/leg-basics