The New School Foundation is pleased that, even in the wake of unprecedented budget shortfalls, the Washington state legislature recently passed a bipartisan bill, ESHB 2261, that will redefine the term "basic education" and the way the state funds it for the first time in over 30 years. On May 19, 2009, Governor Gregoire signed this legislation into law. The legislation is designed to be phased-in over time, and is scheduled to be fully in place by September 1, 2018.
ESHB 2261 redefines and expands the definition of basic education to include:
In order to accomplish this, the legislation created the Quality Education Council (QEC) to recommend and inform the ongoing implementation by the Legislature of an evolving program of basic education and financing. They will oversee three different work groups:
Work Group |
Goal |
Funding |
Recommend revenue source(s), funding formula and implementation plan |
Local Levy Authority/Equalization |
Develop a new system of supplemental school funding |
Compensation |
Research compensation models and recommend new salary model that aligns with state expectations for certification. |
More information about ESHB2261 can be found here: Education Finance Follow-Up
For more information about school funding and other education policy issues in Washington state, check out the following websites:
The League of Education Voters is an organization dedicated to engaging ordinary citizens, educators, policymakers and the media in the effort to provide a quality education for all students in Washington state - from preschool through college. Through its activities, LEV serves as a source of credible, timely information about the state's education system. LEV helps highlight best practices, measure progress and motivate people across Washington state to be a part of the solution.
Stand for Children is a citizen voice for children. Their mission is to teach everyday people how to join together in an effective grassroots voice in order to win concrete, long-lasting improvements for children, at both state and local levels.
