School districts across Washington state, from property-rich suburbs to rural communities, are facing significant financial shortfalls that have led to school closures and staff reductions. In response, a growing coalition of superintendents is collaborating to advocate for fundamental changes to the state's K-12 education funding system, arguing the current model is inequitable and fails to meet modern student needs.
Key Takeaways
- Superintendents from diverse districts, including Bellevue and Yakima, have formed a coalition to address Washington's education funding crisis.
- Both wealthy and low-income districts are struggling, with Bellevue facing a $20 million deficit and Yakima cutting over 240 positions in two years.
- The coalition advocates for replacing the current resource-based funding model with a student-weighted system that allocates more funds for students with greater needs.
- Key priorities for reform include funding for special education, transportation, and school operations, along with changes to local property tax levy systems.
A Statewide Financial Crisis in Education
Financial instability is impacting school districts across Washington, regardless of their local property wealth. The Bellevue School District, located in a high-property-value area, recently faced a $20 million budget deficit and had to close two schools. According to Superintendent Kelly Aramaki, this challenge was one of the first he faced in his new role.
"When I came in as superintendent my first year, we had just closed two schools because we couldn't afford to keep them open," Aramaki stated, highlighting that even affluent districts are not immune to funding problems.
The situation is even more difficult in property-poor districts. The Yakima School District, led by Superintendent Trevor Greene, cut $5.6 million from its budget for the 2025-26 school year. This followed a massive $22 million reduction the previous year, resulting in the elimination of 240 staff positions over a two-year period.
Districts Under State Oversight
Due to severe financial difficulties, eight school districts in Washington, including Bellevue and Mabton, have been placed under "binding conditions." This means they are subject to direct financial oversight from the state's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) until their budgets are stabilized.
An Unlikely Alliance for Change
The shared financial struggles have fostered an unusual collaboration between leaders of historically different districts. The initiative began when Aramaki realized that advocating solely for his district's interests was not a sustainable solution. An attempt to raise the local property tax levy lid in 2024 revealed deep divisions among superintendents.
Greene opposed the measure because it did not include a corresponding increase in Local Effort Assistance (LEA), a state program designed to help equalize funding for districts with lower property values. "If I were to support him on that bill, Yakima gets nothing out of that," Greene explained. "And the only thing it does is it creates more of a disparity between property-rich districts and property-poor districts."
Recognizing this systemic issue, Aramaki reached out to the University of Washington's College of Education to help facilitate a broader conversation. "I called the dean, Mia Tuan... and I said I would love to start this group," Aramaki recalled. "And I would love to do it with someone like Trevor."
What began as a conversation between two superintendents in July 2024 has grown into a coalition of more than 20 district leaders. The group, supported by researchers from UW, has convened multiple times to develop a unified strategy for reform.
Reforming Washington's Funding Model
The coalition's primary goal is to overhaul Washington's current school funding system, which is described as a "resource-based allocation model." This system provides funding based on predetermined student-to-staff ratios, which critics say only covers the minimal cost of operating a school.
"What we see is that the way that we fund does not factor in the needs of the kids," said Greene. "That's problematic when you're looking at equity."
A Shift to Student-Weighted Funding
The superintendents are advocating for a transition to a student-based funding model. In this system, schools receive a base amount of funding for each enrolled student, with additional "weights" or funds provided for students with greater needs. These needs can include:
- Students from low-income households
- Multi-language learners
- Students requiring special education services
David Knight, a researcher at the UW College of Education who is working with the coalition, emphasized the need for this change. "The fundamental problem with Washington's education funding model is the lack of student weights," Knight said. "What I would recommend for Washington would be the use of student weights to allocate funding to support districts that serve higher poverty student populations."
The "Big 3" Funding Priorities
The coalition has identified three critical areas that are underfunded by the state and driving district expenditures up. Known as "The Big 3," these priorities are:
- Transportation
- Special Education
- Maintenance, Supplies, and Operating Costs (MSOC)
While state lawmakers recently approved some additional funding for special education and operating costs, the group argues that it is not enough to solve the underlying problem.
Challenges and the Path Forward
The push for reform faces significant hurdles, most notably the state's financial outlook. The Washington State Office of Financial Management has projected a $903 million decrease in state revenue through 2029. This forecast suggests that lawmakers will be looking for areas to cut spending, not increase it.
Aramaki acknowledged this reality but stressed the coalition's role. "They've got to figure out what they need to cut," he said. "But my job, and Trevor's job and our coalition is to make sure that they do not touch education."
The group's strategy involves creating a comprehensive five-year plan of "policy possibilities" to present to legislators. Several lawmakers, including State Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, chair of the House Education Committee, have already attended coalition meetings to provide insight and discuss policy.
The coalition's next summit is scheduled for November, where they will finalize their strategy for the 2026 legislative session. Their goal is to build awareness and advocate for a system that provides equitable and adequate funding for every student in Washington, regardless of their zip code.
