Public School Funding Crisis in Washington State

The current state of education funding in Washington is alarming. K-12 education is underfunded, leading to an over-reliance on local levies and personal contributions. This has resulted in overcrowded classrooms, limited resources, and a decline in arts, music, sports programs, and the worst of all, shuttered schools, leaving local low income families with even higher barriers to education. The narrow definition of "basic education" has further exacerbated the situation, leaving essential resources such as nurses, counselors, and textbooks inadequately funded. The impact is disproportionately felt in high-poverty schools and communities of color. It is crucial to address this issue by generating new revenue to fully fund public schools. The focus should be on sufficiency, sustainability, fairness, and accountability in the revenue system. Our children's education should be a top priority.