$19,000 vs. $10,000: Washington’s Public Schools Struggle with Finances Despite Increased Funding

Washington’s Public Schools Struggle with Finances Despite Increased Funding

WASA Launches Website to Advocate for More Money

According to the report of Washington Examiner, Washington’s public schools are struggling with finances even though state spending on education has significantly increased since the McCleary decision which required full funding for K-12 schools. The Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) has launched a new website to argue for more money pointing to issues like fewer students, the end of federal COVID-19 relief funds and rising costs. Despite state spending going up from $10,000 to $19,000 per student WASA Executive Director Joel Aune says this increase hasn’t been enough to solve the financial problems many districts face with some already running deficits and others at risk.

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(photo: Education Week)

Washington State Education Funding

Some people argue that spending on each student has gone up more than inflation and although the state’s education budget has become a smaller percentage of the overall budget and it still represents a lot more money in real terms. Liv Finne from the Washington Policy Center argues that this higher spending hasn’t led to better student results, noting stagnant test scores and fewer students. Even though the state budget has doubled in the past decade and the share for education has dropped from 51% to 43%, which raises questions about how well the funding is being used.

The debate continues as the new WASA website aims to inform and engage the community including parents and teachers to push for more legislative support. WASA hopes that by simplifying the complex issue of school funding they can encourage more people to get involved and help solve the financial problems faced by schools across Washington.

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