State Supreme Court will hear arguments in McCleary case on Sept. 7
Today the state Supreme Court ordered the parties in the McCleary school funding case to appear before the Court on Sept. 7. Background: On Jan. 9, 2014, the Court ordered the state to provide a plan for complying with McCleary. On Sept. 11, 2014, the Court found the state in contempt. On August 13, 2015, the Court […]
June 21 , 2016 - Emily Makings
How will the revenue forecast affect the budget?
Kriss wrote a few days ago that the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) increased the state revenue forecast last week. In near general fund–state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) terms, 2015–17 revenue is expected to increase by $308.2 million and 2017–19 revenue is expected to increase by $126.4 million. As Opportunity Washington writes, “While the […]
June 20 , 2016 - Emily Makings
The AG on potential additional McCleary sanctions
As required by the state Supreme Court, the Legislature submitted its 2016 report on its McCleary progress to the Court on May 18. The same day, the attorney general asked the Court to lift the contempt order and end sanctions. A few weeks ago, plaintiffs, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, and others filed […]
June 17 , 2016 - Mary Strow
June 15 , 2016 - Emily Makings
New report: McCleary Deadline Approaching, But How Long Will the Solution Last?
In a new report, we write about the McCleary decision, education funding enhancements the state has made in response, and what remains to be done. We also provide background on the state property tax system and school funding. Briefly: State funding for public schools has increased by 40.6 percent since 2009–11. Washington had the third highest funding […]
June 13 , 2016 - Mary Strow
Special-ed advocates chime in on K-12 funding
The Seattle Times reported Friday on a brief filed by special-education advocates in the ongoing McCleary case, which deals with state funding of K-12 public schools. They argue that the state's funding, and funding formula, for Washington's 125,000 special-ed students are inadequate: For 20 years the Legislature has paid for special education as if every […]
May 19 , 2016 - Emily Makings
The AG on the Legislature's McCleary report (plus, the alternative budget outlook has been released)
Yesterday the Legislature filed its report to the state Supreme Court on its progress toward complying with the McCleary decision on education funding. (The report was approved last week.) Also yesterday, the attorney general filed a memo with the Court asking it to lift its contempt order and end sanctions. The AG's memo argues that E2SSB […]
May 18 , 2016 - Emily Makings
A new budget outlook, and a discussion of McCleary costs
The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) met today to adopt a new budget outlook. There was a lot of discussion, with members getting into questions about how much the remaining McCleary pieces will cost and whether they should be accounted for in the four-year outlook. (Here are the meeting materials.) Ultimately, the ERFC adopted the outlook that […]
May 12 , 2016 - Emily Makings
The 2016 Legislature's report on its McCleary progress
Yesterday the Joint Select Committee on Article IX Legislation met and approved its 2016 report to the state Supreme Court. Since 2012, this committee has been providing annual reports to the Court regarding the Legislature's progress toward complying with the McCleary decision. The 2016 report argues that in enacting E2SSB 6195, the Legislature has complied with […]
March 18 , 2016 - Emily Makings
Teacher salaries and the budget
In The News Tribune, Melissa Santos writes, State Rep. Hans Dunshee, the budget writer in the Democratic-controlled House, said the dispute over teacher raises is part of what is delaying a budget deal. . . . While House Democrats and Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee have proposed boosting what the state pays for beginning teachers, the […]