09.12.08

State education funding in crisis

Posted in Education at 1:42 am by Administrator

The Basic Education Act and Article IX, section 1 of the Washington State Constitution states “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children.” State funding for basic education has not kept pace with rising costs, resulting in severe budget shortfalls. Vancouver and Evergreen school districts have also been forced to provide more programs and services mandated but not funded by both state and federal governments.

According to both school districts, local levy dollars have been redirected and reserve funds have been depleted below recommended levels in order to maintain basic programs and services. Many programs have been cut and staff positions have been eliminated.

The state of education funding is at a crisis point:
 Vancouver School District has joined the Network for Excellence in Washington Schools (NEWS) lawsuit against the state for under-funding education. The lawsuit requests that basic education be fully funded as required by the State Constitution.
 Vancouver School District faced a $2.4 million budget shortfall for 2007-08 and had to reduce program and staffing levels for the seventh consecutive year.
 Evergreen School District is facing a budget shortfall of over $2 million next year. One-third of its students are in portable classrooms and about half receive free or reduced lunches.
 Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) have been approved by the legislature but are not extended to all employees. Salary increases have to be redirected from other sources, including the local levy.
 Vancouver School District will spend $2.7 million in levy proceeds to transport students in 2008-09. A total of $10 million in expenditures that are normally covered by state funds, such as special education and substitute teaching personnel, will have to be covered from levy funds.
 Washington’s teachers are paid $3,000 less than the national average and $12,000 less than the average west coast teacher.
 Washington State now ranks 45th in the nation in per student expenditures, and 46th in the nation for average class size.
 Washington State’s school funding system receive a D+ rating from Education Week magazine

Basic education should be given top priority. I will work toward these legislative solutions:
 Work to prioritize basic education expenditures within the state appropriations process
 Build new schools and get our students out of portable classrooms
 Pay our teachers competitive salaries and reduce class sizes.
 Establish a strategic direction for higher education that will account for changes in demographics and workforce requirements.
 Ensure that the proposed “core” curriculum requirement will not diminish resources for career and technical education, which is equally important. We may need to move to a 6-period day to accomplish this.

Every politician says they support education. Here is Don Benton’s voting record:
 Supported property tax cuts that set in motion education budget shortfalls across the state
 Opposed Senate Bill 6059 authorizing a direct voter initiative providing a cost of living increase for teachers
 Opposed 2007 Senate Bill 5841 enhancing early childhood education
 Opposed 2007 House Bill 1051 expanding high school completion programs at community colleges
 Did not vote on 2006 Senate Bill expanding apprenticeship opportunities for high school graduates

Don Benton did not vote on 2002 Senate Bill 6387 Supplemental operating budget, which included:
 $13.5 billion in K-12 education funding
 opportunity grants to students in low-income families pursue training in high-demand fields
 $60.6 million in special education funding
 $12.4 in technology upgrades
 $22 million to expand Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program to reach an additional 2,250 children
 $25 million to provide health coverage to an additional 38,000 children
 $1 million to Evergreen Schools for construction of a Health and BioSciences Academy