Washington House Republicans recently unveiled their Fund Education First budget which, they say, would meet the expectations of the state constitution and state Supreme Court’s McCleary decision, focus on high standards and protect taxpayers by not raising taxes.
“The argument we keep hearing from the other side is how this would not work. But we’ve continually shown exactly how it would work. It’s the old way that’s not working — to the point that the state Supreme Court had to intervene,” Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, and ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee said. “This is a common sense process that every family and employer in the state has had to do at some point over the last few years. It would allow us the opportunity to reform, resize and reduce state government instead of proposing tax increases on those who can least afford it.”
The proposed budget would dedicate $15.1 billion to K-12 education in the 2013-15 budget; an increase in funding of $903 million. Of the increased money, $817 million would be based on the McCleary decision and $86 million dedicated to other policy enhancements.
It would include: $302 million for K-3 class-size reduction; $229 million to expand full-day kindergarten to 61 percent of school districts in the 2013-14 school year, prioritizing high-poverty school districts, and to all school districts in the 2014-15 school year; $158 million for full implementation of increased instructional hours for grades 7-12 by the 2014-15 school year; and $128 million for a 29 percent increase in materials, supplies and operating costs.
The Fund Education First budget would also provide money for charter schools.
The comprehensive, proposed budget includes:
· House Bill 1134: Would authorize state-tribal education compact schools.
· House Bill 1424: Would enhance the state’s K-12 dropout prevention, intervention and re-engagement system.
· Senate Bill 5237: Would implement strategies to improve literacy skills for K-4 students.
· Senate Bill 5243: Would establish policies to support academic acceleration for high school students.
· Senate Bill 5329: Would create a state-funded required action process for the state’s ten persistently lowest-performing schools.
· Senate Bill 5587: Would modify the statewide assessment system to transition to higher-quality exams.
“Fund Education First balances the needs of our children with the protection of taxpayers. It’s time to focus on the children in our education system,” Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, and assistant ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee said.
In its McCleary decision in January 2012, the state Supreme Court said the Legislature has not complied with its constitutional duty to make ample provision for the education of all children.
House Republicans say they are working closely on the operating budget with the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus, which has also said – along with Gov. Jay Inslee – that tax increases are not needed to balance the operating budget.
