Michaela Miller Deputy Superintendent | Washington Office Of Superintendent Of Public Instruction
The Washington State Legislature wrapped up the 2025 Legislative Session, finalizing state budgets despite a significant $12 billion shortfall. State Superintendent Chris Reykdal commented on the outcomes affecting K–12 education.
"Lawmakers not only maintained maintenance-level funding in K–12 education—they made crucial investments," Reykdal stated. "Our priority request to the Legislature this year was to increase funding for supports for students with disabilities and to remove the artificial cap on state funding for students with disabilities. Lawmakers did both, bringing our state much closer to fully funding these essential services," he added.
Reykdal addressed the financial difficulties school districts face due to inflation and increasing costs. "Our school districts are struggling to keep up with materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC). My request to the Legislature included fully funding MSOC as a top priority. While the Legislature made progress on this issue this session, there is still more work to be done to fully cover the costs school districts are facing," he explained.
The session also emphasized the importance of supporting social safety nets that aid vulnerable children and families. "I am grateful to our Legislature for hearing this message and maintaining funding for essential human services that affect children and their families," Reykdal noted.
Looking ahead, the Legislature has tasked Reykdal’s office with finding a more adequate and equitable funding model for public schools. "I look forward to updating this analysis and providing the Governor and lawmakers with a roadmap that moves our state beyond the very bare minimum of investments that are contained in the current 'prototypical' funding model," he said. Reykdal emphasized this would require "genuine changes in expenditure and revenues to go from basic funding to excellence in funding."
Alerts Sign-up