This bill (SB 6320) modifies Washington State's funding formula for school district enrichment levies and creates new rules for students in alternative learning experiences. It adjusts state funding based on actual district levy rates (capping at $1.50 per $1,000 assessed value) and establishes a process for districts to restore funding for students in remote online programs when certified by a healthcare provider due to immunosuppression, chronic illness, injury, or bullying-related medical conditions. The bill defines "multidistrict online providers" as organizations serving students across multiple districts, excluding certain cooperative programs. It directly affects school districts, students in remote learning, and tribal education compact schools by changing how enrollment and funding are calculated for alternative learning programs.
This bill creates supplemental funding for school districts that have extra costs transporting homeless students (per federal McKinney-Vento law) and foster youth (per federal Every Student Succeeds Act) beyond what's already covered by other funding sources. Districts must report verified excess costs and specific services creating those costs to qualify. Funding covers only the documented excess transportation expenses for eligible students, with awards limited to specific time periods (semester or school year) and not exceeding the state's annual appropriation. Charter schools and tribal education compact schools are explicitly included as eligible recipients.
HB 2519 requires Washington utilities (electric, gas, and water providers) to offer phased discounts on rates to public school districts, charter schools under RCW 28A.710, and state-tribal education compact schools. Starting January 1, 2027, discounts begin at 10% and increase incrementally to 60% by 2032, with annual adjustments thereafter. Utilities must recover the lost revenue from these discounts through rates charged to other customers, not through new taxes or direct school funding. The bill aims to reduce operational costs for schools, which face rising utility expenses for electricity, gas, and water.
HB 2562 increases state funding for school districts that collect local enrichment levies, adjusting the target rate from $1.50 to $2.50 per $1,000 of property value. It calculates state assistance based on a district’s actual levy rate relative to this $2.50 target, with a per-student funding threshold of $3,838 (adjusted for inflation starting in 2027). The bill directly affects public school districts and state-tribal education compact schools, ensuring state support aligns with local levy efforts. It takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not count toward the state’s constitutionally required basic education funding.
HB 2470 changes how Washington state funds school construction projects for schools physically located on military bases. It requires excluding these on-base facilities from a school district's total available instructional space when calculating state funding assistance. Instead of using the standard formula, state aid equals the total approved project cost minus any federal funds already received for the construction. This directly affects school districts with schools on military installations, ensuring their funding needs are calculated separately from other district facilities.
HB 2147 increases state funding for school materials, supplies, and operating costs in Washington State to address inflation-driven budget shortfalls affecting school districts. It establishes a new funding formula based on prototypical schools (600 high school students, 432 middle school students, 400 elementary students) with specific class size standards (e.g., K-3 at 17 students per teacher) and minimum staffing allocations. The bill requires transparency by mandating the Superintendent of Public Instruction to publish per-pupil funding reports online, which school districts must link to their websites. It also includes targeted provisions for career-technical education, lab science class size reduction, and high-poverty schools with over 50% free/reduced lunch eligibility. The legislation amends existing law (RCW 28A.150.260) to adjust funding allocations based on actual student enrollment and school type.
HB 2116 updates Washington state's school enrichment funding by setting new annual limits on property taxes districts can levy for programs like arts, sports, and after-school activities. For taxes collected through 2029, districts may levy up to $2.50 per $1,000 of property value, increasing to $3.00 per $1,000 starting in 2030. The bill also creates a state-local effort assistance program that provides supplemental funding to districts levying below $1.50 per $1,000, matching a portion of their levy up to a per-student cap adjusted for inflation. School districts must now obtain approval for their enrichment spending plans before seeking voter approval for new levies.
This bill amends Washington's school construction funding formula to specifically exclude military base school facilities from a district's available space count when calculating state assistance. It directly affects school districts operating schools on military bases, ensuring these facilities don't reduce their eligibility for state construction funds. The key change modifies the funding formula to treat on-base schools separately, potentially increasing their state funding share by not counting these spaces against their capacity. This adjustment aims to better support districts with military-connected students under the state's school construction program.
SB 5918 increases state funding for school materials, supplies, and operating costs to address inflation-driven budget shortfalls affecting Washington school districts. It amends funding formulas to base allocations on standardized "prototypical" school models (e.g., 400 elementary students, 600 high school students) with specific class size targets, adjusting for actual student counts and school size. The bill requires school districts to link to publicly posted per-pupil funding reports on their websites and mandates transparency in how state funds are distributed across programs like special education. This directly affects all Washington public school districts by changing how they receive and report state education funding.
SB 5858 creates a new state funding program to cover extra transportation costs for school districts serving students with specific needs. It provides reimbursements for documented excess costs beyond regular transportation funding when serving three groups: students requiring transportation as part of their special education plan, homeless students under federal law, and foster youth. Districts must report these excess costs and the specific services causing them, and funding comes from state appropriations - not basic education funds. Charter and tribal schools are also eligible for these reimbursements.
