capitol watch
In Focus 2017: McCleary Education Funding and the Budget
The state Supreme Court’ s 2012 education funding ruling will reach its crescendo in the 2017 legislative session. But the task could prove to be both difficult and divisive.
Bobbi Cussins
Abide by the state constitution. That is the mandate the state Supreme Court sent to lawmakers in its 2012 education funding lawsuit ruling known simply as“ McCleary.” But, there’ s nothing simple about it— at least not the final piece, levy reform, which could be poised to pit property-rich school districts against their property-poor neighbors. And, it could also lay the groundwork for talk of tax hikes on employers and individuals to fund schools.
at a glance
In the 2012 McCleary v. State of Washington education funding case, the state Supreme Court ordered the state to comply with the state constitution and fully and equitably fund the program of K-12 basic education as defined in House bills 2261( 2009) and 2776( 2010).
Since 2013, the Legislature has allocated an historic $ 4.5 billion more toward K-12 education, funding pupil transportation, full-day kindergarten, K-3 class-size reductions and materials, supplies and operating costs, or MSOCs.
The final piece is levy reform, which will ensure the state takes full responsibility for teachers, classified staff and administrator salaries.
For more information on McCleary, educational outcomes and programs specifics, contact AWB Government Affairs Director Amy Anderson at AmyA @ awb. org. For information on the budget and tax implications of McCleary, contact AWB Government Affairs Director Eric Lohnes at EricL @ awb. org. Both can be reached at 360.943.1600.
Stephanie McCleary and her children Kelsey and Carter are among the plaintiffs whose lawsuit led to the Supreme Court’ s 2012 McCleary ruling that the state was not meeting its paramount duty under the state constitution to amply provide for the education of all children within its borders.
46 association of washington business