The bill amends Washington state law concerning K-12 funding, particularly focusing on enrichment levies and local effort assistance for school districts. It raises the maximum dollar amount for enrichment levies to $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value and introduces new definitions for "inflation" and "inflation enhancement." Additionally, a new maximum per-pupil funding limit is established, which will be adjusted for inflation and enhancements. School districts are now required to obtain approval for their enrichment levy expenditure plans prior to submitting propositions to voters. The bill also revises state property tax limitations for common schools, adjusting the limit factor based on population and inflation, and ensures adequate funding for special education programs based on student enrollment.

Moreover, the bill modifies the safety net funding process for special education, allowing the state safety net oversight committee to award additional funds to districts that demonstrate legitimate special education expenditures exceeding available state revenues. The committee's review will focus on documentation without assessing the content of individualized education programs. The legislation emphasizes maximizing eligibility for all state and federal revenues related to special education and clarifies that differences in program costs due to district philosophy or accounting practices are not valid reasons for safety net awards. It also introduces new provisions for the allocation and accounting of special education funding, mandates the creation of a K-12 funding equity work group, and establishes guidelines for substitute funding for prototypical school staff starting in the 2028-29 school year.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 84.52.0531, 28A.500.015, 84.55.005, 84.04.140, 28A.150.390, 28A.150.392, 28A.150.560
Substitute Bill: 84.52.0531, 28A.500.015, 84.55.005, 28A.150.390, 28A.150.392, 28A.150.560