The bill amends Washington state law to enhance K-12 funding, particularly focusing on enrichment levies and local effort assistance for school districts. It increases the maximum dollar amount for enrichment levies from $2.50 to $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value and introduces a new "inflation enhancement" mechanism to provide additional funding based on inflation rates. The legislation also sets new per-pupil funding limits based on school district enrollment, with adjustments for inflation. Additionally, it revises state property tax limitations for common schools, establishing a limit factor of 101 percent for districts with populations under 10,000 and 100 percent plus inflation for others, while mandating annual provision of limit factors by the Department of Revenue starting in 2025.

Moreover, the bill addresses special education funding by requiring the superintendent of public instruction to submit a budget request every odd-numbered year and modifying special education cost multipliers. It establishes a safety net for districts with special education funding needs and creates a K-12 funding equity work group to analyze and propose revisions to funding formulas based on student demographics. The bill also introduces provisions for funding substitute costs for prototypical school staff, starting in the 2027-28 school year, ensuring that schools have adequate resources to cover substitute staff costs, thereby supporting educational continuity during teacher absences.

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