The Fairness in Education Funding Act seeks to create equitable funding for public schools in Washington State by ensuring that all schools receive equal funding on a per-pupil basis, irrespective of the socioeconomic status of their communities. The bill aims to eliminate local levies and capital funding that disproportionately benefit wealthier schools, replacing them with state funding that prioritizes equal educational opportunities. Key amendments include adjustments to salary allocations for various school staff, new funding provisions for enrichment and facility construction, and a revised definition of "enrichment funding" to ensure it supplements basic education funding. The bill also repeals several existing statutes that conflict with its goals, reinforcing a commitment to equitable education funding.

Additionally, the bill introduces amendments regarding school district funding and operations, such as the requirement for districts to maintain records of expenditures related to salary and benefits that enhance the state's basic education program, while removing the previous audit-related record-keeping requirement. It establishes a depreciation subfund for second-class school districts to reserve funds for future needs and creates a capital projects fund to replace the existing building fund. The bill repeals numerous laws related to local effort assistance and basic education compensation allocations but allows for the collection of levies authorized by voters before March 1, 2025. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, contingent upon the approval of a proposed constitutional amendment to abolish school district excess levies. If the amendment is not ratified, the act will be void.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28A.150.410, 28A.150.276, 28A.300.0401