The bill addresses the funding challenges faced by Washington's school districts due to inflation, which has reduced their purchasing power for essential materials and operating costs. To enhance financial support for basic education, the legislature proposes an increase in funding allocations, including a minimum of $1,614.28 per full-time equivalent student for materials and supplies, with annual inflation adjustments starting in the 2026-27 school year. Additionally, specific allocations for high school students are introduced, including a minimum of $214.84 per full-time equivalent student in grades nine through 12, along with a further $100 per student for materials and supplies, also subject to inflation adjustments. The bill emphasizes transparency by mandating school districts to report their expenditures in various categories.

Moreover, the bill outlines resource allocations for educational programs, particularly for high poverty-based allocations and support for students with diverse language needs. It mandates minimum allocations for prototypical school resources to ensure extra instructional time for learning assistance program students and specifies funding for transitional bilingual instruction programs. The bill also includes provisions for biennial reviews of the basic education funding distribution formula by the superintendent and governor, allowing the legislature to approve or reject recommendations. If rejected, the previous year's formula will remain in effect, and guidelines for calculating student enrollment and defining full-time equivalent students are established, subject to legislative committee approval.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 28A.150.260