Funding & Revenue
WEA members help fend off further budget cuts
The final supplemental budget approved by legislators in April does NOT cut K-12 or higher education. It’s the first time in three years legislators avoided cutting education funding. However, the Legislature didn’t restore the 1.9 percent salary allocation cut, and legislators voted to permanently eliminate I-728, which funded smaller class sizes.
Washington teacher salaries are losing ground
The National Education Association has released its current Rankings & Estimates of state school statistics.
OSPI reports Washington’s average classroom teacher salary of $52,212 for 2011-12. This is a decrease of 1.3 percent ($714) from the 2010-11 reported salary of $52,926.
NEA’s report shows the 2010-11 average salary of $52,926 ranks 21st nationally (down from $53,003 and 19th in 2009-10).
Washington’s reported salary of $52,926 is –
• $2,697 (4.8 percent) BELOW the national average (50 states and DC) of $55,623
• $11,378 (17.7 percent) BELOW the WEST COAST weighted average (Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington) of $64,304
Washington’s student-teacher ratio remained the same, although the rank changed to fourth worst for 2010-11 (we were third worst in 2009-10).
Most school levies pass
School districts rely on local levies for about 20 percent of their funding. On April 24, voters in 12 of 13 districts approved maintenance and operations levies.
|
District |
Percent Yes |
|
Centerville |
74.11% |
|
Methow Valley |
73.20% |
|
Bickleton |
70.12% |
|
Stanwood-Camano |
67.98% |
|
Loon Lake |
64.61% |
|
Deer Park |
58.24% |
|
Lakewood |
58.16% |
|
Glenwood |
56.80% |
|
Eatonville |
53.02% |
|
Selkirk |
52.79% |
|
West Valley (Y) |
52.48% |
|
Riverside |
50.00% |
|
Lyle |
45.63% |
Supreme Court: State failing education funding!
The state Supreme Court has ruled that the Legislature is shirking its constitutional responsibility to amply fund K-12 public schools — something WEA members have known for years. Read more.
Read a rebuttal to critics of the court decision.
WEA president testifies against budget cuts
Hours after hundreds of WEA members rallied in Olympia to oppose further cuts to K-12 and higher education, WEA President Mary Lindquist testified against budget cuts before the House Ways and Means Committee.
“The Washington Education Association’s 82,000 members, hundreds of whom are here today for a Day of Action, stand firmly opposed to another all-cuts state budget. After $2.5 billion in cuts to K-12 education over the last three years, and a 37 percent cut in higher education funding, our schools and our students simply can’t sustain additional budget cuts,” Lindquist said.
Read Lindquist’s complete testimony.
Per-pupil state funding drops
Per-pupil state funding has dropped significantly in recent years. Read the state Senate’s K-12 budget presentation and its overall state budget update.
More facts on funding and revenue
Download the final 2011 budget here.
Click here to read and download the 62nd Washington State Legislative Session End of Session Report.
“No denying it: At least $10 billion has been cut from the state budget.” Read this brand-new report from the Washing State Budget & Policy Center.
Cut deeper or close tax loopholes? Read this compelling comparison from the Our Economic Future Coalition.
Share these news links
Read the speech by President Obama on the economy at Osawatomie High School, in Osawatomie, Kansas
Wealthy businessman Nick Hanauer says tax the rich to support schools and the middle class
The Gates Foundation is funding groups that want to change the way teachers are laid off
Tight Budgets Mean Squeeze in Classrooms
