How Highline Public Schools Are Funded*

Where does Highline Public Schools funding come from? 

Our schools receive money from three sources:
  • The state (about 65%)
  • Local school district taxpayers (about 19%)
  • The federal government (about 10%)
  • Grants and other sources (about 6%)

State Funding

The Basic Education Act of 1997 set a formula for giving each of the state’s school districts a certain dollar amount for every Full Time Equivalent (FTE) student – each student attending school all day. For students who need extra services, such as special education programs, gifted education, or bilingual education, there are state and federal formulas for additional dollars.
 
Districts receive additional state funding for salaries for teachers with advanced degrees. Districts with fewer than 300 students also receive extra money.
 

Federal Funding

The federal government provides financial support for schools with high numbers of students in poverty. Also, federal dollars pay for a percentage of vocational programs, special education, Native American education, disability programs, food service programs, and special grants.
 

Local Funding 

Local funding is generated through levies and bonds approved by the voters. Both are based upon local property valuations—property owners pay a set amount for each $1,000 of property value. Once approved, bond and levy amounts cannot increase with property values. When property values increase in a community, the amount paid per $1,000 decreases. Senior citizens and low income property owners may apply for an exemption from bond and levy taxes.
 
What is the difference between bonds and levies?
 
Simply stated, levies are for learning, and bonds are for building.
 
Levies
 
Levy dollars support student instruction and day-to-day operations of schools, such as:
 
  • Student programs
  • Teacher pay, above the state salary schedule
  • Instructional assistants in classrooms
  • Textbooks and curriculum training
  • Additional curriculum offerings for students
  • Athletics
  • Bus transportation, above what the state provides
  • Building and grounds maintenance, above state funding
  • Computers and technology
  • Gifted education programs
  • Community use of facilities
Bonds
 
By law, bonds may not be used to pay for the day-to-day costs of operating schools or school districts. Bonds provide funds only for capital projects, such as:
 
  • New schools
  • Acquisition of property
  • Renovation or modernization of schools and athletic facilities
Why are voters asked to approve levies every two to four years?
 
By law, operations levies can only be proposed for a period of four years or less. Typically, school districts propose levies of two, three, or four years. After the allotted number of years, the levy expires. Voters must approve a renewal of funding, or local financial support for schools ends. Generally, the levy you are voting on simply replaces one that is about to expire.
 
At Highline Public Schools, we are very grateful to voters for their ongoing support of school operation levies. The children of our community benefit every day from the resources provided by you, the voters.
 
* Based on: Do You Know How Your Public Schools Are Funded, Snohomish County Schools Public Information Cooperative