We are championing three essential funding priorities in its legislative agenda for 2025. Our priorities align with those set by the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA), the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) and school districts in the region.
The priorities—special education funding, Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs (MSOC) funding, and transportation funding—focus on securing the resources we need to continue to provide high-quality education for all students. On November 6, the School Board formally approved these three legislative priorities.
“We are committed to seeing these three priorities recognized and funded by the state,” said School Board President Angelica Alvarez. “If the state steps up in these areas, it will allow Highline to dedicate local levy funds to our unique priorities, like literacy, 9th-grade success, and career-connected learning—initiatives and programs that directly enrich the experiences and outcomes of our students.”
Currently, nearly 20% of our budget relies on local levy funds to cover essentials like special education paraeducators, bus monitors, instructional materials and more—expenses that should be fully state-funded. Highline can redirect local dollars to programs that specifically support its students if school districts receive full state support in these areas:
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Special Education Funding – Supporting every student equitably requires additional resources that should be state-funded.
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Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs (MSOC) – Rising operational costs due to inflation need state support to alleviate the budget burden on local levies.
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Transportation Funding – Ensuring students have safe, reliable transportation to and from school is essential and should be fully state-funded.
Now that I-2109 has been defeated by voters, we join advocates across the state in urging legislators to prioritize K-12 funding using revenue generated by the capital gains tax. By prioritizing these three areas, legislators can positively impact the educational experience and outcomes for students in Highline and across Washington.