Our K-12 Educational Crisis
by Bob Wolters
Our children need your help. NOW!!
Become informed. Get engaged and communicate with state legislators and leadership. Let them know school funding is an absolute priority.
This past February, Oak Harbor voters overwhelmingly passed a Levy renewal for the Oak Harbor School District. Congratulations to all the District’s supporters who worked to inform and encourage voters. Levies are generally for learning (operating the schools), while Bond issues are for building (capital for new schools and renovation).
Despite the good news from Oak Harbor, the financial wolf remains at the door of each of the three school districts serving the children of Whidbey Island, and virtually every one of the other 292 K-12 school districts in Washington State.
How bad is it? Let me point you to a recent Seattle Times editorial’s scathing critique of Washington’s K-12 education system. The editorial titled “The kids are not all right”; Washington’s young people are struggling-and our leaders are failing them” pointed to the dismal performance of our children, their schools and our state leaders.
Only 16% of 4-year-olds participate in early learning
Only 50% of students can read at grade level, low- income students 35%
Only 40% of students can do math at grade level, low-income students 24%
27% of all students are absent more than 10% of the school year. Washington ranks 43rd among all states
In 2024, the high school graduation rate was 83%, low-income students were 76%
The Times editorial went on to state “For a state that talks a good game about its progressive public policy, a place that embraces innovation and the concept of good government, the disparity between these ideals and daily reality for our young people is shameful.”
But then the Times concluded: “Our slide toward failure is not due to a lack of money or ideas.”
I disagree with the Times comment because, in fact, the lack of adequate funding is a problem. Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal, warned in January that the state risks another major lawsuit if funding isn’t increased. He has asked for an additional $3 B in this legislative session, primarily for special education, transportation and staff salaries, The League of Women Voters of Washington identified no less than four bills to significantly increase funding to the state’s school districts.
All this comes on top of the state’s looming $12 B shortfall, and who knows what Trump will do to federal education funding for our state.
How did we get here? The Washington Assoc. of School Administrators has prepared an excellent informative piece on how Washington funds K-12 and the shortfalls. I urge you to read it: Go to waschoolfunding.org.
March 2025