Analysis of EHB 2242

Washington State was sued by a coalition of advocacy groups for failing to fund the public-school system adequately. Washington State Legislature passed Engrossed House Bill (EHB) 2242 to appease the courts and provide Washington state public schools with ample funding. EHB 2242 increased state property levies and taxes. EHB 2242 also placed a cap on local levies to minimize the state\u27s reliance on property owners to fund the public-school system. Local levies were capped at the lesser of $2,500 per student or $1.50 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. Several districts were negatively affected by the cap placed on local levies and were no longer able to fund their basic needs. The state responded by passing ESSB 5313, increasing the state\u27s public-school budget to an all-time high, but it exacerbated existing problems within the public school system. Schools in high-income districts receive more in funding than schools in low-income districts because high-income districts have higher property values. The disparity in funding has left students in low-income districts at a disadvantage and schools without the funds to compensate their teachers adequately. The State can remove funding at the local level and adopt a system that distributes funding at the state level, equally disbursed in districts. Also, the state could create a statewide school voucher program that would give the funding directly to the families. This would give the power to choose the child\u27s institution for learning. Both alternatives provide suitable solutions to the problems with Washington\u27s funding policy