From the Classroom to the Capitol: Understanding School Funding

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A Recap of the April 2025 ‘Advocacy Skills in the Education System’ Session

Photos from the April meeting of Advocacy Skills in the Education SystemThis session, hosted by LWPTSA Council and led by our partners Lindsey Yocum and Amy Falcone (absent due to illness), aimed to equip community members with the tools to become effective advocates for all students—from classrooms to the capitol. It emphasized understanding school funding, recognizing systemic inequities, and taking informed action.

🎯 Purpose

To empower participants through education and connection, encouraging them to advocate not just for their own children but for equity across the public education system.

💰 School Funding Breakdown

1. Federal Funding

  • Title I: Supports low-income students via free/reduced lunch metrics
  • Special Education: Underfunded (currently ~9% vs. the 40% federal promise)
  • Head Start and School Meals: Provide foundational support for early education and nutrition

📘 Learn More:
OSPI – Organization and Financing of Schools (2020 Edition)
WSSDA School Funding FAQ

2. State Funding

  • Based on a prototypical school model, which lacks flexibility for local needs and often ignores student voices and real-time conditions
  • It remains the primary driver of K–12 funding, yet is constrained by a rigid, outdated formula.

🔍 Dive deeper into policy and reform:
The People’s Big 5 – Advocacy for Educational Justice

3. Local Funding

  • Comes from voter-approved levies:
    • Capital & Tech Levies: For infrastructure, equipment and safety
    • EP&O Levy: Supports staffing, extracurriculars and early learning
  • While not meant for basic education, levies often fill critical funding gaps in practice.

📄 See how it plays out locally:
LWSD 2024–2025 Budget Summary

⚠️ Equity and PTA Shifts

Originally focused on advocacy, many PTAs have become de facto fundraisers, stepping in where funding falls short. This shift has unintentionally deepened inequities—schools in affluent areas raise more, widening opportunity gaps.

🔍 Reflection: How can PTAs return to advocacy and push for funding models that ensure every child has access to quality education, regardless of ZIP code?

🛠️ Key Takeaways

  • Understand how funding flows and where it falls short.
  • Acknowledge how system design and local fundraising drive inequity.
  • Embrace advocacy as a long-term, collaborative effort—not just a one-time ask.

🚀 What’s Next