The WSSEC has stated all along that the real funding issue is the critical shortage of funding for ALL students in our public schools today, not just one minority group. We are confident that the Supreme Court will reaffirm the McCleary ruling next year.
Christie Perkins
WSSEC Public Policy Chair
Statement by Supt. Randy Dorn on Alliance lawsuit:
The Washington state Supreme Court issued its ruling today on School Districts’ Alliance for Adequate Funding of Special Education v. State. The Court affirmed the Court of Appeals ruling that the Alliance should have included the basic education allocation when calculating whether the state underfunds special education. “When the BEA is included, the Alliance has not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the State underfunds special education,” the Supreme Court stated.
The real issue regarding education funding is whether it is amply funded.
We know it is not. In February, the King County Superior Court, in the McCleary case, ruled that the state isn’t living up to its constitutional duty to amply fund education. That case is where the real debate lies. When the state amply funds education, all students, including those who receive special education services, will benefit.