Do your research on public school funding and the history of education in Washington state and the United States. Think critically about everything you read and hear—what sounds like a good idea on the surface can cause more harm if we're not informed.

We recommend this thoughtful opinion by Mark Epstein and Michael Dixon. It was published by the South Seattle Emerald last year, but the content is very relevant to our conversations happening today.

We also recommend Underfunded and Unsustainable a recent report on the education funding crisis from The League of Education Voters. The report contains findings from in-depth interviews with district superintendents from 28 Washington state school districts and a look at district staffing and spending data to help inform how we can respond and ensure that students are centered as we look to how we can emerge from this challenging time.

Organize with SCPTSA and other organizations who have been advocating for equitable and fully-funded education across Washington State for some time. Select organizations that were estabolished and are currently led by folks of color. Make sure the organization as a whole is representitive of the Students and families in Seattle Public Schools. Families and communities with students furthest from educational justice have the knowledge and experience needed to change our public education system so ALL children can thrive. SPCPTSA recommends checking out the Southeast Seattle Education Coalition and Equity in Education Coalition to start.

The People's Big Five—a grassroots coalition echoing Professor David Knight’s “Big 5” legislative priorities for fully and equitably funding education in Washington State—calls on Legislators to reform critical funding for K-12 education. Sign the pledge and share it with your community! WSPTSA supports the Big Five priorities. PTA leaders can vote with their board and/or their membership to rally around these five priorities in the 2025 legislative session. Learn more about the Big 5 here and here and on the The People’s Big 5 Funding Priorities website.

1.  Fully Funding Special Education – by shifting from rate of inclusion to determine funding weights that include specific disability categories and their associated cost

2. Fully Funding K-12 Transportation Needs – updating the STARS transportation funding model to ensure it is sufficient to meet cost and does not penalize districts for achieving efficiencies   

3. Addressing Inflation  – increase funding allocation for materials, supplies and operating cost (MSOC) to reflect the impacts of inflation on costs such as insurance, fuel, utilities 

4. Passing Progressive Revenue Legislation – identifying sustainable progressive revenue streams for K-12 education funding 

5. Reforming school funding allocations for Equity Statewide – reforming Learning Assistance Programs and Local Education Authority funding to ensure equitable support for low-income students and lower-income districts

Voter-Approved Education Levies Support Seattle Students

Every three years, Seattle Public Schools asks voters to consider renewing two levies that support our students, staff, and schools. While SPS receives funding, based on enrollment, from state and federal sources, the district also relies on local levies to fund our schools. Levies help bridge the gap between what we need for students, staff, and schools and what we receive from the state.

The February 2025 levies replace current local funding sources and help SPS fund day-to-day operations for our schools and help make sure students have safe and healthy school buildings, including access to technology to meet today’s learning needs.

The money collected from local, voter approved levies stays in our district to support our students. These levies will not resolve the district’s budget shortfall; they renew current funding to maintain essential school operations, provide special education services, support classroom technology, enhance school safety, and fund the renovation and repair of school facilities.

Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy

The three-year Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O) would replace the expiring EP&O, which was approved by Seattle voters in 2022. 

This levy is placed on the ballot every three years. We use these levy funds to provide the quality of education that our students and families expect. This includes additional funding for services such as special education and child nutrition.

Building Excellence VI Capital Levy (BEX VI)

The six-year Building Excellence VI Capital Levy (BEX VI) would replace the expiring Building Excellence V Capital Levy (BEX V), which was approved by Seattle voters in 2019. 

Capital levies are the primary funding source for school renovations and replacement, and school building improvements. Technology for students, teachers, school staff, and administrators, and for district operations is also primarily funded by capital levies.

How PTAs Can Help
Inform, Advocate, Donate!

• Share information from from SPS and Schools First

• Schedule a levy meeting to inform your PTA

• Encourage your school community to vote YES!

• Be vocal in your support of the levies

• Pass a resolution to support the levies

• Donate to Schools First to support the campaign

We believe diversity is our strength, equity drives our mission and collaboration must be inclusive.

Who is in your community?
Who are the students and families in your building?
Who do your communications reach?
Who is included in discussions and events?
Who is represented in leadership?

Our mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. We can only achieve this in full collaboration and partnership with the broadest possible set of volunteers, staff, educators, schools and communities. Our work begins with building relationships and requires us to recognize and address bias and privilege, and account for cultural status and power dynamics.