Prototypical School Funding Model Allocations.
The prototypical school funding model allocates general apportionment funding to school districts based on assumed levels of staff and other resources necessary to support "prototypical" elementary, middle, and high schools. These prototypical schools are assumed to have the following full-time student enrollments: 400 students for elementary school, 432 students for middle school, and 600 students for high school. In addition to other allocations, for each prototypical school, the model includes the minimum allocations for teaching assistance:
| Elementary | Middle | High | |
| Teaching assistance, including any aspect of educational instructional services provided by classified employees | 0.936 | 0.700 | 0.652 |
Discretionary Spending of Allocations.
Subject to some limits, the funding provided to school districts through the prototypical school funding model is for allocation purposes only. This means that school districts have discretion over spending decisions and can, for example, use funding allocated for aides to hire teachers, to purchase technology, or on other costs. However, there are exceptions to this discretionary spending allowance, including that funding for average kindergarten through grade 3 (K-3) class sizes may be provided only to the extent of and proportionate to the school districts' demonstrated actual class size in grades K-3, up to the funded class sizes.
Additional Allocations Specified for School Staff.
In addition to the staffing units funded through the prototypical school funding model, certain additional staffing units are specified in statute. These additional staffing units are not allocated until they are specifically appropriated and designated for those staff in the omnibus operating appropriations act. These are additional units specified for the following types of staff:
| Elementary | Middle | High | |
| Teaching assistance, including any aspect of educational instructional services provided by classified employees | 1.0640 | 0.3000 | 0.3480 |
The minimum allocations in the prototypical school funding model for teaching assistance, including any aspect of educational instructional services provided by classified employees, are increased by 0.1 full-time equivalent (FTE) per prototypical school in the state's prototypical funding model beginning in the 2024-25 school year.
The additional allocations specified in statute beyond the prototypical formula for teaching assistance are reduced for 0.1 FTE per prototypical school.
The substitute replaces the phased-in increases to prototypical school staffing ratios for teaching assistance, office support staff, and noninstructional aides in the underlying bill with an increase of 0.1 FTE per prototypical school for teaching assistance, including any aspect of educational instructional services provided by classified employees, beginning in the 2024-25 school year.
(In support) This policy provides funding through state formulas to help the staff most in need of increased wages and support. Even though this is a supplemental year, some support is needed. Paraeducators and office workers in schools play a vital role in supporting and interacting with students. The bill would bring funding for these job types up to the levels envisioned by the Quality Education Council, the Staffing Enrichment Workgroup, and Initiative 1351. The state should be committed to fully funding education. The lack of state funding for these roles is causing budget crises for school districts. Funding shortfalls are requiring school districts to have an overreliance on local levies for these positions. The current funding model does not provide the needed staffing for basic education and social-emotional learning. These employees need a living wage. Though this does not go far enough, the incremental increases are good. School districts employ more paraeducators than the state provides. This bill would fund only a small portion of paraeducators, but it is a good beginning to an overhaul of school funding.
(Opposed) None.
Representative Monica Jurado Stonier, prime sponsor; Julie Salvi, Washington Education Association; Tyler Muench, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Marissa Rathbone, Washington State School Directors' Association; Rick Chisa, Public School Employees of Washington and Service Employees International Union 1948; Nancy Katims, Edmonds School District; and Malorie Larson, Washington State Parent Teacher Association.