Educators, districts urge protection of special education, MSOC and ninth-grade success as Senate negotiates operating budget

Dozens of K-12 advocates and school officials testified March 25 in a Senate Ways & Means public hearing on SB 5,167, praising Senate investments for special education and materials, supplies and operating costs (MSOC) while asking lawmakers to restore or protect specific programs and funding levels.

Stand for Children, the Washington Education Association, the Washington State School Directors Association and multiple superintendents told senators that funding special education and MSOC is essential to districts' ability to keep schools open and serve students. "Funding increases for special education and MSOC are important for students and demonstrate your dedication to meeting the state's paramount duty," said Larry Delaney, president of the Washington Education Association, in testimony.

The nut graf: while many witnesses supported the chair proposal's broad K'12 priorities, several sought restoration of discretionary and targeted grants (notably the Ninth Grade Success Initiative), protection of Educational Service District core services, and retention of program-level supports such as beginning educator supports and the IT academy. Presenters warned that cuts to ESD-provided services and professional learning would reduce supports educators rely on across the state.

Several speakers described impacts on districts. Charlie Brown, representing South Sound superintendents, said the district had already made substantial cuts and warned that additional reductions would mean more layoffs and painful program closures. Tyler Munch from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction urged negotiators to "hold the line" on MSOC funding, saying districts need the dollars to keep doors open and services running.

Multiple witnesses urged restoration of the Ninth Grade Success Initiative and associated grants. Jessica Vavras of the Association of Educational Service Districts and Dr. Doug Judge (a Ninth Grade Success coach) described empirical improvements in freshman on-track rates where the program is implemented. "We've moved our freshmen on track rate from the mid sixties to just below 90%," said Dr. Eric Carlson, Ninth Grade Success director at a high school that implemented the program.

Speakers also raised a range of program-specific requests: Islandwood and the Outdoor School Coalition asked for sustained funding for outdoor school and climate science teacher training; advocates and industry representatives urged reinstatement of the Microsoft IT Academy and certification funding tied to career and technical education; Educational Service Districts requested restoration of several ESD grants and cautioned about cuts to professional learning and student services.

Ending: Testimony closed with repeated requests that the Senate preserve targeted K'12 investments and match or exceed House funding levels for specific grants during budget negotiations.