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Board hears Lake Washington memo on funding gaps and data showing University Place "beats the odds" on test scores
Summary
Directors discussed a Lake Washington School District memo highlighting special-education funding shortfalls and reviewed district-level data presented by a director showing University Place scoring about 19 percentage points above predicted results on state tests.
Board members discussed a memo from the Lake Washington School District that raised concerns about a statewide funding gap for special education and considered whether University Place should join a multi-district advocacy effort.
A board member summarized the memo and urged caution about messaging: the memo, written by Lake Washington School District, "voiced the concerns of many school districts ... that our legislature is, um, not fulfilling, uh, its paramount duty," the board member said, calling attention to the gap between what districts spend and what state and federal funding provide.
The board discussed specifics raised in the memo: a cited example that Lake Washington spent about $87 million on special education while receiving $63 million from state and federal sources. Directors said when a funding gap exists districts often rely on levies to fill shortfalls, a practice that can deepen inequities. Director Maloney warned that recent changes to the levy lid and reductions in local effort assistance (LEA) may make local levies more critical for some districts.
The board also reviewed a data packet from ESD 113 showing University Place ‘‘beat the odds’’ on English language arts and math metrics. Director Maloney (who presented the data) said the consolidated score for tested grades was 71% compared with a predicted 52% based on district demographics — a roughly 19 percentage-point difference he described as evidence the district is performing above expectations. Board members cautioned the data likely reflect tested grade levels only and asked staff to verify the headcount and methodology.
No formal action was taken; the board agreed to monitor the evolving statewide advocacy and to consider how, if at all, to support Lake Washington’s effort.
