Pullman Public Schools

September 12, 2024

Curious About School Funding?

Infographic comparing Washington State's 2019 and 2024 budgets, highlighting K-12 education and other state program funding percentages.

A New Website Provides Information on Statewide Core Issues Regarding Washington State School Funding

Like many districts across Washington, Pullman School District is facing financial challenges as the cost of meeting student needs continues to rise while state funding falls short. To help explain these pressures and advocate for increased state support, the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) has launched WA School Funding.

Pullman School District’s Finance Director, Diane Hodge, highlights the strain of rising insurance and utilities costs, with the district seeing a $440,000 increase in insurance and $450,000 more in utilities over the past two years. The district pays $2.2–$2.4 million in these costs, while the state only funds $1 million.

In addition to these financial burdens, inflation, unfunded mandates, and inadequate staffing models further impact the district's ability to support educational programs and services. WASA's website provides solutions to help school budgets in both the short and long term.

Our district is actively advocating for better funding from the state and encourages community members to engage with legislators to support this cause. Together, we can work toward a sustainable future for our schools and students.

We will continue to keep our community informed.

This is a brief summary of the Pullman School District September Pullman Community Update article. To read the article in its entirety, please click the link below:

Read the full article here

Graphic detailing Washington's school funding issues, highlighting K-12 funding and three key challenges: behavioral health, special education, and costs.