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Why some WA districts get millions more in state funding than others
During a budget update at a recent School Board meeting, the Board paused to discuss how “regionalization” is impacting our bottom line.
Regionalization is an additional percentage of funding that Washington state allocates to some districts but not others. Simply put, the State determines which areas are high-cost areas, and then gives those districts more money each year. The idea is that if the cost of living is higher, the staff needs to be paid more.
The problem with regionalization can be summed up in one word: commuting.
“The fact of the matter is, we’re competing in those job markets with all of the districts around us,” said Superintendent Brian Lowney. “Not every teacher that works in Bethel lives in the Bethel School District.”
Bethel received 0% regionalization until 2023 when we finally were given 6%.
“As soon as the State did that, they then increased the regionalization of those districts around us.” Lowney said. “We are right back in the same boat we were in.”
With Bethel at 6% and our neighbors now at 12%, Bethel is still at a disadvantage when it comes to hiring.
“It’s a flawed system,” said Lowney.
Board Director Terrance Mayers Sr. took it a step further and equated regionalization to redlining – a now illegal government practice from the 1930’s where neighborhoods were deprived of resources and opportunities based on residents’ race. “It [regionalization] may be well intentioned, but at the end of the day that’s kind of what it is,” he said. “They say that kids in schools in certain areas should get more money than us.”
Mayers said that doesn’t sit well with him. “Sometimes best efforts aren’t seen through an equity lens. And we do everything we can to try and make up for the difference,” he said.
Another issue with state funding is the outdated funding formula used to decide how much money school districts need in the first place. All districts in Washington need to employ more teachers and staff than the formula currently pays for, which is why we need local levies to help supplement the appropriate number of staff and teachers.
While total dollars invested in K-12 education has increased over the last decade, the K-12 share of investment has declined. Since 2019, the percentage of the state’s budget for K-12 education has gone down significantly. In 2019-21 it was 51.6%. From 2025-27 it will be 43.2%.
Passing our local levies also allows Bethel to continue receiving Local Effort Assistance. That is more than $12 million annually of additional dollars from the State that only comes when local levies are approved by voters. If local levies are not approved, not only do we lose the levy money, but we lose the LEA money as well.
Our two replacement levies will be on the ballot in February. You can learn all about them at bethelsd.org/levy.
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By Bethel School DistrictDuring a budget update at a recent School Board meeting, the Board paused to discuss how “regionalization” is impacting our bottom line.
Regionalization is an additional percentage of funding that Washington state allocates to some districts but not others. Simply put, the State determines which areas are high-cost areas, and then gives those districts more money each year. The idea is that if the cost of living is higher, the staff needs to be paid more.
The problem with regionalization can be summed up in one word: commuting.
“The fact of the matter is, we’re competing in those job markets with all of the districts around us,” said Superintendent Brian Lowney. “Not every teacher that works in Bethel lives in the Bethel School District.”
Bethel received 0% regionalization until 2023 when we finally were given 6%.
“As soon as the State did that, they then increased the regionalization of those districts around us.” Lowney said. “We are right back in the same boat we were in.”
With Bethel at 6% and our neighbors now at 12%, Bethel is still at a disadvantage when it comes to hiring.
“It’s a flawed system,” said Lowney.
Board Director Terrance Mayers Sr. took it a step further and equated regionalization to redlining – a now illegal government practice from the 1930’s where neighborhoods were deprived of resources and opportunities based on residents’ race. “It [regionalization] may be well intentioned, but at the end of the day that’s kind of what it is,” he said. “They say that kids in schools in certain areas should get more money than us.”
Mayers said that doesn’t sit well with him. “Sometimes best efforts aren’t seen through an equity lens. And we do everything we can to try and make up for the difference,” he said.
Another issue with state funding is the outdated funding formula used to decide how much money school districts need in the first place. All districts in Washington need to employ more teachers and staff than the formula currently pays for, which is why we need local levies to help supplement the appropriate number of staff and teachers.
While total dollars invested in K-12 education has increased over the last decade, the K-12 share of investment has declined. Since 2019, the percentage of the state’s budget for K-12 education has gone down significantly. In 2019-21 it was 51.6%. From 2025-27 it will be 43.2%.
Passing our local levies also allows Bethel to continue receiving Local Effort Assistance. That is more than $12 million annually of additional dollars from the State that only comes when local levies are approved by voters. If local levies are not approved, not only do we lose the levy money, but we lose the LEA money as well.
Our two replacement levies will be on the ballot in February. You can learn all about them at bethelsd.org/levy.