2009 Legislative Session

To close a historic $9 billion shortfall, lawmakers approved a 2009-2011 operating budget that spared no one. For the next two years, children and students, families, the elderly, and the uninsured, will bear the brunt of a recession budget. Although legislators prioritized children and education, there is no doubt the quality of education will be affected by $1.6 billion in cuts to teachers, schools and colleges.

Below is information about each area of the education budget:

Our Vision To Strengthen Schools

During the 2009 legislative session, we advocated for investments and reforms to achieve a public education system that gets every child ready for life:

  • Ensure every child reads by the third grade;
  • An excellent teacher in every classroom;
  • Diplomas that get kids ready for college, work and life;
  • Math and science that help our kids lead the way in a changing, high-tech economy; and
  • More investment in our kids’ education, and more accountability to ensure success.

  • View our legislative priorities for 2009

A Way Forward

LEV Foundation proposed major reforms to Washington’s public education system at the Basic Education Finance Task Force meeting Tuesday, June 10, 2008.  Many of our reform proposals were adopted by the Legislature in ESHB 2261, the landmark education reform bill.

View the full proposal and a comparison chart of what was adopted in ESHB 2261.

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