Smart Bombs: School funding stuck in time

In the movie “Groundhog Day,” Bill Murray plays a contemptuous TV reporter who must slog through the same experiences over and over. It’s only when he changes his ways that the nightmare ends.

It’s like the politics of basic education funding without the laughs.

The state enters its time warp in the mid-1970s, when 65 school districts experience double levy failures. The Seattle School District sues. At the heart of that legal action – and this issue ever since – was this question: If the state fails to fulfill its constitutional obligation to amply fund basic education and local property owners turn down levies, then what?

In 1977, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Robert Doran asks the Legislature to define “basic education.” It’s a task that would be put off for more than 30 years. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction’s website has a handy timeline that details the flurry of inactivity ever since.

It’s like watching coming attractions for a movie that’s never released.

In 1987, the state doubles the levy lid to 20 percent, meaning local districts could raise the money state lawmakers weren’t sending. This works for richer districts, but it exacerbates the problem of inequitable funding for the rest.

In 1991, then-Gov. Booth Gardner forms a task force, which recommends a funding revision by the 1997-98 school year. However, it doesn’t identify a funding source for additional money.

In 1993, the Legislature passes a bill that adds results-oriented standards to education and forms a task force to study school funding. The committee studies and studies, but no results.

In 1999, the state raises the levy lid to 24 percent.

In 2006, then-Gov. Chris Gregoire’s Washington Learns committee issues a 10-year plan to redesign and reinvest in education. No funding source is recommended.

In 2007, the McCleary lawsuit is filed, and the Basic Education Funding Task Force is formed to figure out financing based on what the prototypical school would need. No funding source is identified.

In 2009, the Legislature passes ESHB 2261, which finally nails down the definition of “basic education.” It also creates the Quality Education Council, which is charged with devising a funding formula. It’s what Gardner wanted resolved by 1997-98.

As for a funding source … it’s Groundhog Day!

The Quality Education Council does issue this recommendation: “These are complex and technical questions. The Legislature should create a technical team to develop a new local levy and equalization system for implementation in the 2011-13 biennium.”

In 2010, a Superior Court judge rules against the state on education funding and in favor of a plaintiff named McCleary. The Legislature passes ESBH 2276, which creates a deadline of 2018 to fully fund basic education.

Meanwhile, the state raises the levy lid to 28 percent. (Some school districts have even higher caps that were grandfathered in.)

In 2012, the Supreme Court affirms McCleary and retains jurisdiction. Two years later, it holds the Legislature in contempt over lack of progress. Some lawmakers turn insolent, believing they don’t need baby-sitting after four decades of indolence. The Legislature demonstrates its steely resolve by forming another task force. This one outlines several funding options, but doesn’t settle on one.

Since then, the Legislature has increased education funding by about $1 billion, but it still hasn’t solved the thorniest of issues: How to wean local districts off levy dollars, and where to find several billion dollars more to finish the job in time to meet the 2018 deadline.

But not to worry. The House and Senate each passed bills this session calling for a task force.

Associate Editor Gary Crooks can be reached at garyc@spokesman.com or (509) 459-5026. Follow him on Twitter @GaryCrooks