A new era for WA Education? Superintendent proposes full funding via wealth tax

OLYMPIA – Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal on Thursday called for a sweeping overhaul of the state’s education funding, proposing a tax on the state’s wealthiest residents to bridge a budget shortfall and eliminate costs for students and homeowners.

The plan comes as school districts face a combined $750 million deficit in basic education funding. Reykdal argued that skyrocketing costs have forced districts into debt or required them to divert local levies — intended for enrichment programs like the arts — to cover essential services.

Under the proposal, new tax revenue from high earners would be leveraged to:

• Cut property taxes for homeowners by an average of $640 annually.
• Fully fund K-12 education, including special education and transportation.
• Provide free school meals for all students saving families roughly $1,000 per year per child.
• Eliminate tuition and fees for dual-credit programs and provide two years of free tuition at in-state public colleges.

“Incrementalism is failing all of us,” Reykdal said, noting that while the state made strides following the landmark McCleary decision, schools have since lost ground. He highlighted that cost remains the primary barrier to postsecondary education, with the state still 8 percent short of its goal to have 70 percent of young adults earn a credential.

Reykdal urged Governor Bob Ferguson and the Washington Legislature to treat these investments as part of the state’s “paramount duty,” shifting the financial burden away from the middle class to ensure the state’s workforce remains competitive.

File photo of Superintendent Chris Reykdal

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Elkhorn Media Group