Superintendent Chris Reykdal: The Legislature must amply fund K‑12 schools in the 2027 session as the Constitution requires

Washington's state schools superintendent, Chris Reykdal, told the Northwest Progressive Institute that he believes the state is currently failing its constitutional duty to amply fund K-12 education. He made the comments after releasing his 2027 budget priorities on September 10, 2026. The article notes that the state Supreme Court ended its oversight of the McCleary school funding case in June 2018, but says that did not settle whether funding is adequate.

For the next two-year budget, Reykdal's office (OSPI) asks for $503.5 million in added basic-education money in 2028 and $693.4 million in 2029, about $1.2 billion in total. It separately seeks roughly $755 million more for the Learning Assistance Program, Transition to Kindergarten and elementary math professional development. OSPI estimates that inflation alone has opened a gap of about $633.4 million a year compared with per-student funding in 2018-19.

Reykdal also says lawmakers erred in 2017 by cutting local levies as part of the McCleary response, and argues that property-poor communities need more resources. Attorney Tom Ahearne, who represented the McCleary plaintiffs, says basic education must be funded before other priorities. The article says another lawsuit is possible if lawmakers do not act. The Legislature's 105-day session begins in January 2027.