Superintendent of Public Instruction

	Average Annual FTEs	Near General Fund State	Other Funds	Total Funds
	(Dollars in Thousands)
Current Budget	390.3	31,201,963	3,849,869	35,051,832
2025-27 Maintenance Level	567.1	33,551,539	2,739,627	36,291,166
Difference from 2025-27 Original	176.8	2,349,576	(1,110,242)	1,239,334
% Change from 2025-27 Original	45.3%	7.5%	(28.8%)	3.5%
2025 Policy Other Changes
Equity and Civil Rights Monitoring	2.0	642	0	642
Cannabis Revenue Distributions	0.0	0	39	39
School District Financial Health	2.0	2,336	0	2,336
Advancing Mastery-Based Learning	3.6	2,000	0	2,000
Graduation Requirements Update	0.0	273	0	273
Reduce Para Grants To Actuals	0.0	(4,000)	0	(4,000)
DRS Rate Impact	0.0	(66,084)	0	(66,084)
Compensatory Education	0.0	4,000	0	4,000
Student Mental & Behavorial Health	0.0	3,800	0	3,800
Health Insurance Rate Adjustment	0.0	(5,296)	0	(5,296)
Special Education Teacher Residency	0.30	400	0	400
Pause National Board Bonus	0.0	(151,121)	0	(151,121)
Transitional Kindergarten TA	1.0	2,000	0	2,000
College Bound Scholarship Outreach	0.0	(2,908)	0	(2,908)
Computer Science Training	0.0	(2,000)	0	(2,000)
Outdoor/FieldSTEM	0.0	(1,500)	0	(1,500)
Federal Way Apprenticships	0.0	(400)	0	(400)
Principal and Supt. Internships	0.0	(250)	0	(250)
Learning Device Grants	0.0	(5,000)	0	(5,000)
Math and Science Equivalency	0.0	(110)	0	(110)
Peer Mentoring	0.0	(1,200)	0	(1,200)
Northwest Education Access	0.0	(1,000)	0	(1,000)
Charter School Technical Assistance	1.0	204	0	204
2025 Policy Other Changes Total	9.9	(225,214)	39	(225,175)
2025 Policy Comp Changes
WFSE General Government	0.0	8	0	8
Non-Rep General Wage Increase	0.0	3,042	1,783	4,825
Non-Rep Targeted Pay Increases	0.0	6	6	12
Non-Rep Minimum Starting Wage	0.0	4	0	4
Updated PEBB Rate	0.0	(101)	(66)	(167)
PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase	0.0	48	30	78
Pension Benefit Amortization	0.0	(177)	(109)	(286)
2025 Policy Comp Changes Total	0.0	2,830	1,644	4,474
2025 Policy Central Services Changes
Archives/Records Management	0.0	2	0	2
Audit Services	0.0	39	0	39
Legal Services	0.0	129	24	153
Administrative Hearings	0.0	337	0	337
WTS Central Services	0.0	66	0	66
DES Central Services	0.0	161	0	161
OFM Central Services	0.0	965	0	965
GOV Central Services	0.0	8	0	8
2025 Policy Central Services Changes Total	0.0	1,707	24	1,731
Total Policy Changes	9.9	(220,677)	1,707	(218,970)
2025-27 Policy Level	577.0	33,330,862	2,741,334	36,072,196
Difference from 2023-25	186.7	2,128,899	(1,108,535)	1,020,364
% Change from 2025-27 Original	47.8%	6.8%	(28.8%)	2.9%

Policy Changes

Equity and Civil Rights Monitoring

OSPI's Equity and Civil Rights Office is directed to publish rules and guidelines to eliminate discrimination in Washington school districts and to monitor and enforce district compliance with those rules and guidelines. State law prohibits discrimination in K-12 public schools, and the services provided by OSPI are available to anyone seeking information, technical assistance, or to file a complaint. With discrimination complaints increasing, funding is provided to support the Equity and Civil Rights Office's capacity to investigate these complaints and support students, families, educators, and school districts in a thorough and timely manner. (General Fund - State)

Cannabis Revenue Distributions

Appropriations from the Dedicated Cannabis Account are adjusted pursuant to chapter 169, Laws of 2022 (E2SSB 5796) and the November 2024 revenue forecast. (Dedicated Cannabis Account - State)

School District Financial Health

OSPI, which monitors the financial health of school districts has increasing authority to dictate or approve specific school district financial actions as a district's financial situation worsens; however, OSPI does not have staff capacity or dedicated resources to support school districts through these hardships and processes. Funding is provided for additional staff positions and resources to provide proactive and solutions-oriented regional and local technical assistance. These resources will support improved school district financial health statewide and help prevent districts from entering into binding conditions with the state as a result of fiscal challenges. (General Fund - State)

WFSE General Government

Funding for bargaining includes a 3%/2% general wage increase, targeted job classification increases, wildfire disaster leave, expanded bereavement leave, and paid vaccine travel time during pandemic emergencies. The agreement also includes: an additional $1 per hour supplemental shift premium for eligible employees who are assigned to a facility that provides direct care to residents, patients, and/or clients and whose duties are performed on location on evenings and weekends; 5% premium pay for employees who are assigned to a 24/7 facility that provides direct care to residents, patients, at-risk youth, and/or clients and whose duties are required to be performed on location, which will be in effect for the 2025–27 biennium; three additional steps on the nurse salary schedule; and an increase to the annual lump-sum payment for employees in LNI risk codes 7200/7201 from $500 to $750. (General Fund - State)

Non-Rep General Wage Increase

Funding is provided for wage increases for state employees who are not represented by a union or are not under a bargaining agreement that is subject to financial feasibility determination. It is sufficient for a general wage increase of 3%, effective July 1, 2025, and a general wage increase of 2%, effective July 1, 2026. This item includes both general government and higher education workers. (Educator Certification Processing A - Non-Appropriated, General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, other funds)

Non-Rep Targeted Pay Increases

Funding is provided for classified state employees who are not represented by a union or not covered by a bargaining agreement subject to financial feasibility determination, for pay increases in specific job classes in alignment with other employees. (General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State)

Non-Rep Minimum Starting Wage

Funding is provided for a starting wage of $18 per hour for state employees who are not represented by a union or are not covered by a bargaining agreement subject to financial feasibility determination. (General Fund - State)

Updated PEBB Rate

This item adjusts the employer funding rate for public employee insurance benefits to reflect policy-level decision packages. It increases the rate by $8 per month in the first fiscal year and decreases the rate by $34 per month in the second fiscal year, compared to the maintenance-level update, for a total rate of $1,315 in the first year and $1,355 in the second year. (Dedicated Cannabis Account - State, K-12 Criminal Background Check Acct - Non-Appropriated, Workforce Education Investment Acc - State, other funds)

PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase

An adjustment is made for pension contribution rates, including to fund a benefit increase of 3%, up to a maximum of $110 per month for eligible Public Employees' and Teachers' Retirement Systems Plan 1 members. (Educator Certification Processing A - Non-Appropriated, General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, other funds)

Pension Benefit Amortization

An adjustment is made to the base pension rates, as set out in a proposed bill addressing the calculation of the base rate for the 2025–27 biennium, as well as amortization of Plan 1 benefit increases. (Dedicated Cannabis Account - State, K-12 Criminal Background Check Acct - Non-Appropriated, Workforce Education Investment Acc - State, other funds)

Archives/Records Management

Adjustments are made for each agency's anticipated share of charges for archives and records management services provided by the Secretary of State's Office. (General Fund - State)

Audit Services

Adjustments are made for each agency's anticipated cost of audits performed by the State Auditor's Office. (General Fund - State)

Legal Services

Adjustments are made for each agency's anticipated cost of legal services provided by the Attorney General's Office. Because legal services expenditures are based on consumption, funding provided in the central service model is not all inclusive. The methodology to estimate consumption is a two-year average and allows for analysis to incorporate unique agency circumstances. (Charter Schools Oversight Account - State, General Fund - State)

Administrative Hearings

Adjustments are made for each agency's anticipated cost of hearings performed by the Office of Administrative Hearings. (General Fund - State)

WTS Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from Washington Technology Solutions for the Office of Cybersecurity, state network, enterprise and small agency IT services, enterprise architecture and data management, Microsoft 365 licenses, and other items. (General Fund - State)

DES Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Department of Enterprise Services for Capitol Campus costs; real estate, risk management, and small agency services; the Perry Street and Capitol Campus child care centers; enterprise applications, and other items. (General Fund - State)

OFM Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Office of Financial Management for existing statewide applications, the One Washington program, and other central services. See Chapter 11 of the 2025–27 OFM Budget Instructions for allocation methodologies. (General Fund - State)

GOV Central Services

Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Office of the Governor for the Office of Equity. (General Fund - State)

Advancing Mastery-Based Learning

Mastery-based learning (MBL) is a key strategy to address persistent gaps and support equitable opportunities in Washington. The state launched a demonstration project in 2021 to support schools transitioning to MBL with grants and professional learning. This investment equips educators with professional learning, tools, state supports, and the network necessary to implement MBL. It also identifies policies, practices, and sustainability structures to successfully transition schools to MBL. (General Fund - State)

Graduation Requirements Update

Current graduation requirements fall short of fully preparing all students for success in our rapidly changing world and have become complex, inequitable, and in some cases, too rigid. Funding is needed for the Washington State Leadership Board's (Board) initiative to update these requirements, including facilitating a task force, subcommittees, and community liaisons and ensuring comprehensive stakeholder input, especially from historically underserved groups, is integrated into the Board's process for developing recommendations for enhancing the graduation requirements framework. (General Fund - State)

Reduce Para Grants To Actuals

Reduce paraeducator training grants to align with actual spending need. (General Fund - State)

DRS Rate Impact

K12 Formula impact from policy level DRS TRS and SERS rate changes. (General Fund - State, WA Opportunity Pathways Account - State)

Compensatory Education

Costs resulting from N.D. V Reykdal litigation. (General Fund - State)

Student Mental & Behavorial Health

Across the nation, students are facing unprecedented mental and behavioral health challenges that negatively impact their ability to learn, develop, and maintain their health and wellness. With roles and responsibilities assigned across different local and state agencies, the fragmented system built to support youth mental and behavioral health has undermined recent investments intended to provide support. Funding will be used to strengthen the K-12 mental and behavioral health system through investments in statewide coordination and leadership, regional student assistance, and more social workers in schools. (General Fund - State)

Health Insurance Rate Adjustment

Health Insurance Rate Adjustment ($1,324 per member per month FY2026; $1,374 per member per month FY2027) (General Fund - State, WA Opportunity Pathways Account - State)

Special Education Teacher Residency

Washington state continues to face a persistent teacher shortage, particularly when it comes to educators who are trained and endorsed to teach special education. In recent years, the Legislature has invested in new and innovative educator workforce recruitment and retention strategies, including teacher residencies. Funding will be utilized to continue state support for a teacher residency apprenticeship program that has proven to be successful. (General Fund - State)

Pause National Board Bonus

Pause bonus for budgetary savings. (General Fund - State, WA Opportunity Pathways Account - State)

Transitional Kindergarten TA

Funding is provided for for the office of superintendent of public instruction to distribute grants, in collaboration with the department of children, youth, and families, to support school districts in implementing blended early childhood education and assistance program and transition to kindergarten classrooms (General Fund - State)