In Washington state, public education is a civil right. A quality public education gives all children the opportunity to be successful. Yet every day the state fails to fully fund basic education, we are violating our children’s civil rights. Now, nearly 10 years after the McCleary school funding case began, it is time to deliver on the promise our Constitution makes to our children.
Recognizing that public education is both the state’s paramount duty and every child’s constitutional civil right, the Supreme Court, in its McCleary decision, ordered the state to increase state funding for basic education. Some, however, want to make McCleary about anything other than increasing state funding for basic education. Washington Education Association members remind legislators that:
Recognizing that public education is both the state’s paramount duty and every child’s constitutional civil right, the Supreme Court, in its McCleary decision, ordered the state to increase state funding for basic education. Some, however, want to make McCleary about anything other than increasing state funding for basic education. Washington Education Association members remind legislators that:
- McCleary is not about levy reform.
- McCleary is not about increasing state control over public schools or reducing local flexibility and decision-making.
- McCleary is not about restricting how teachers are paid.
- McCleary is about the Legislature keeping its constitutional promise to our children and fully funding the basic education program it – the Legislature itself – wrote into law.
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