Gov. Inslee proposes to fully fund the safety net and to begin phasing in Chris Reykdahl’s proposal for need-based special education funding (p. 27)
Special education investments in the 2018 legislative session, including the final compensation increase under McCleary, raised special education program funding by $340 million from the 2017–18 to the 2018–19school years.
In his 2019–21 budget, the governor takes the next steps to fund the special education needs of Washington students:
- $51 million to fully fund the safety net, a program that reimburses districts for extraordinary expenditures on services to students with the highest-cost special education needs.
- $94 million to begin phasing in the targeted and enhanced special education funding structure proposed by Superintendent of PublicInstruction Chris Reykdal. As the state explores its goals and options for special education, the superintendent's plan will align state resources more closely with student needs.
- $1 million for the Washington State Institute of Public Policy to study special education goals, services and outcomes — nationally and internationally — to help inform Washington’sfuture options for special education.