Major boost to special education funding gets Washington Senate approval
State senators delivered a resounding message Wednesday that a looming budget shortfall cannot deter them from upping special education funding for Washington public schools.
On a 48-0 vote, the Senate approved a bill to provide another $2 billion in the next four years for special education services in the state’s 295 public school districts.
Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, and Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, are the sponsors of Senate Bill 5263 which identifies special education as a component of basic education that the state has a duty to fund.
Pedersen said the tight budget situation is going to involve “some wrenching choices” but the state Constitution “is very clear that funding basic education is our paramount duty.”
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/03/12/major-boost-to-special-education-funding-gets-washington-senate-approval/