Many at legislative hearing denounce 'plan' to fix Washington school funding

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A plan from Washington lawmakers that seeks to fix how the state pays for education was met with much criticism and some qualified support in a public hearing.


Many denounced the plan at the hearing Monday for not saying how the Legislature will reduce overreliance on local school levies to pay for basic education, only making a commitment to try and solve the issue next year.

The state Supreme court ruled four years ago that the way the state pays for education is unconstitutional. Lawmakers have been responding to the so-called McCleary decision since, but the court said the Legislature hasn't met some requirements of the ruling, including shrinking overreliance on local levies.

Since August, the Legislature has been sanctioned $100,000 a day until lawmakers complete obligations laid out by the court.