This perpetual underfunding from the state has significantly contributed to cuts of over $25 million dollars over the last few years in the Edmonds School District. If the state does not increase its funding allocation to the district, more staff, program and elective cuts are planned. Notably, instrumental music for 6th grade is on the chopping block across the Edmonds School District, after last year’s cut of 5th grade instrumental music. It is widely believed that eliminating 6th grade instrumental programs will lead to the eventual devastation of the secondary music programs that the Edmonds School District is so well known for. This is likely to happen within 2-3 years.
The 2025 Washington State legislative session began on January 13, 2025, and is scheduled to run for 105 days, ending on April 27, 2025. This long session focuses on addressing a projected budget shortfall while adopting the 2025-27 Operating, Capital, and Transportation budgets.
Key dates for the 2025 legislative session include:
- February 21: Policy Committee Cutoff (house of origin)
- March 12: House of Origin Cutoff
- April 2: Opposite House Policy Cutoff
- April 27: Final day of session
There are several important issues being discussed specific to public education funding. These include:
- Special Education Funding: The Senate unanimously approved a bill to provide an additional $2 billion over the next four years for special education services in Washington’s public schools.
- K-12 Education Priority: The percentage of the state’s general fund budget dedicated to K-12 education has decreased from 52.4% five years ago to about 43.1% currently.
- Constitutional Obligation: The state is facing pressure to fulfill its financial promise to fully fund basic public education. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has requested $501 million in Fiscal Year 2026 and $1.5 billion for the 2025-27 Biennium to meet this obligation.
- Transforming Student Learning & Well-Being: OSPI has requested $483 million in Fiscal Year 2026 and $1.3 billion for the 2025-27 Biennium to address real costs of student, family, and community needs.
- Other priority topics include the rising cost of transportation, insurance, materials and operating costs.
While we are already more than halfway through this year’s session, there is still plenty of time to get involved and make a difference. Big or small, any effort will have an impact. To explore ways to get involved, visit and bookmark the Washington State PTA’s Focus on Advocacy site.
Four Action Steps You Can Take
- Send an Email or Call TODAY
- Email or call your state legislative officials and assistants with YOUR story of how the last few years of budget cuts have affected your student and family.
- The following bills are wide sweeping and will benefit all districts in the state: SB 5192, HB 1338 MSOC Increase, HB 1357, SB 5263 SPED, SB 55923 (lifting local levy – does not cost the state anything). Please add these to your letter.
- MTHS is in the 32nd District, served by
- Stay informed by bookmarking / joining the following sites
- https://wastatepta.org/focus-areas/advocacy/
- https://mthsmusic.org/save/
- Respond to future Action Alerts when bills reach critical points in the legislature
- Sign up for Action Alerts to get up-to-date information on things you can do to help our schools
- Subscribe to the MTHS Newsletter for updates
- Email your Principal and Vice Principals to let them know how important music is to your family
- Contact info: MTHS Directory
