School Funding

Federal money accounts for a little over eighteen cents of every dollar received and helps provide vital services in specific areas.

The federal government provides some funding for programs that help special education students, disadvantaged students, and students who are learning to speak English, and also provides subsidies for food services. Pasco receives a higher percentage of federal funding than most districts across the state because of the student demographics; Pasco has more students who qualify under federal programs that other districts.

75.6% of the school district’s revenue comes as a direct apportionment from the State of Washington because Article IX of the State Constitution says that it “is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders ...” This means that the state must provide funding for basic education. Consequently, each school district in the state receives an amount of money from the state (called an apportionment) that is based on the number of students it has enrolled in its classrooms.  apportionment.

The state also provides money for programs such as special education, bilingual education and student transportation and has provided some money for a number of programs that go beyond what it defines as ”basic education.” For example, state voters passed Initiative 728 in 2000 that was intended to provide school districts with extra money (called Student Achievement Funds) for a number of programs intended to improve student learning. In recent years, however, the state has eliminated Student Achievement Funds and many other additional programs in an effort to cut the state’s operating budget. Read more about this below.

Local funding is generated through levies and bonds approved by the voters. Both are based upon local property valuations—property owners pay a set amount for each $1,000 of property value. Once approved, bond and levy amounts cannot increase with property values. When property values increase in a community, the amount paid per $1,000 decreases. Senior citizens and low income property owners may apply for an exemption from bond and levy taxes.

ASB School Activity Reports

Levy dollars support student enrichment programs not fully funded by the state, such as: 

• Student programs
• Teacher pay, for additional teachers above the state minimum
• Instructional assistants in classrooms 
• Textbooks, curriculum, and teacher training
• Additional course offerings for students
• Athletics
• Arts and music
• Special education
• Bus transportation (not fully funded by the state)
• Building and grounds maintenance (not fully funded by the state)
• Computers and technology
• Gifted education programs
• Community use of facilities 

Why are voters asked to approve levies every two to four years?
By law, operations levies can only be proposed for a period of four years or less. Typically, school districts propose levies of two, three, or four years. After the allotted number of years, the levy expires. Voters must approve a renewal of funding, or local financial support for schools ends. Generally, the levy you are voting on simply replaces one that is about to expire.

By law, bonds may not be used to pay for the day-to-day costs of operating schools or school districts. Bonds provide funds only for capital projects, such as:

• New schools
• Acquisition of property
• Renovation or modernization of schools and athletic facilities