The 2007 Legislature created a Joint Task Force on Basic Education Finance to "review the definition of basic education and all current basic education funding formulas" (SB 5627).  The Task Force is to "develop options for a new funding structure and all the necessary formulas, and propose a new definition of basic education."  The Task Force will complete its work by December 1, 2008. 

Task Force Organization and Operations

• Members
• Staff List
• E2SSB 5627
• Final Bill Report for E2SSB 5627

Contact the Task Force to Provide Input

If you have questions, comments, or would like to join an email update list, please email the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) at bef@wsipp.wa.gov or call 360-586-3952.  Copies of stakeholder emails and notes from phone conversations will be provided to members at each task force meeting.

Task Force Meetings and Materials

Meetings are organized and staffed by the WSIPP unless otherwise noted.

• September 10, 2007
• October 22, 2007
• November 19-20, 2007
• December 13, 2007
• January 11, 2008
• March 24, 2008
• April 14, 2008
• May 6, 2008
• June 9-10, 2008
• July 8, 2008

Upcoming Meetings:  Meetings will be held on the Capitol Campus, Olympia, WA.   Any changes to these meeting dates and/or locations will be posted on this website and announced via the Notices of Upcoming Meetings.

• August 6, 2008 (Senate Conf. Rm. A-B-C, Cherberg Building)
• September 15-16, 2008 (Columbia Room, Legislative Building)
• October 14-15, 2008 (Senate Conf. Rm. A-B-C, Cherberg Building) 
• November 17-18, 2008 (Columbia Room, Legislative Building)
• December 8-9, 2008 (Senate Conf. Rm. A-B-C, Cherberg Building)

Notices of Upcoming Meetings

The Legislative Lists provide a convenient way to be notified of upcoming meetings by e-mail. You may subscribe online at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/subscriptions/ . For agendas, subscribe to the Combined Meeting Schedule. For any additions or changes, subscribe to Committee Agenda Change Notices for the Senate Education and Ways & Means Committees, or the House Education and Appropriations Committees.

Task Force Policy Topics

• April Action Plan Final, Representative Skip Priest, Washington State House of Representatives
• School Employee Compensation - Revised March 21, 2008, Dan Grimm, Chair, Basic Education Finance Joint Task Force
• School Employee Compensation - January 8, 2008, Dan Grimm, Chair, Basic Education Finance Joint Task Force
• Washington Assessment of Student Learning, Dan Grimm, Chair, Basic Education Finance Joint Task Force
• Policy and Budget Questions, Dan Grimm, Chair, Basic Education Finance Joint Task Force
• Working Paper, Representative Skip Priest, Washington State House of Representatives
• Draft Ideas, Superintendent Bette Hyde, Bremerton School District 
• Responses to Policy and Budget Questions, Representative Kathy Haigh, Washington State House of Representatives
• Additional Topics, Representative Skip Priest, Washington State House of Representatives 

WSIPP Reports to the Task Force

• Initial Report to the Task Force
• School Employee Compensation and Student Outcomes