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."   

Recommendations from the Task Force

• Final Report

Task Force Organization and Operations

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

Comprehensive Proposals Sponsored by Task Force Members

• Going the Extra Mile: A Finance System for Student Success, Terry Bergeson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Washington State Basic Education Funding Proposal: Preparing Children to Succeed in the 21st Century, Representative Ross Hunter, Representative Pat Sullivan, Representative Fred Jarrett, Representative Glenn Anderson, Representative Skip Priest, and Senator Rodney Tom
• Full Funding Coalition Proposal (made up of the Washington Education Association, Washington State School Directors’ Association, Washington Association of School Administrators, Association of Washington School Principals, and Public School Employees of Washington), sponsored by Bette Hyde, Superintendent of Bremerton School District, Jim Kowalkowski, Superintendent of Davenport School District, and Cheryl Chow, President of the Seattle School Board
  • Attaining a World-Class K–12 System: Aligning Washington’s Education Structure with 21st Century Educational Expectations
  • Draft Bill Z-0204.5/09
  • Budget Bill Amendments 
League of Education Voters Foundation, sponsored by Representative Pat Sullivan
• The Way Forward: Five Proposals to Transform Washington Education Finance and Drive Gains in Student Achievement
• Improving Student Performance: The Fundamentals, Dan Grimm, Task Force Chair
  
  Summary of Proposals to the Task Force, Annie Pennucci, Washington State Institute for Public Policy
• Summary of Proposals
• Summary of Proposals–November 11, 2008 Revision
• Summary of Proposals–November 17, 2008 Revision
• Summary of Preliminary Decisions and Data Issues
• Summary of Preliminary Decisions—November 23, 2008 Revision
• Summary of Proposal Items to be Decided—November 23, 2008
  
  
• Initial Draft Final Report of the Joint Task Force for Basic Education Finance
• December 2, 2008 Draft Final Report of the Joint Task Force for Basic Education Finance
• December 3, 2008 Draft Final Report of the Joint Task Force for Basic Education Finance
• December 15, 2008 Draft Final Report of the Joint Task Force for Basic Education Finance

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 360-586-2795.  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
• August 6, 2008
• September 15-16, 2008
• October 20-21, 2008
• November 10-11, 2008
• November 17-18, 2008
• November 24-25, 2008  
• December 8-9, 2008

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 Documents

• Basic Education Funding Proposal, Representatives Ross Hunter, Pat Sullivan, Fred Jarrett, Glenn Anderson, and Skip Priest, Washington State House of Representatives; and Senator Rodney Tom, Washington State Senate
• Basic Education Funding Proposal Brief, Representatives Ross Hunter, Pat Sullivan, Fred Jarrett, Skip Priest, and Glenn Anderson, Washington State House of Representatives; and Senator Rodney Tom, Washington State Senate 
• 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
• September 15, 2008, Report to the Joint Task Force on Basic Education Finance - Revised 9/29/08