The 2026 Legislative Session kicks off on January 12, 2026, and is a short 60-day session that is expected to end by March 12, 2026. Our state operating budget will be the primary focus this session, with an expected $4 billion shortfall over the next four years. Not enough revenue is coming into the state for everything that the Democrat-controlled Legislature wants to fund. This shortfall will have to be addressed either through cuts, increased taxes, or a combination of those two things.
For more about the numbers, read about the revenue forecast in this article by the Washington State Standard and read about the budget shortfall in this article by the Washington Research Council.
Our focus here at AWSP will be to tell stories about the impacts (both good and bad) of budget and policy decisions that the Legislature has already made or intends to make this year. Your stories and your voices fuel our advocacy efforts, and it is our job to educate legislators about the realities of leading public school buildings. We’re educators, afterall, so we’ve got this.
In late December, Governor Bob Ferguson proposed a $79 billion supplemental budget designed to close a $2.3 billion shortfall (over two years) without raising taxes. His plan cuts $800 million from state agencies—including 3% reductions for state universities—and uses $1 billion from the state’s “Rainy Day” fund to cover some of the shortfall. You can read Chris Reykdal’s response to the budget here.
The governor’s proposal serves as a starting point for legislators when drafting their own supplemental budgets. A detailed summary appears in the Governor’s 2025 Proposed Budget and Policy Highlights. Governor Ferguson’s budget is only balanced with cuts and fund transfers, but he did say that he would support a proposed “millionaire’s” tax that would impose a 9.9% tax on annual income over $1 million. Any new revenue source will take time to set up and collect, will likely trigger lawsuits, and will have to be sent to the ballot for a vote of the people. Therefore, new revenue will not be seen for several years.
Another factor is that 2026 is a significant election year since all members of the House and half of the Senate will be up for re-election. How legislators vote on these budget and funding issues in an election year will be interesting to watch.
Governor Ferguson’s Budget Details
Investments:
Generally, increases in maintenance level amounts (for COLAs in particular).
Individual items:
- High School and Beyond Plan–Funding for 2.0 FTE at OSPI for HSBP work–$279,000
- Grad Success Program (Treehouse)–Restores half of the funding that was cut last year–$3.5 million
- 9th Grade Success Program–Extends funding that was set to expire for 9th grade on track–$1.5 million
- Dual Credit–Extends funding that was set to expire in 2027 for dual language grants–$1.5 million
- Homeless students–Extends funding that was set to expire in 2027 for supporting homeless students–$1.2 million
Reductions:
$94.9 million in K-12 reductions in FY 27.
- Statewide Programs–6% reduction in statewide programs determined by OSPI–$695,000 savings
- LEA–Removes the planned $100 increase in LEA that was to take effect in 2027–$25.1 million in savings
- TtK–A 25% cut in TtK slots (7,266 to 5,450)–$19.5 million in savings
- BEST–9% reduction in ongoing funding for the Beginning Educator Support Team program–$1 million in savings
- Next Level Leaders–50% reduction in Next Level Leaders academy–$405,000 in savings
- Running Start–Reduces the Running Start rate from 1.4 FTE to 1.2–$14 million in savings
- Bus Depreciation–Extends the bus depreciation schedule to 15 years–$21.1 million in savings
Other items:
- HSBP system–The budget “funds” the HSBP plan statewide contract but not with new money. Instead, it allows OSPI to withhold 1.9% of 9-12 MSOC allocation for HSBP platform licenses.
- SpEd Maintenance Level increases would be funded through the Ed Legacy Fund by diverting K-12 capital construction funding to operating funds.
On the Capital Budget side, the proposed budget fully funds OSPI’s request for remediating lead-contaminated school drinking water ($2.5M) and provides just over half of their requested funds for small district modernization grants ($74.2M of $130.6M requested) and school seismic safety grants ($28.4M of $49.2M requested).
Policy Bills
My bill tracking list is at least five pages long now and the session hasn’t even officially begun! Over 400 new bills have been pre-filed since December 1. Some of the bills that weren’t acted upon last session will also be reintroduced for hearings this session.
Some of the new bills that I’m following include:
HB 2116 School enrichment funding (LEA)
HB 2147 / SB 5918 Funding for MSOC
SB 5841 Financial aid applications
SB 5849 Making financial education a graduation requirement
SB 5859 Expanding opportunities for competency-based assessments in graduation pathway options
SB 5952 Standardizing the process for waiving PE
SB 5920 Providing protections for school districts against public record requests
SB 5956 Addressing AI, student discipline, and surveillance in schools
SB 5978 Establishing the Washington guaranteed admissions program
Bills that may return from last session include HB 1795–Addressing restraint and isolation in schools, HB 1634–Providing school districts with assistance to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students, and HB 2044–Addressing unexcused student absences.
Bills Being Heard Next Week
The House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Ways and Means Committee will each hear the supplemental budget bills SB 5998Â /Â HB 2289 (as written by Governor Ferguson and his staff). The education committees will begin hearing these policy bills next week.
Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education:
SB 5841Â – Concerning the completion of postsecondary financial aid applications.
SB 5922Â – Authorizing transportation vehicle fund transfers.
SB 5858Â – Providing pupil transportation safety net funding for special passengers.Â
SB 5943Â – Concerning the use of school impact fees.
SB 5901Â – Providing school construction assistance program facilities support for on-base schools.
SB 5860Â – Concerning school board compensation.
SB 5956Â – Addressing artificial intelligence, student discipline, and surveillance in public schools.
SB 5574Â – Providing instruction on Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander history in public schools.
SB 5952Â – Standardizing the process for waiving physical education requirements for high school students.
SB 5969Â – Fulfilling high school and beyond plan requirements with individualized education program transition plans.
House Education:
HB 1795Â – Addressing restraint or isolation of students in public schools.Â
HB 1634Â – Providing school districts and public schools with assistance to coordinate comprehensive behavioral health supports for students.
HB 1662Â – Removing the requirement for certain education agencies to reside in OSPI for administrative purposes.
HB 1683Â – Adjusting school director districts.
AWSP Legislative Priorities
The AWSP Legislative Priorities document was developed over the past several months through conversations with members, partners, and stakeholders, as well as participation in multiple workgroups. This year, for the first time, we intentionally named the “bookends” of leadership by placing both AWSP and the Washington School Principals’ Education Foundation (WSPEF) at the top of the document—anchored by students at the center of everything we do.
Our call to action is bold and unapologetic:
Public education isn’t optional; it’s the state’s paramount duty. Every student and staff member must learn and lead in safe, equitable environments where goals turn into achievements. We want every student to graduate inspired, skilled, and ready—with a credential that opens doors to stability, mobility, and purpose. Fully fund basic education. Invest in and sustain strong school leaders. Meet the needs of students. Our kids can’t wait. The future of Washington walks into our schools every morning. The future is now.
From there, our priorities fall into three clear buckets.
Fully Fund Basic Education
Alongside our partners—WASA, WSSDA, WASBO, and other education organizations—we are calling on the Legislature to fully fund basic education, with a particular focus on Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs (MSOC). Districts across the state are not receiving adequate state funding for expenses such as insurance, utilities, curriculum, and technology. As a result, local dollars are being diverted to cover what should be basic education costs, placing increasing strain on district budgets and widening inequities.
Also included in this section is a statement asking the Legislature to pause on new policies that are unfunded so that schools can focus on core academic needs.
Strengthen Leadership Development
Our second priority is building and sustaining a robust, statewide system of leadership development. We know what effective preparation looks like: high-quality preparation programs, meaningful internship experiences, and strong, ongoing mentorship. Yet for the approximately 250 new principals and assistant principals who enter the profession each year, this level of support is not consistent or guaranteed.
AWSP will continue working with the Legislature and partners such as PESB, OSPI, and higher education institutions to strengthen the leadership pipeline. This work extends beyond the 2026 session and will remain a priority heading into the 2027–2029 biennium.
Support Students
The final bucket focuses squarely on student needs. This includes investments in mental and behavioral health supports, efforts to restore funding for outdoor education (unlikely this session), and implementing a tax on tobacco products to fund prevention, cessation, and education efforts that protect student health.
Elevating Student Voice
We are working with students from the Association of Washington Student Leaders’ Student Voice Network to host an Educational Advocacy Summit on February 20–21, 2026. This event will include both in-person and virtual participation, with approximately 40-50 students attending in Olympia. Students will learn more about state government, tour the Capitol, meet with legislators, and participate in a mock bill competition—bringing authentic student voice directly into the legislative process. More information is available online.
Your Voice
Our job is to keep telling our stories about what our students and educators need to create successful learning environments. There are many ways to have your voice heard. Check out the “Important Links” below to find out how to contact your own legislators. They care very much about hearing directly from their constituents. When we weigh in as an association, it is helpful and important, but having many of you reach out directly with a short email to legislators can be much more powerful. Find your legislator and email them here if you have any thoughts to share.
Other Advocacy Efforts
Principal for a Day
A HUGE thank you to the almost 20 principals and assistant principals across Washington who hosted legislators during our fall “Principal for a Day” events. Legislators reported that they enjoyed seeing all of the complex pieces of a school day that you lead and manage, and more of them are interested in participating again in the spring.
Day on the Hill
Many of our Advocacy Advisory Council and AWSP Board Members are planning a visit to Olympia on January 26, 2026, for our annual “Day on the Hill.” They will be meeting with their own legislators and perhaps attending some committee hearings. You can get involved by scheduling a virtual meeting with your own legislators that week.
Get Involved
Many thanks for all that you do for students and staff. If you have questions or comments or want to get involved, please reach out to me.
Thank you so much!
Roz Thompson, Government Relations and Advocacy Director, AWSP
