On Thursday the Washington House Republicans released an education budget proposal that would increase funding for K-12 by $556 million. The proposal does not include any funding for higher education.

For the 2013-15 biennium the proposal would provide $903 million in education policy increases and $347 million in reductions for a net increase of $556 million.

The proposed budget would:

• Dedicate $817 million to respond to the McCleary decision to increase basic education funding which includes expanding full-day kindergarten, reducing class sizes in kindergarten through third grade and increasing class time.
• Provide $86 million for policy changes including funding for charter schools to support I-1240, increased levy equalization, a longitudinal data system, and a CTE correction.

The proposal also includes reductions from savings through the suspension of I-732 (COLA raises for teachers) for the biennium, changes to required assessments, reductions to hold harmless funding provided for the transition to the prototypical school funding model, and Alternative Learning Experience audit recoveries.

The proposal is the first of several budget proposals expected this legislative session. Next week the Legislature will receive the March Revenue Forecast. After that it is expected that the Senate will release their proposed biennial operating budget the last week in March or first week in April followed by the House.