Lake Washington, Tacoma, and Yakima schools move to sue state over basic education funding
Three districts serving more than 74,000 students are preparing legal action after local levies were forced to cover state constitutional duties.
By Takeshi Faure ·
Parents and students in Lake Washington, Tacoma, and Yakima school districts face continued reliance on local property tax levies to pay for day-to-day operations. The three districts are preparing to sue the state of Washington, alleging that it is failing to fully fund basic education as required by the state constitution.
The legal challenge echoes the arguments made in the 2012 McCleary ruling. That decision forced the state to provide billions of dollars in additional funding after the court found it had violated its paramount duty to support public schools. The new suit targets a similar gap, with district boards claiming that state inaction forces them to bridge funding holes with local resources.
The push toward litigation began in the fall of 2026. On October 22, the Lake Washington and Tacoma school boards simultaneously passed resolutions directing their staff to assemble the components for a lawsuit. Two weeks later, on November 2, the Yakima School District passed a similar resolution, formally declaring its intent to join the legal effort.
The three districts serve a combined population of more than 74,000 students. While the boards have not set a specific date for filing, the decision to sue follows years of financial strain. In March 2026, Lake Washington Superintendent Jon Holmen told parents that the district had to use local resources to make up for state shortfalls. Holmen stated that local levy support cannot replace the state’s constitutional obligation to fund basic education.
The state’s funding challenges have grown in recent years. Schools face rising costs for transportation, utilities, and insurance, while student enrollment has declined. Currently, 11 school districts are under binding conditions, a form of state financial oversight that has not been this widespread before. Some districts that relied on local levies found those measures failed to pass, leaving them with less local revenue to fill state funding gaps.
Chris Reykdal, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, has warned for several years that a McCleary-like case could emerge. His office has repeatedly requested budgets that would address these shortfalls, according to Katy Payne, the chief strategy officer for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Payne noted that while the Legislature has made slight improvements, districts are still spending $800 million per year in local and federal funds to cover the state’s obligation.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction supports the districts' efforts to close the gap. Payne said that the lack of funding has led some districts to lay off staff, increase class sizes, and consider closing schools. The office is urging the governor and the Legislature to address the funding gap during the current legislative session.
