Dive Brief:

• Washington’s Senate has approved a compromise plan that would create a task force in order to find a solution to the state’s overreliance on local school levies to pay for K-12 education. 

• Some lawmakers think that the compromise will now bring the state into compliance with the state Supreme Court’s McCleary decision, which penalized the state at a cost of $100,000 per day for having an unfair school funding formula — but that decision lays with the court's justices.

• Moving forward, the Seattle Times reports that the issue will likely be taken up again by the state's House of Representatives. 

Dive Insight:

Although the Seattle Times reports that legislators are already calling the new bill imperfect, at least it's brought all parties to the negotiating table. That means the compromise will keep communication open moving forward as the band-aid solution is brought to the Washington state Supreme Court for consideration. It's notable that the compromise has actually been created, as just last week, many thought that any solution would be significantly delayed.

What's unfolded in Washington is a lesson to districts on the need for fair and equitable funding formulas that serve wealthy and impoverished schools and districts alike, as well as the need for politicians to put students' needs before political gamesmanship.

The state's Supreme Court has been holding the state in contempt since last year, fining lawmakers $100,000 a day since its ruling in August. Since then, millions have been racked up, which are supposed to help fund the state’s education mandate.