SEATTLE (AP) — The good news in this week’s new Washington state revenue forecast has drawn the attention of everyone who wants some money for their department or program.
But Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn says the state Constitution and the Supreme Court give Washington only one choice: pay for education first.
Dorn says the improved revenue forecast gives some weight behind his call for no more education cuts. And he thinks it’s time to invest some new dollars in education.
The revised forecast issued on Thursday shows $96 million in extra revenue, plus about $340 million in newly expected savings from less reliance on state services.
On Friday, Dorn passed out a list of how he would spend that money, including all-day kindergarten for everyone, class-size reductions in kindergarten through fourth grade, school transportation, and technology improvements.
