Financial Services

The 2022 Citizen’s Guide to K-12 Finance is offered to provide a clear and simple overview of K-12 financial issues. It provides general information on K-12 finance by answering frequently asked questions. The information presented in this document is based on statewide data. 

Detailed K-12 fiscal data, on both statewide and district-specific levels, are also reported on the Washington State fiscal transparency website at: https://fiscal.wa.gov

The 2022 Citizen’s Guide to K-12 Finance was prepared by non-partisan Senate Committee Services staff supporting the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, with the assistance from staff of the Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee.

The Washington school funding system is complex, and many previous attempts to explain it are lengthy and time-consuming to read. WSSDA designed this resource to answer some of the most common questions in a simple, accessible, and easy-to-navigate way. Inside this 32-page booklet, you’ll find answers to 36 frequently asked questions. The booklet also has colorful, explanatory graphics that you can use as stand-alone resources for distribution.