Classrooms are crowded, but paying for fix will be costly

OLYMPIA — Voters will get the chance this fall to require smaller classes in Washington public schools, and there’s every indication they will do so.

Initiative 1351 would shave the average number of students in classes at every grade level, a move supporters say will improve student achievement, increase graduation rates and reduce the number of drop-outs.

But with an ultimate cost of $2 billion a year for additional teachers and school staff, plus an unknown amount for classrooms, there’s concern the state cannot afford it — at least not without the Legislature raising somebody’s taxes.

“The state cannot afford not to do this. We’re 47th in the nation” in the ratio of students per teacher, said Kim Mead, president of the Washington Education Association, the statewide teachers union whose money and members pushed the measure onto the ballot.

It might be difficult for lawmakers, said the Edmonds resident. “It is even more difficult for that child sitting in a classroom that is overcrowded.”

Opponents say they, too, want smaller classes, but this would be a budget-buster. The Legislature is already searching for money to comply with a state Supreme Court order to fully fund elements of the public school system like books and supplies. Paying for the initiative, as well, could force lawmakers to cut spending on social services, higher education and other non-education programs.

“The question I think voters should ask themselves is where the money will come from,” said Dave Powell, executive director of the education reform group Stand for Children. He signed the ballot argument against the initiative.

Voters should be prepared to help lawmakers meet the challenge, said Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, a member of the Senate education committee.

“It’s up to the people to decide,” she said. “If they say they want smaller class sizes, they have to help us figure out how to pay for it.”

What it does

Backers of the initiative turned in petitions with nearly 350,000 signatures, about 100,000 more than needed to earn a spot on the November ballot.

It is pretty straightforward. It says that by Sept. 1, 2018, average class sizes in kindergarten through third grade must be no more than 17 students, and for grades 4-12, no more than 25 students.

Today, the average is around 25 students per class in the lower grades and nearly 29 in high school, supporters said.

But it is not uncommon to find beginning readers competing with 27 other students for the attention of their teacher, or 34 high school students sharing a science lab designed for 25, said Mary Howes, manager of the initiative campaign.

I-1351 prescribes even fewer students for classes in high-poverty schools, where more than 50 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. For grades K-3 the average number of students would drop to 15, and for grades 4-12 it would be 23.

Those figures are cribbed from the 2010 recommendations of the Quality Education Council, a panel created by the Legislature to chart a course for reforming Washington public schools. The panel of education professionals and Democratic and Republican lawmakers provides annual reports addressing the financing and operation of public schools.

What it costs

It’s pretty easy to see why Initiative 1351 is expensive. If you reduce the number of students in each class, you will wind up with more classes. That will require hiring teachers and, under the initiative, more counselors, librarians, reading assistants and other instructional staff.

The state Office of Financial Management (OFM) estimates 25,334 full-time jobs will be created, including 7,453 more teachers, 17,081 school-based staff and 1,027 workers in school district offices. A couple of hundred jobs in small schools will be eliminated, as well, according to the analysis.

While everyone doesn’t have to be hired right away, lawmakers must allocate money starting next year under the timeline of the ballot measure. At least half of the necessary funding must be included in the 2015-17 budget, and all of it in the 2017-19 spending plan, according to the wording of the initiative.

OFM estimates it will require spending $2 billion in the next two-year budget and another $2.7 billion in the one after that. In the future, maintaining the average class sizes spelled out in Initiative 1351 will cost $3.8 billion per biennium, according to OFM.

Those are big numbers when you consider the Legislature is looking at needing about that same amount of money to meet constitutional obligations by 2018, as well, under the Supreme Court’s decision in what’s known as the McCleary case.

“Do I think smaller class sizes would be a bad thing? No. But I’m working on how to fund the basic requirements in McCleary,” said Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. “Then you’ve got to figure out how to fund this.”

The initiative does not address how to provide classrooms or portables for what could be an explosion of additional classes.

It does envision situations in which schools cannot break up large classes into two because they lack the space. In those instances, a school can obtain an exemption allowing two teachers in a class of, say, 30 students, or to pair a teacher with one or more instructional assistants.

Howes said the intent is to give schools flexibility to achieve the goal of providing students more direct attention to boost learning.

“We want to get more school-based staff working with kids as soon as possible,” she said. “As a former teacher, I would take any adult help I could get.”

Been here before

In 2000, voters approved Initiative 728 with a whopping 72 percent yes. It was a vehicle to smaller classes and, like I-1351, did not include a method of paying for it.

In the ensuing years, lawmakers suspended it several times, citing a lack of money. Eventually they repealed it.

The statewide teacher’s union is betting this year’s measure plays out differently.

Of the $1.5 million raised for the campaign, roughly $1.1 million is from the Washington Education Association. The National Education Association chipped in $283,000 and the Public School Employees of Washington put in $100,000.

There is no organized opposition.

“You would think with the amount of support from the public that we see, I think they are going to have to listen and do something,” Mead said. “They can’t ignore the will of the voters.”

But they might.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, who backs the initiative, said when it passes it will catalyze the conversation on education funding.

And even if lawmakers try to amend the initiative to delay its costs, they will be forced to consider where they will eventually get the money to pay for it. That might push them to pursue new revenue, which is what Dorn said the public school system desperately needs.

“If you get the public to say, ‘This is what we want,’ it puts more pressure on the Legislature,” Dorn said.

Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, one of the few Democrats to publicly oppose the measure, said lawmakers might have to consider amending or suspending the measure because of the cost.

“It’s a great concept, but there’s no way to pay for it,” he said. “I don’t know how you come up with the money. I don’t know how you do it.”

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Employees and patrons of the Everett Mall signed a timeline mural that traces the history of the 51-year-old indoor mall that was once considered the premier place to go shopping in the city. Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Mall mural offers nostalgic trip into the past

Past and present Everett Mall employees joined customers Thursday to view an artistic timeline of the once popular shopping mecca.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen gives his State of the City address on Thursday, March 20 in Edmonds, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor talks budget at 2025 State of the City

Mayor Mike Rosen discussed the city’s deficit and highlights from his first year in office.

Public’s help needed to find missing Arlington man

The 21-year-old left the house Sunday night without his shoes, cell phone or a jacket, and was reported missing the following morning.

The Marysville Tulalip Campus on the Tulalip Reservation, where Legacy High School is located. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Marysville board votes to keep Legacy High at current location

The move rolls back a decision the school board made in January to move the alternative high school at the start of next school year.

The former Marysville City Hall building along State Avenue on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
City of Marysville, school board amend property exchange

The city will relocate its public works facility to the district’s current headquarters, which will move to the former City Hall.

Snohomish County Elections employees Alice Salcido, left and Joseph Rzeckowski, right, pull full bins of ballots from the Snohomish County Campus ballot drop box on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County to mail ballots for Edmonds, Brier elections

Registered voters should receive their ballots by April 9 for the April 22 special election.

A stormwater diversion structure which has been given a notice for repairs along a section of the Perrinville Creek north of Stamm Overlook Park that flows into Browns Bay in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Edmonds Hearing Examiner decides on Perrinville Creek saga

The examiner revoked the city’s Determination of Non-Significance, forcing Edmonds to address infrastructure issues on the creek

Don Sharrett talks John Wrice through his trimming technique on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett barber school offers $5 haircuts — if you’re brave enough

Students get hands-on practice. Willing clients get a sweet deal.

Our Lady of Hope Fr. Joseph Altenhofen outside of his parish’s building that will be the new home of Hope ‘N Wellness on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Hope ‘N Wellness location to open Wednesday in Everett

Our Lady of Hope Church will host the social service organization at 2617 Cedar St. in Everett.

Amtrak Cascades train 517 to Portland departs from Everett Station on Saturday, Sep. 2, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Limited train service to resume on Amtrak Cascades

Trains will have less capacity for now, but service is expected to resume for some routes as early as Tuesday.

Marysville
Police: 66-year-old Marysville man dead from fatal stabbing

A neighbor found the man unconscious on the sidewalk as the result of an apparent stabbing. Police said they are looking for suspects.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Driver, suspected of DUI, hits WSP vehicle on I-5 near Everett

The trooper was blocking the HOV lane for a previous collision when his vehicle was struck Saturday morning.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.