We’re committed to keeping you informed about budget planning. Here’s an update on where we are and what’s ahead.
Budget Outlook for 2025-26
Highline's financial outlook remains stable due to steady student enrollment and past budget adjustments.
The School Board held a work session on Wednesday, March 5 about the budget development process.
The next steps for the 2025-26 budget include working with leaders on school and department budgets, additional board updates in April and May, final budget development and a public hearing in June before submission to OSPI.
Looking ahead, adjustments may be needed for 2026-27 depending on future funding levels. We anticipate a renewal of our operational levy will be on the ballot in November 2025, which helps fund programs beyond what the state provides.
Budget planning for 2025-26 will continue in the coming months. You can stay involved by reading updates, attending board meetings, participating in upcoming ThoughtExchange conversations, and sharing feedback with leaders.
Advocating for Full Funding
Highline continues to push for state and federal funding to cover essential services, including:
- Increase special education funding to ensure equitable support for all students.
- School operational costs to keep up with inflation.
- Increased transportation funding to ensure safe and reliable school transportation.
Currently, local levy funds cover 14% of Highline’s budget—filling gaps the state should fund. Highline will continue advocating for full funding to support students without putting additional strain on local resources.
We're closely tracking legislative proposals that impact school funding, particularly in special education, and how funding for Materials, Supplies, and Operating Costs (MSOC) is adjusted for inflation.
Community Engagement
In January we engaged our community to understand the most important factors Highline needs to consider to support all students. More than 330 ideas were shared, with nearly 13,000 ratings from 360 participants. A strong majority—69%—reported they know at least a little bit about the budget development process. The top priorities shared by our community included:
- Competitive wages to retain high-quality educators and support staff.
- Smaller class sizes to provide personalized support and foster inclusion for all students.
- Inclusion and special education resources to ensure every student, including those with special needs, receives the support they need to succeed.
- Expanded support for student mental health services.
- Continued advocacy for full state and federal funding to reduce reliance on local levies.
More opportunities to participate in ThoughtExchange discussions on the budget will be available in the coming months.
More Budget Information
We’ve shared budget updates throughout the year to keep families, staff, and community members informed. Here’s a look at what we’ve shared so far:
- October: We shared student enrollment is higher than projected—marking the first time since 2018 that enrollment has not decreased. Enrollment numbers are a critical factor in state funding and play a key role in our budget planning.
- November: We highlighted Highline’s advocacy for increased state funding in three areas. Our 2025 legislative priorities focus on securing essential resources for students and schools.
- December: The School Board held a work session on the budget development process. We also shared that we do not anticipate additional reductions in the 2025-26 budget after eliminating $8 million from our district budget for the 2024-25 school year and steady enrollment.
- January: Superintendent Ivan Duran co-authored an editorial in The Seattle Times urging lawmakers to address Washington’s K-12 education funding crisis. We also shared our enrollment projections for next school year.
- February: We shared the results of our Budget ThoughtExchange. More than 330 ideas were shared, with nearly 13,000 ratings by 360 participants. Our community's top priorities include competitive wages for educators, smaller class sizes, increased support for special education and inclusion, expanded mental health services, and advocacy for full state and federal funding.