On Monday, January 12, Washington’s 2026 legislative session begins. Over the next two months (until March 12), state lawmakers will make decisions that determine how well students across Washington are supported in school and beyond. For many students, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
The barriers our students face are not rooted in ability or motivation — they’re rooted in inequity. Basic needs are the largest barrier to education. Students struggling with housing, food, or transportation may find that even the best curriculum in the world won’t matter if they don’t know where they’re sleeping tonight or how they’ll get to school tomorrow.
This session opens at a moment of financial strain. The Governor’s proposed 2026 supplemental budget responds to slower-than-expected revenue growth and rising costs. While the proposal makes targeted efforts to protect core safety net programs, it also includes significant reductions across education and human services—the very systems many students rely on to stay engaged, stable, and on track to graduate.
For students facing poverty, housing instability, unmet health needs, or other barriers to learning, these decisions are not abstract—their outcomes shape what support is available, and what disappears.
A Budget Shaped by Slower Growth and Hard Tradeoffs
The state is entering this legislative session with a projected $966 million revenue shortfall compared to the June forecast. Income growth has not kept pace with inflation, weakening purchasing power and slowing revenue generation.
To respond, the Governor’s proposal includes:
- $655 million in general fund savings across government agencies
- $676.7 million in savings in human services
- $146.7 million in education-related reductions
While the budget signals support for a millionaires tax, that revenue would not be immediately realized. In the near term, budget balance relies largely on spending reductions.
The proposal also allocates $165 million from a mix of state, federal, and other funds to help protect essential safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP; an important acknowledgement of growing need as families face rising costs. But even with these protections, the ripple effects of cuts elsewhere are unavoidable.
Where Students Will Feel the Impact First
Several proposed reductions directly affect the systems that help students overcome barriers to learning.
Human Services
- A 31% reduction to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation’s school-to-work programs, limiting employment pathways for students with disabilities
- Elimination of contracts for 36 Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) network administrator providers in Eastern Washington
- A 50% reduction in professional development funding for child care providers
These changes weaken the support infrastructure that helps students stay connected to school, caregivers, and future opportunities.
Education
- A 6% reduction to statewide programs administered by OSPI
- Reduction of Local Effort Assistance (LEA) enhancement from $250 to $150 beginning in 2027
- Removal of 1,816 Transitional Kindergarten slots starting in the 2026–27 school year
- Reduced Running Start enrollment caps, cutting the equivalent of 10 college credits per student per year
- Across-the-board cuts to higher education, including universities and community and technical colleges
- Targeted reductions to workforce and postsecondary planning agencies
Together, these changes reduce access to early learning, college credit, and workforce pathways, especially for students who already face systemic inequities.
CISWA’s 2026 Legislative Focus
At Communities In Schools of Washington, we see firsthand what happens when student supports are reduced: attendance declines, needs go unmet, and disparities widen.
Our legislative priorities this session focus on:
- Reducing Chronic Absenteeism through Integrated Student Supports: Supporting state investments and policies that strengthen Integrated Student Supports (ISS) through intentional coordination between schools and community partners to remove barriers to learning and reengage students.
- Reducing Barriers to Student and Family Stability: Advocating for legislative and budget actions that expand access to essential supports—including food assistance, physical, mental, and behavioral health services, and culturally responsive resources—to promote stability, engagement, and equitable outcomes.
- Protecting the K–12 Ecosystem through Community Partnerships: Advancing policies that recognize and sustain school-community partnerships as essential components of Washington’s education system, particularly in addressing chronic absenteeism, mental and behavioral health needs, violence prevention, mentoring, and post-secondary access.
- Investing in Communities through Balanced Revenue: Supporting progressive and balanced revenue solutions that modernize Washington’s tax structure, reduce over-reliance on regressive consumption taxes, and enable sustainable investments in education and community well-being.
Budget decisions are policy choices, and those choices determine whether students receive support early or face greater challenges late.
Why This Session Matters Now
The 2026 legislative session will move quickly. Decisions made by March 12 will shape what resources are available to students for years to come.
This is a critical moment for policymakers, partners, and community members to stay informed and engaged. CISWA will continue to track developments, advocate for student-centered policies, and share updates throughout the session – sign up for policy updates and action alerts.
Because when supports are cut, students feel it first, and the consequences last far longer than a budget cycle.
To get involved or learn more, contact Associate Director Erica Limón-Trefielo at erica@ciswa.org or visit www.ciswa.org/why-policy-advocacy-matter