Public education is primarily the responsibility of states. Curriculum, graduation and learning standards, instructional materials, and school district budgets are all managed at the state or local level.
Earlier this week, Washington State Superintendent Chris Reykdal responded to the US Department of Education’s request that states certify their compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or risk losing federal funding. The DoE’s request included language that tied federal funding to eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
In Washington, the state provides the bulk of the funding for our public schools. Federal funding makes up about 7% of the resources our schools receive. This funding primarily supports students identified as low-income and students with disabilities.
Superintendent Reykdal recently discussed these issues with Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on Instagram Live. Click to watch the full interview: https://tinyurl.com/4j9rtvvm
The above text is from the April 11, 2025, OSPI social media posting.