Special Education Funding Increase Map
Contact Information
Sammi Payne
Management Analyst
Senate Bill 5263, passed by the state Legislature in the 2025 session, made several changes to the special education funding system. One large component of the bill is the increase of the K–12 “multiplier”, which is the formula the Legislature uses to send additional dollars to districts for each student receiving special education services. The bill also eliminated the artificial cap on funding for enrollment of students with disabilities, now allowing districts to receive funding for all the students with disabilities they are required to serve under federal and state laws. All of Washington’s 295 school districts, along with its 18 charter schools and 7 tribal compact schools, experienced an increase in special education funding as a result of this legislation.
The special education funding increase data display shows the percentage that special education funding increased in each school district as a result of the legislation mentioned above. The map uses color gradients to indicate levels of funding increases, with lighter shades representing lower increases and darker shades representing higher increases. Hovering over each school district will show the district's estimated FTE enrollment, base special education funding at current rates (before 2025 legislation was adopted), funding increase associated with the multiplier increase, funding increase associated with the cap removal, total special education funding increase in dollars, and percentage that special education funding increased.
The Puget Sound is not seen in these maps, because Washington school districts’ legal boundaries are drawn over the Puget Sound.