Many schools throughout our state do not have the necessary resources to provide students with disabilities with the services to which they are legally entitled. Washington has made recent policy shifts to support the inclusion of students receiving special education services in general education settings, but the financial support needed to implement these shifts with fidelity has not kept pace. This funding will allow the Legislature to lift the 15% cap on state special education funding to 17.25%. (General Fund - State, WA Opportunity Pathways Account - State)

Paraeducators are critical members of a student’s learning and instructional support team. Despite their necessity, paraeducators across Washington state are not compensated equitably, and for many of them, compensation is not a living wage. This makes it difficult for school districts to hire and retain talented individuals in these positions. Grant funding will provide school districts with an allocation equal to $3 per hour plus benefits for all paraeducators hired in the 2022–23 school year, adjusted for inflation, and the same regionalization adjustments provided for school districts under RCW 28A.150.412. These dollars are intended to be added to the current salary for paraeducators. (General Fund - State, WA Opportunity Pathways Account - State)

This item provides a $4 per member per month rate increase associated with the Medicare explicit rate subsidy. (WA Opportunity Pathways Account - State, General Fund - State)

Funding is provided for contribution rate impacts associated with proposed legislation that ensures the continuation of benefit payments through the end of the month in which a retiree or beneficiary dies. (General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, WA Opportunity Pathways Account - State, other funds)