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“Education in Crisis” Campaign Kick-off

Organizing to Defend Public Education in Washington State

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Welcome!

Why we are here:

Washington schools are under threat.
Federal Department of Education is being dismantled.
Washington State is in a budget crisis. (Projected $13-16 Billion shortfall)
It’s time to organize for justice in education!

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The Crisis

Key Facts:

Washington faces a $13-16 billion budget shortfall, threatening public education funding. (King5 News)
With DoE being dismantled Washington schools are losing $845 million in federal aid. (Axios, Education Law Center)
SB 5263 removed cap on state funding for special education, still many districts will face significant funding gaps. (Washington State Standard)
Governor Ferguson has proposed furloughs and the elimination of National Board Certification bonuses for teachers. Ferguson rejected a tax plan that included a wealth tax. (Washington State Standard)

Washington’s public education system is at a critical juncture. The state faces a projected budget shortfall of up to $16 billion, putting immense pressure on public services, including our schools. Compounding this issue, the federal goverment’s move to dismantle the Department of education could strip away $845 million in K-12 funding, leaving our most vulnerable students at risk.

While the recent passage of SB 5263 to remoe the special education funding cap is a positive step, it doesnt fully address the existing gaps. Districts continue to struggle with inadequate resources to support all students effectively.

Furthermore, although the state has modestly increased allocations for teacher salaries, many districts depend on local taxes to provide competitive pay, leading to inconsistency and financial strain.

These challenges underscore the urgency of our campaign. We must organize and advocate for comprehensive solutions to ensure equitable, fully funded public education for every student in Washington.

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Our Goals

Expose the Crisis:

Shine a light on the state’s systemic underfunding and the loss of federal aid.

Mobilize the Public:

Unite educators, students, and working-class communities across Washington.

Build a Mass Movement:

From rural towns to urban districts, we aim to organize local and regional action.

Advance Solutions, Not Austerity:

Demand bold investment in public education– fully funded, publicly controlled, and free from corporate influence.

Our campaign, Education in crisis, is rooted in five core goals.

First, we want to expose the truth- to make sure every Washingtonian knows whats at stake and how our students are being shortchanged.

Second, we aim to mobilize the public- educators, families, students, and everyday working people- into a grassroots force demanding change.

This is about building a mass movement- connecting communities from across the state to push back against cuts and privatization. And we are not here to tinker around the edges. We want to advance real solutions, not more austerity. That means demanding full public investment in education, without strings attached from corporations or corrupt institutions.

Lastly, we will always center equity- uplifting the needs of special education programs, rural communities and students of color who have long dealt with systemic issues, that come with our current education system.

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Core Message

“Education should be a human right, not a line item”
“Fund the Future–Fund Public Education”
“Invest in Schools, Not Corporate Subsidies”

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Building Our Movement: Organizing Structure

Regional Coordinators:

Help lead outreach, organize events, and connect local chapters.

Grassroots Action Plan:

Town halls in every region, Coordinated protests and rallies,

Digital campaign: graphics, reels, press releases.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Social media & digital outreach, Community canvassing, Educator/Staff outreach,

Media relations, research & policy support.

Together, We rise- From the ground up

Our power lies in the people- and that means we need a strong structure to channel this energy into action.

We’re building out a network of regional coordinators who will help lead local outreach, organize in-person events, and keep the communication strong between communities. If you’re passionate and ready to step up, we’d love for you to sign up tonight.

Our grassroots action plan starts with a clear vision: host town halls in every region of Washington, coordinate statewide protests, and launch a powerful digital campaign- We’re building this ourselves.

There are so many ways to plug in, whether you’re a social media whiz, connected in your community, or just willing to make calls-we need you. The more of us that take part, the stronger this movement becomes.

As we say: together, we rise-from the ground up

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Action Timeline

Within the next week: Launch digital campaign immediately (graphics, videos, hashtags). Publish press release & official GPWA statement.
In the next month: Host next regional organizing calls, finalize first town hall/ protest event details.
Within the next 77 days: Begin town halls & public forums, stage first direct action or coordinated rally, engage local press & independent media.
Ongoing: Recruit volunteers, build alliances with educators, unions and students. Track budget developments and legislative threats.

This is not a moment, it’s a movement

This campaign isnt just about raising awareness- its about taking real, strategic action. And to do that, we’ve mapped out a timeline to guide our momentum.

Within the next week, we’ll launch our digital campaign- using graphics, reels, and hashtags to raise awareness- and publish an official GPWA press release to get our message out.

In the next month- we’ll have our next regional organizing call, and finalize plans for our first in-person event, whether that’s a protest, town hall, or forum.

Within the next 77days- We aim to host multiple local events across the state and begin staging coordinated action. This phase is about showing up, building trust, and making noise.

Meanwhile, we’ll continue to recruit, engage with educators and unions, and closely watch what’s happening in Olympia to respond in real time.

Because at the end of the day- this isn’t just a moment, its a movement.

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Open Floor: Your Voice Matters

What ideas do you have for this campaign?
What resources or connections can we bring in?
What are you seeing or hearing in your community?

Let’s build this movement together

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Steps & Staying Connected

Take Action Tonight:

Sign up to volunteer, share our graphics and campaign posts, follow GPWA social media platforms.

Upcoming Events:

Next Planning Session: May 25th 2025.

First Protest/Town Hall: By July 13th 2025.

Together, we fight for the future of Public Education

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Sources

Budget shortfall

https://www.king5.com/article/news/politics/state-politics/washingtons-budget-deficit-grows-13-billion/281-45e82045-6d07-499c-8835-5515b57a525d

Federal Funding

Special Education Funding

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/04/16/washington-takes-historic-step-to-assure-full-funding-for-special-education/

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Sources Continued

Governor Ferguson: