King County Superior Court Judge John Erlick ruled today that the State of Washington has failed to make ample provision for K-12 public education–our state’s paramount duty.

Erlick ruled the state’s funding of public education is neither ample nor dependable, and that districts must rely upon levy revenues to supporta program of basic education. Seattle levy vote is February 9. A few years from today, will levies be the norm in the same fashion? Who knows but the future requires us to embrace the fundamental structural dynamic between state and local funding.

The policy, political, social and financial implications of this ruling will be simply stunning for our state–and our kids–in the long-run.

And that’s fantastic.

A key piece of the ruling is that the Legislature must proceed with “real and measurable progress” toward two outcomes: Determining the cost of the education program and determining how it will fund that program.

Last year’s House Bill 2261, the bold education reform effort we proudly pushed forward, is expressly recognized by the judge as a profoundly important step forward. Yet since it is not funded the judge said it’s simply not enough.

This court loss forces a courageously honest dialogue about how we fund, deliver and provide public education.

We can no longer hide from our lack of consistency, clarity and sufficiency in our funding of education. Let’s not even appeal the case: Let’s embrace the learning and get busy funding education first!

Your parnter in serivce,

Reuven.