Replacement of Existing Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy
Proposition 1
We want to ensure our students have access to staff, programs, and course offerings to be successful and graduate future-ready
- The Educational Programs and Operations levy funds program and operation needs not funded by the state.
- The levy must be renewed every four years.
- The February 10, 2026 levy replaces an expiring levy previously approved by our community in 2022.
The Educational Programs and Operations Levy provides 16% of our district’s overall budget.
This levy accounts for about 16% of the district’s budget and continues funding for day-to-day operations in every school. Funding is used to bridge the gap between what the state funds as “basic education” and the actual cost of ensuring our students have access to staff, programs and course offerings to be successful and graduate future ready, including:
- School staff – health and mental health, counselors, safety specialists
- Special education, multi-lingual learning, highly capable and other programs
- Professional learning – staff training and support
- Athletics and extracurricular activities including music and arts programs
- Additional course offerings including summer learning opportunities
- Early learning programs such as special education preschool, Head Start
This levy continues funding for:
- 25% of our special education budget*
- 20% of our counselors
- 46% of our health and mental health services budget
- 93% of our safety services budget
- 80% of our professional learning budget
- 90% of our athletics and extracurricular activities budget
- 100% of our additional course offerings
- 30% of our early learning programs
Funding from this levy ensures every Lake Washington student has access to the same opportunities.