Diversifying and stabilizing funding to build opportunity for kids
State "core" funding of ESDs in Washington has been declining for more than a decade. In 2020, "core" funding has totaled only about 5 percent of the overall NEWESD 101 budget. The remaining 95 percent derived from competitive grants, cooperatives and fees for service.
To compensate for declining state revenue in a time of rising need, NEWEC was formed to help diversify and stabilize funding for service to students and schools.
The Council, through NEWESD 1010, provides services to 59 public school districts and 44 state-approved private schools that collectively enroll 104,232 PK-12 students.
The region is comprised mostly of small, rural schools whose size complicates their ability to provide basic education services.
Without the cooperative services offered by NEWESD 101, many rural schools would be unable to offer the comprehensive educational programs their students need for college and lifelong success.
Since its founding in 2022, NEWEC has focused most heavily on NEWESD programs targeting curriculum and instruction (including STEM education, school-to-work and high school re-entry).
Those ongoing efforts have succeeded in helping students complete high school, prepare for college, and train for careers.
Additional Council priorities include:
- At-risk programs
- Career / technical education
- Crisis assistance
- Early childhood education
- Educational technology
- Gifted education
- Juvenile detention services
- Prevention programs
- School financial services
- School nursing
- School reform / improvement
- Special education
- Staff professional development
- STEM
NEWEC mini-grants: