McCleary strikes again: Supremes demand education plan - or else!

Berit Anderson

Berit Anderson Jul 16, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>McCleary strikes again: Supremes demand education plan - or else!</h1>
                <h2><p>So, it’s come to this: Late Thursday, a very frustrated Washington State Supreme Court threatened to hold state lawmakers in contempt if they don’t move on a plan to fully fund education. Justices told the state to show up at a September 3 hearing or risk a contempt</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/berit-anderson-crosscut-com/">Berit Anderson</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>So, it’s come to this: Late Thursday, a very frustrated Washington State Supreme Court threatened to hold state lawmakers in contempt if they don’t move on a plan to fully fund education. Justices told the state to show up at a September 3 hearing or risk a contempt citation. Blame the contretemps on the nettlesome McCleary decision, a 2012 court mandate to upgrade the state’s public education system by, among other things, lowering student-teacher ratios in grades K-3 and raising instruction hours in grades 7-12. Upgrades, of course, cost money and let’s just say that reaching agreement on budget issues has not exactly been a legislative strong suit. Bottom line: The legislature’s failure to adequately address McCleary has them in hot water with the state’s highest court. — M.B.</p>
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So, it’s come to this: Late Thursday, a very frustrated Washington State Supreme Court threatened to hold state lawmakers in contempt if they don’t move on a plan to fully fund education. Justices told the state to show up at a September 3 hearing or risk a contempt citation. Blame the contretemps on the nettlesome McCleary decision, a 2012 court mandate to upgrade the state’s public education system by, among other things, lowering student-teacher ratios in grades K-3 and raising instruction hours in grades 7-12. Upgrades, of course, cost money and let’s just say that reaching agreement on budget issues has not exactly been a legislative strong suit. Bottom line: The legislature’s failure to adequately address McCleary has them in hot water with the state’s highest court. — M.B.

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By Berit Anderson

Berit Anderson was Managing Editor at Crosscut, following tech, culture, media and politics. She founded Crosscut's Community Idea Lab.   Previously community manager of the Tribune Company’