Did Washington school funding per student fall after inflation? Reykdal claim checked

The short version

Claim we investigated

We have less money today adjusted for inflation per kid than we did six years ago.

Misleading. Only state and local money, measured with Seattle prices, dipped; total spending per student beat inflation by 3% to 8%. In 2023-24, the latest year available when Reykdal spoke, spending per student from all sources was 3% to 7% above 2018-19 after inflation. Only state and local money, with Seattle prices, was lower, by 3.8%; by 2024-25 that gap had nearly closed.

Quote or cite this fact-check

FactHub rates the claim “We have less money today adjusted for inflation per kid than we did six years ago” Misleading (high confidence): Only state and local money, measured with Seattle prices, dipped; total spending per student beat inflation by 3% to 8%. Reviewed November 3, 2026. https://facthub.org/n/article/wa-reykdal-school-funding-scores/2

Key points

What the evidence establishes

Established. Spending per student from all sources rose from $14,239 in 2018-19 to $19,371 in 2024-25: 8.4% above national inflation, 4.4% above Seattle's.
Established. Counting only state and local money, as OSPI does, the change was +3.5% with national prices and -0.4% with Seattle prices.
Context. When Reykdal spoke, the latest final year was 2023-24, when state and local money was 3.8% below 2018-19 with Seattle prices.
Established. OSPI's chart showing $582 less per student shrinks to about $68 when both years use the same Seattle price basis.
Established. Reykdal's "about three quarters" at grade level counts Level 2 and up: 71% in reading and 63% in math in 2024.
Established. WPC's figures are accurate: 60.3% were below Level 3 in math and 49.8% in English in 2024.

Important context: Chris Reykdal leads the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Washington's state schools office. The Washington Policy Center (WPC) is a free-market think tank in Seattle. Money per student here is school operating spending or revenue divided by full-time students. We adjusted for inflation three ways: national consumer prices, Seattle-area consumer prices (the measure OSPI uses), and a federal price index for what state and local governments buy. Washington's state tests sort students into four levels; Level 3 and above is what OSPI calls on track for college-level learning.

The evidence

The conclusion rests on the combined record. Expand each item to see its role and limitations.

Independence note: This check uses 7 methods across 8 institutions and 1 country or international grouping.

Evidence map
Method	Institution / country	Year(s)	What it shows	Key limitation	Primary links
Statewide school accounting totals divided by full-time-equivalent enrollment, adjusted with three price indexes; cross-checked with Census Bureau school finance data	Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis United States	2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025	School districts' operating (General Fund) spending from all sources was $14,239 per student in 2018-19 and $19,371 in 2024-25. In 2024-25 dollars, that is a rise from $17,863 to $19,371 (8.4%) with national consumer prices, 7.9% with the federal state-and-local government price index, and 4.4% with Seattle-area prices. Through 2023-24, the rise was 3.3% to 7.3%. Without COVID relief programs, 2023-24 was still 5.4% above 2018-19 with national prices and 1.4% with Seattle prices. The Census Bureau's survey shows current spending per pupil up 2.8% to 6.8% after inflation from 2018-19 to 2023-24.	General Fund spending excludes construction and debt, and includes federal money, which counted COVID relief from 2020-21 to 2023-24. Per-student figures rise partly because enrollment in 2024-25 was 3.5% below 2019-20. The Census figures are compiled from finance data that states report, so they confirm the arithmetic more than the underlying accounts.	FactHub dataset FactHub dataset FactHub dataset
Same accounting data, counting only state and local revenue, as OSPI's own chart does	Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Bureau of Labor Statistics United States	2019, 2024, 2025, 2026	State and local revenue per student, in 2024-25 dollars with Seattle prices, was $17,801 in 2018-19, $17,129 in 2023-24 (3.8% lower) and $17,733 in 2024-25 (0.4% lower). With national prices it was unchanged through 2023-24 and 3.5% higher by 2024-25; with the federal government price index, 1.1% lower and then 3.0% higher. From a 2019-20 base with Seattle prices, it was 3.2% lower in 2023-24 and 0.2% higher in 2024-25. State money alone, from 2019-20 with Seattle prices, was 6.6% lower in 2023-24 and 3.0% lower in 2024-25. OSPI's September 2026 chart uses state and local money and Seattle prices.	Leaving out federal money is a choice: federal funds such as special education and low-income school grants pay for ongoing services. The Seattle-area index measures consumer prices in one metro area, not school costs statewide.	FactHub dataset Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Recomputing OSPI's chart from the same revenue codes and the published Seattle price index	Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Bureau of Labor Statistics United States	2019, 2025, 2026	We matched OSPI's 2024-25 figure of $17,733 per student exactly. Its 2018-19 figure, $18,315, equals the nominal $13,663 times about 1.34, which is close to Seattle prices in calendar 2025 divided by calendar 2018. But the 2024-25 figure is left unadjusted, although half of that school year fell in 2024. Using school-year average prices for both years gives $17,801 for 2018-19, a gap of $68 rather than $582.	OSPI does not publish the index values it used, so this is our reconstruction. A small part of the difference may come from a price forecast for 2025.	FactHub dataset Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Inflation-adjusted state budget appropriations per student	Washington Research Council United States	2020, 2026, 2027	The Washington Research Council, a nonprofit that studies state fiscal policy, compared state K-12 appropriations with 2020 using the implicit price deflator. It found per-student appropriations for 2026 and 2027 slightly above 2020. It notes that the same deflator is what the state uses to adjust school salary and supply allocations. Reykdal has said state funding has lost ground to inflation over seven years.	This covers state budget appropriations only, uses 2020 rather than 2019 as the base, and looks at budgeted years after 2025. It does not measure district spending.	Washington Research Council
Statewide state test results by achievement level from OSPI's open-data files	Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington Policy Center United States	2024, 2025	In spring 2024, 70.9% of students reached Level 2 or higher in English and 62.8% in math. Only 50.2% and 39.7% reached Level 3 or higher, so 49.8% and 60.3% were below it. OSPI says Level 2 shows foundational grade-level knowledge and Level 3 or higher means on track for college-level learning. Its math descriptors call Level 3 proficient. OSPI's 2024 report to the Legislature listed the Level 3+ share as Met Standard.	OSPI's shares count students who skipped the test as below every level. Counting only students who tested, Level 2+ was 74.1% in English and 65.8% in math. Grades 3-8 and 10 are combined.	FactHub dataset Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Washington Policy Center
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) averages and significance tests	National Center for Education Statistics United States	2013, 2019, 2022, 2024	On NAEP, the same national test given in every state, Washington's fourth-grade math average fell from 246 in 2013 (10th of 50 states) to 238 in 2024 (27th). In 2024 only 4 states, plus Defense Department schools, scored significantly higher; 35 were statistically tied. In eighth-grade math, Washington fell from 7th to 25th, and 14 states scored significantly higher, up from 7 in 2022. In reading, 5 states (grade 4) and 4 states (grade 8) did.	Ranks among statistically tied states move with small score changes. NAEP samples students; it does not test every student.	FactHub dataset FactHub dataset National Center for Education Statistics National Center for Education Statistics Washington Policy Center Washington Policy Center
Published interview transcript and earlier interview	Washington Policy Center, Key Peninsula News United States	2024, 2025	In a FOX 13 Seattle interview in June 2025, Reykdal answered WPC's figures by saying schools have less money per student after inflation than six years earlier. In October 2024 he told Key Peninsula News that peak funding was in 2019 and that inflation-adjusted funding was down $1,000 per student. On the state-and-local, Seattle-price measure, that was close for 2021-22 and 2022-23, but no longer true by 2024-25.	The FOX 13 video has no transcript or captions. The quoted words come from WPC's transcript, which we could not check against the audio.	Washington Policy Center Key Peninsula News

1. All school spending per student rose faster than prices Statewide school accounting totals divided by full-time-equivalent enrollment, adjusted with three price indexes; cross-checked with Census Bureau school finance data

School districts' operating (General Fund) spending from all sources was $14,239 per student in 2018-19 and $19,371 in 2024-25. In 2024-25 dollars, that is a rise from $17,863 to $19,371 (8.4%) with national consumer prices, 7.9% with the federal state-and-local government price index, and 4.4% with Seattle-area prices. Through 2023-24, the rise was 3.3% to 7.3%. Without COVID relief programs, 2023-24 was still 5.4% above 2018-19 with national prices and 1.4% with Seattle prices. The Census Bureau's survey shows current spending per pupil up 2.8% to 6.8% after inflation from 2018-19 to 2023-24.

Limit: General Fund spending excludes construction and debt, and includes federal money, which counted COVID relief from 2020-21 to 2023-24. Per-student figures rise partly because enrollment in 2024-25 was 3.5% below 2019-20. The Census figures are compiled from finance data that states report, so they confirm the arithmetic more than the underlying accounts.

Verify: Money per student after inflation (saved analysis) Percent change in real money per student (saved analysis) Washington K-12 money per student, test levels and NAEP ranks

All-funds spending per student rose from $17,863 in 2018-19 to $19,371 in 2024-25 with national prices, and from $16,436 in 2017-18. FactHub dataset
All-funds spending per student rose 3.3% to 8.4% after inflation from 2018-19, and 5.4% excluding COVID programs through 2023-24 with national prices. FactHub dataset
Census current spending per pupil rose 2.8% to 6.8% after inflation from 2018-19 to 2023-24. FactHub dataset
Before inflation, all-funds spending per student was $14,239 in 2018-19 and $19,371 in 2024-25; state and local revenue per student was $13,663 in 2018-19. FactHub dataset
In 2024-25, spending per student was $19,371 with COVID programs and $19,368 without, a difference of about $3. FactHub dataset

All school spending per student rose 8.4% after national inflation and 4.4% after Seattle's from 2018-19 to 2024-25. Only state and local money, with Seattle prices, ended slightly lower (-0.4%). View source chart

2. Only state and local money, with Seattle prices, shows a drop Same accounting data, counting only state and local revenue, as OSPI's own chart does

State and local revenue per student, in 2024-25 dollars with Seattle prices, was $17,801 in 2018-19, $17,129 in 2023-24 (3.8% lower) and $17,733 in 2024-25 (0.4% lower). With national prices it was unchanged through 2023-24 and 3.5% higher by 2024-25; with the federal government price index, 1.1% lower and then 3.0% higher. From a 2019-20 base with Seattle prices, it was 3.2% lower in 2023-24 and 0.2% higher in 2024-25. State money alone, from 2019-20 with Seattle prices, was 6.6% lower in 2023-24 and 3.0% lower in 2024-25. OSPI's September 2026 chart uses state and local money and Seattle prices.

Limit: Leaving out federal money is a choice: federal funds such as special education and low-income school grants pay for ongoing services. The Seattle-area index measures consumer prices in one metro area, not school costs statewide.

Verify: Percent change in real money per student (saved analysis) OSPI press conference slides, September 10, 2026

State and local money per student, from 2018-19: 0.0% (U.S. prices), -1.1% (government index), -3.8% (Seattle) to 2023-24; +3.5%, +3.0%, -0.4% to 2024-25. From 2019-20 with Seattle prices: -3.2% and +0.2%. State money only, from 2019-20 with Seattle prices: -6.6% and -3.0%. FactHub dataset · Qualifies
OSPI's chart says state and local funding per student is $582 lower than in 2018-19 after inflation. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction · Contradicts
OSPI adjusts with the Seattle-area consumer price index and states values in 2025 dollars. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction · Qualifies

3. OSPI's $582 gap mostly comes from how its chart adjusts prices Recomputing OSPI's chart from the same revenue codes and the published Seattle price index

We matched OSPI's 2024-25 figure of $17,733 per student exactly. Its 2018-19 figure, $18,315, equals the nominal $13,663 times about 1.34, which is close to Seattle prices in calendar 2025 divided by calendar 2018. But the 2024-25 figure is left unadjusted, although half of that school year fell in 2024. Using school-year average prices for both years gives $17,801 for 2018-19, a gap of $68 rather than $582.

Limit: OSPI does not publish the index values it used, so this is our reconstruction. A small part of the difference may come from a price forecast for 2025.

Verify: Washington K-12 money per student, test levels and NAEP ranks OSPI press conference slides, September 10, 2026

Recomputing OSPI's chart gives $17,733 for 2024-25, an exact match, and $17,801 rather than $18,315 for 2018-19. FactHub dataset
Before inflation, all-funds spending per student was $14,239 in 2018-19 and $19,371 in 2024-25; state and local revenue per student was $13,663 in 2018-19. FactHub dataset
OSPI's chart says state and local funding per student is $582 lower than in 2018-19 after inflation. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction · Contradicts

4. An independent budget analysis finds state money per student above 2020 Inflation-adjusted state budget appropriations per student

The Washington Research Council, a nonprofit that studies state fiscal policy, compared state K-12 appropriations with 2020 using the implicit price deflator. It found per-student appropriations for 2026 and 2027 slightly above 2020. It notes that the same deflator is what the state uses to adjust school salary and supply allocations. Reykdal has said state funding has lost ground to inflation over seven years.

Limit: This covers state budget appropriations only, uses 2020 rather than 2019 as the base, and looks at budgeted years after 2025. It does not measure district spending.

Verify: Inflation-adjusted state spending for K-12 has increased since 2020 (Emily Makings, February 18, 2026)

State K-12 appropriations per student for 2026 and 2027, adjusted for inflation, are higher than in 2020. Washington Research Council
The implicit price deflator is the inflation adjustment the state uses for K-12 salary and supply allocations. Washington Research Council
Reykdal said in February 2026 that state funding has lost ground to inflation over seven years. Washington Research Council · Contradicts

5. Both test-score numbers come from the same 2024 state tests Statewide state test results by achievement level from OSPI's open-data files

In spring 2024, 70.9% of students reached Level 2 or higher in English and 62.8% in math. Only 50.2% and 39.7% reached Level 3 or higher, so 49.8% and 60.3% were below it. OSPI says Level 2 shows foundational grade-level knowledge and Level 3 or higher means on track for college-level learning. Its math descriptors call Level 3 proficient. OSPI's 2024 report to the Legislature listed the Level 3+ share as Met Standard.

Limit: OSPI's shares count students who skipped the test as below every level. Counting only students who tested, Level 2+ was 74.1% in English and 65.8% in math. Grades 3-8 and 10 are combined.

Verify: Share at Level 2+ and Level 3+, spring 2024 (saved analysis) 2025 assessment data press conference slides (September 2025) Math reporting achievement level descriptors Update: Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program 2024 (report to the Legislature, March 2025) Reykdal confronted by state data, blames partisanship for bad results (David Boze, June 20, 2025)

In 2024, 70.9% reached Level 2+ in English and 62.8% in math; 50.2% and 39.7% reached Level 3+. FactHub dataset
OSPI defines Level 2+ as foundational grade-level knowledge and Level 3+ as on track for college-level learning. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
OSPI describes Level 3 as proficient and Level 2 as foundational knowledge with a limited range of complexity. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
OSPI reported that 39.7% of students met standard in math in 2024. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
WPC said about 60% of students are not on track in math and 50% in English. Washington Policy Center
Reykdal said about three quarters of students are at grade level. Washington Policy Center · Qualifies

Reykdal's "about three quarters" at grade level counts Level 2 and up (71% in English, 63% in math). WPC's "60 percent not on track" in math counts students below Level 3. View source chart

6. National tests: Washington's rank fell, but few states are clearly ahead National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) averages and significance tests

On NAEP, the same national test given in every state, Washington's fourth-grade math average fell from 246 in 2013 (10th of 50 states) to 238 in 2024 (27th). In 2024 only 4 states, plus Defense Department schools, scored significantly higher; 35 were statistically tied. In eighth-grade math, Washington fell from 7th to 25th, and 14 states scored significantly higher, up from 7 in 2022. In reading, 5 states (grade 4) and 4 states (grade 8) did.

Limit: Ranks among statistically tied states move with small score changes. NAEP samples students; it does not test every student.

Verify: Washington NAEP rank and states significantly ahead (saved analysis) Washington K-12 money per student, test levels and NAEP ranks NAEP 2024 Mathematics State Snapshot Report: Washington, Grade 4 NAEP 2024 Mathematics State Snapshot Report: Washington, Grade 8 OSPI scrubs website of key data (Todd Myers, October 8, 2025) Reykdal confronted by state data, blames partisanship for bad results (David Boze, June 20, 2025)

Grade 4 math: 246 and 10th in 2013, 27th in 2024; 3 then 4 states significantly higher. Grade 8 math: 7th to 25th, 14 states significantly higher in 2024. Reading 2024: 5 states (grade 4) and 4 (grade 8) significantly higher. FactHub dataset
In eighth-grade math, 7 states scored significantly higher than Washington in 2022 and 14 in 2024 (NAEP table). FactHub dataset · Qualifies
In 2024, five states or jurisdictions (including Defense Department schools) scored significantly higher than Washington in fourth-grade math, and 35 were not significantly different. National Center for Education Statistics · Qualifies
In 2024, 15 states or jurisdictions, including Defense Department schools, scored significantly higher than Washington in eighth-grade math. National Center for Education Statistics · Qualifies
WPC said Washington's fourth-grade NAEP math rank fell from 10th in 2013 to 27th in 2024. Washington Policy Center
Reykdal said national data show very few states statistically outperform Washington. Washington Policy Center · Qualifies

7. What Reykdal said, and when Published interview transcript and earlier interview

In a FOX 13 Seattle interview in June 2025, Reykdal answered WPC's figures by saying schools have less money per student after inflation than six years earlier. In October 2024 he told Key Peninsula News that peak funding was in 2019 and that inflation-adjusted funding was down $1,000 per student. On the state-and-local, Seattle-price measure, that was close for 2021-22 and 2022-23, but no longer true by 2024-25.

Limit: The FOX 13 video has no transcript or captions. The quoted words come from WPC's transcript, which we could not check against the audio.

Verify: Reykdal confronted by state data, blames partisanship for bad results (David Boze, June 20, 2025) Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal seeks third term (October 2, 2024)

Reykdal said schools have less money per student after inflation than six years earlier. Washington Policy Center · Contradicts
Reykdal said school funding peaked in 2019. Key Peninsula News · Qualifies
Reykdal said in 2024 that inflation-adjusted funding was down $1,000 per student. Key Peninsula News · Contradicts

we have less money today adjusted for inflation per kid than we did six years ago

Chris Reykdal, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction FOX 13 Seattle television interview, as transcribed by the Washington Policy Center · June 17, 2025 · Assertion

Context: The interviewer cited WPC's figures that per-pupil spending rose from $13,775 to $19,163 while about 60% of students were not on track in math, and asked what districts should do differently. Reykdal first said three quarters of students are on grade band, then made this statement, then called the Policy Center a very partisan, ideological group. The wording is from WPC's published transcript; the FOX 13 video has no captions and FactHub did not check the wording against the audio.

Source: Washington Policy Center, "Reykdal confronted by state data, blames partisanship for bad results" (David Boze, June 20, 2025) · View in the dataset

Common questions 9

“Reykdal's "three quarters" and WPC's "60 percent not on track" come from different data.”

Short answer: Same tests

Both come from the same spring 2024 state tests: Reykdal counted students at Level 2 and up, while WPC counted students below Level 3. About 71% reached Level 2 in English and 63% in math; 50% and 40% reached Level 3.

In 2024, 70.9% reached Level 2+ in English and 62.8% in math; 50.2% and 39.7% reached Level 3+. FactHub dataset
OSPI defines Level 2+ as foundational grade-level knowledge and Level 3+ as on track for college-level learning. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

See the evidence: Both test-score numbers come from the same 2024 state tests

“The real fact is what percentage of kids are at grade level, which is about three quarters.”

Our rating: Misleading

About 71% in English and 63% in math reached Level 2 or higher in 2024. Level 2 is below Level 3, the level OSPI calls proficient and its goals count.

In 2024, 70.9% reached Level 2+ in English and 62.8% in math; 50.2% and 39.7% reached Level 3+. FactHub dataset
OSPI describes Level 3 as proficient and Level 2 as foundational knowledge with a limited range of complexity. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

See the evidence: Both test-score numbers come from the same 2024 state tests

“About 60 percent [are] not on track for college level learning in math and 50 percent when it comes to English.”

Our rating: True

In spring 2024, 60.3% of students were below Level 3 in math and 49.8% in English, using OSPI's own definition of on track.

In 2024, 70.9% reached Level 2+ in English and 62.8% in math; 50.2% and 39.7% reached Level 3+. FactHub dataset
OSPI defines Level 2+ as foundational grade-level knowledge and Level 3+ as on track for college-level learning. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
OSPI reported that 39.7% of students met standard in math in 2024. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

See the evidence: Both test-score numbers come from the same 2024 state tests

“Between 2013 and 2024, fourth grade students in Washington fell from a ranking of 10th in the nation in Math to 27th.”

Our rating: True

Washington ranked 10th of 50 states in 2013 and 27th in 2024. Only 4 states, plus Defense Department schools, scored significantly higher in 2024; 35 were statistical ties.

Grade 4 math: 246 and 10th in 2013, 27th in 2024; 3 then 4 states significantly higher. Grade 8 math: 7th to 25th, 14 states significantly higher in 2024. Reading 2024: 5 states (grade 4) and 4 (grade 8) significantly higher. FactHub dataset
In 2024, five states or jurisdictions (including Defense Department schools) scored significantly higher than Washington in fourth-grade math, and 35 were not significantly different. National Center for Education Statistics · Qualifies

See the evidence: National tests: Washington's rank fell, but few states are clearly ahead

“There's national data that suggests very few states are statistically out-performing Washington.”

Our rating: Mostly true

In 2024, 4 or 5 states scored significantly higher on three of the four national tests. In eighth-grade math, 14 did, up from 7 in 2022.

Grade 4 math: 246 and 10th in 2013, 27th in 2024; 3 then 4 states significantly higher. Grade 8 math: 7th to 25th, 14 states significantly higher in 2024. Reading 2024: 5 states (grade 4) and 4 (grade 8) significantly higher. FactHub dataset
In eighth-grade math, 7 states scored significantly higher than Washington in 2022 and 14 in 2024 (NAEP table). FactHub dataset · Qualifies
In 2024, 15 states or jurisdictions, including Defense Department schools, scored significantly higher than Washington in eighth-grade math. National Center for Education Statistics · Qualifies

See the evidence: National tests: Washington's rank fell, but few states are clearly ahead

“Isn't the increase just federal COVID relief money?”

Short answer: No

Without COVID relief programs, 2023-24 spending per student was still 5.4% above 2018-19 with national prices and 1.4% with Seattle prices. By 2024-25, COVID programs added only about $3 per student, and spending was 8.4% above 2018-19 (4.4% with Seattle prices).

All-funds spending per student rose 3.3% to 8.4% after inflation from 2018-19, and 5.4% excluding COVID programs through 2023-24 with national prices. FactHub dataset
In 2024-25, spending per student was $19,371 with COVID programs and $19,368 without, a difference of about $3. FactHub dataset

See the evidence: All school spending per student rose faster than prices

“Shouldn't school funding be adjusted with Seattle prices?”

Short answer: It's one choice

OSPI uses Seattle-area consumer prices, which rose about 30% from 2018-19 to 2024-25, against 25% nationally. The state's own school salary and supply formulas use a national price measure, according to the Washington Research Council. Even with Seattle prices, total spending per student rose 4.4%.

The implicit price deflator is the inflation adjustment the state uses for K-12 salary and supply allocations. Washington Research Council
All-funds spending per student rose 3.3% to 8.4% after inflation from 2018-19, and 5.4% excluding COVID programs through 2023-24 with national prices. FactHub dataset

See the evidence: All school spending per student rose faster than prices

“Was 2018-19 a typical starting year?”

Short answer: No, a high one

It was a high one. State money per student rose 23% before inflation in 2018-19 alone, after the McCleary ruling, a state Supreme Court case requiring full funding of schools. From 2019-20, all spending per student was up 7.0% (national prices) or 3.5% (Seattle prices) by 2024-25; from 2017-18, about 18%.

All-funds spending per student rose from $17,863 in 2018-19 to $19,371 in 2024-25 with national prices, and from $16,436 in 2017-18. FactHub dataset
State revenue per student rose from $9,357 in 2017-18 to $11,507 in 2018-19 before inflation (23%). From 2019-20, all-funds spending per student rose 7.0% (U.S. prices) and 3.5% (Seattle prices) by 2024-25. FactHub dataset · Qualifies

See the evidence: All school spending per student rose faster than prices

“Did OSPI remove its state test targets from its website?”

Short answer: It was replaced

A September 2, 2025 archived copy shows the report card's targets tab with goals for 2027 and results for 2018-19 only. OSPI later rebuilt it with goals extended to 2029, as an October 2026 copy shows.

The report card showed state targets for 2027 in early September 2025. Internet Archive Wayback Machine
The original targets tab showed results only for 2018-19. Internet Archive Wayback Machine
The rebuilt targets tab shows goals for 2029, extended two years for COVID-19 disruptions. Internet Archive Wayback Machine · Qualifies

Conclusion

Reykdal's statement holds only under one reading. If "money" means state and local funding, leaving out federal dollars, and inflation means Seattle-area consumer prices, then funding per student in 2023-24, the latest final year when he spoke, was 3.8% below 2018-19. That is the measure OSPI uses in its own charts.

In the interview, Reykdal was answering WPC's figure for total spending per student, so the natural reading of "less money per kid" is that schools had less to spend. On that reading the claim is wrong. Spending per student from all sources was 3% to 7% above 2018-19 after inflation in 2023-24, and 4% to 8% above by 2024-25, on every price index we tried and from either 2018-19 or 2019-20. The rise is not just COVID relief: without it, 2023-24 was still higher, and by 2024-25 that money was nearly gone.

State and local money alone was within about 1% of 2018-19 in 2023-24 with national prices or the federal government price index, and 3% to 3.5% higher by 2024-25. OSPI's newer chart showing $582 less per student appears to compare prices from different years; on a consistent basis the gap is about $68.

WPC's test numbers hold up: in spring 2024, 60% of students were below Level 3 in math and 50% in English. Reykdal's "about three quarters" counts Level 2, which reached 71% in reading and 63% in math. WPC's NAEP rank drop from 10th to 27th is correct, though most states near Washington are statistical ties.

We rate the claim Misleading with high confidence. The spending figures are official accounting totals. The Census series is built from similar state reports, but the Washington Research Council's separate budget analysis points the same way. We could not check Reykdal's words against the broadcast audio; we used WPC's transcript.

How we checked

Defined the claim as Reykdal's exact words in WPC's transcript of the June 17, 2025 FOX 13 interview, and "six years ago" as the 2018-19 school year, with 2019-20 as a check.
Built per-student series from OSPI's year-end district financial reports (F-196) for 2014-15 to 2024-25: all-funds General Fund spending, the same without COVID relief programs, state plus local revenue, and state revenue only, each divided by annual average full-time-equivalent enrollment. Cross-checked with Census Bureau per-pupil current spending.
Adjusted for inflation three ways and compared 2018-19 and 2019-20 with 2023-24 (the latest final year when Reykdal spoke) and 2024-25.
Reproduced OSPI's 2026 funding chart from the same revenue codes and the Seattle price index.
Pulled statewide test results by level from OSPI's open-data files and NAEP results and significance tests from the NAEP Data Service, checked against NCES state snapshot reports.
Checked the WPC claims by the same standard as Reykdal's, and recorded each limitation with its evidence.

Editorial note: This article checks statements in a June 2025 dispute between Superintendent Chris Reykdal and the Washington Policy Center, as quoted in WPC's transcript of a FOX 13 Seattle interview. It does not judge whether schools need more money; that is a values question. A companion FactHub article covers spending growth and results from 2010 to 2019.

Expert-review status

No external specialist review has been recorded.

Funding and conflicts

Funding: No external funding for this piece.

Ownership: Written and published by the FactHub Research Team.

Conflicts: None known.

Sources 17

Sources are labeled by kind, with what this fact check takes from each, so readers can check the evidence independently.

Party to the dispute Washington Policy Center. Reykdal confronted by state data, blames partisanship for bad results (David Boze, June 20, 2025)
WPC article with its transcript of Reykdal's FOX 13 Seattle interview and WPC's test-score figures.

Reliability: Has a stake in this finding. WPC is a party to the dispute and wrote the article to rebut Reykdal. Its transcript is the only text of the interview we found.
- Contradicts: Reykdal said schools have less money per student after inflation than six years earlier.
  
  What the source says
  
  we have less money today adjusted for inflation per kid than we did six years ago
  Transcript, Reykdal's first answer · Chris Reykdal, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Qualifies: Reykdal said about three quarters of students are at grade level.
  
  What the source says
  
  the real fact is what percentage of kids are at grade level which is about three quarters
  Transcript, Reykdal's second answer · Chris Reykdal, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Qualifies: Reykdal said national data show very few states statistically outperform Washington.
  
  What the source says
  
  there's national data that suggests very few states are statistically out-performing Washington
  Transcript, end of Reykdal's first answer · Chris Reykdal, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction
- WPC said about 60% of students are not on track in math and 50% in English.
  
  What the source says
  
  about 60 percent not on track for college level learning in math and 50 percent when it comes to English
  First paragraph
Party to the dispute Washington Policy Center. OSPI scrubs website of key data (Todd Myers, October 8, 2025)
WPC article on OSPI's removal of its state targets page, with NAEP rank claims.

Reliability: Has a stake in this finding. WPC is a party to the dispute.
- WPC said Washington's fourth-grade NAEP math rank fell from 10th in 2013 to 27th in 2024.
  
  What the source says
  
  Between 2013 and 2024, fourth grade students in Washington fell from a ranking of 10th in the nation in Math to 27th.
  Body, second paragraph · Todd Myers, Washington Policy Center
News report Key Peninsula News. Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal seeks third term (October 2, 2024)
Community newspaper profile of Reykdal during his 2024 reelection campaign.

Reliability: Local newspaper interview; it reports Reykdal's words without checking the figures.
- Qualifies: Reykdal said school funding peaked in 2019.
  
  What the source says
  
  Peak funding was in 2019.
  Body · Chris Reykdal
- Contradicts: Reykdal said in 2024 that inflation-adjusted funding was down $1,000 per student.
  
  What the source says
  
  When adjusted for inflation, funding is down $1,000 per student.
  Body · Chris Reykdal
Party to the dispute Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. OSPI press conference slides, September 10, 2026
OSPI's slides including a chart of state and local funding per student adjusted for inflation.

Reliability: Has a stake in this finding. OSPI is Reykdal's agency and uses this chart to ask the Legislature for more money.
- Contradicts: OSPI's chart says state and local funding per student is $582 lower than in 2018-19 after inflation.
  
  What the source says
  
  $582 less per student
  Slide "Funding Per Student"
- Qualifies: OSPI adjusts with the Seattle-area consumer price index and states values in 2025 dollars.
  
  What the source says
  
  Figures are adjusted for inflation using the Seattle Consumer Price Index (CPI) and expressed in 2025 dollars.
  Slide "Funding Per Student", note
Party to the dispute Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. 2025 assessment data press conference slides (September 2025)
OSPI's presentation of state test results, with its definitions of the achievement levels.

Reliability: Has a stake in this finding. Reykdal's agency. Its definitions are official; its choice to lead with Level 2+ shares is part of the dispute.
- OSPI defines Level 2+ as foundational grade-level knowledge and Level 3+ as on track for college-level learning.
  
  What the source says
  
  A score of Level 2 or above indicates a student demonstrated foundational grade-level knowledge. A score of Level 3 or above indicates a student is on track for college-level learning without needing remedial courses.
  Slide 3
Government Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Math reporting achievement level descriptors
OSPI's official descriptions of what each math test level means.

Reliability: Technical definitions published by OSPI for score reporting.
- OSPI describes Level 3 as proficient and Level 2 as foundational knowledge with a limited range of complexity.
  
  What the source says
  
  Level 3 Students consistently demonstrate proficient grade-level knowledge and skills with a broad range of complexity.
  Page 1, grades 3-8
Government Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Update: Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program 2024 (report to the Legislature, March 2025)
OSPI's report to the Legislature on 2024 state test results.

Reliability: Official legislative report; lists the Level 3+ share under the heading Met Standard.
- OSPI reported that 39.7% of students met standard in math in 2024.
  
  What the source says
  
  Smarter Balanced Assessment Math 39.7%
  Figure 1, State Level Participation and Results
Government National Center for Education Statistics. NAEP 2024 Mathematics State Snapshot Report: Washington, Grade 4
Official NAEP summary of Washington's fourth-grade math results and comparison with other states.

Reliability: Federal statistics agency; NAEP is the same test in every state and is independent of Washington's own tests.
- Qualifies: In 2024, five states or jurisdictions (including Defense Department schools) scored significantly higher than Washington in fourth-grade math, and 35 were not significantly different.
  
  What the source says
  
  Washington (238) was lower than those in 5 states/jurisdictions higher than those in 11 states/jurisdictions not significantly different from those in 35 states/jurisdictions
  Page 1, "Overall Results"
Government National Center for Education Statistics. NAEP 2024 Mathematics State Snapshot Report: Washington, Grade 8
Official NAEP summary of Washington's eighth-grade math results.

Reliability: Federal statistics agency.
- Qualifies: In 2024, 15 states or jurisdictions, including Defense Department schools, scored significantly higher than Washington in eighth-grade math.
  
  What the source says
  
  Washington (274) was lower than those in 15 states/jurisdictions
  Page 1, "Overall Results"
Other Washington Research Council. Inflation-adjusted state spending for K-12 has increased since 2020 (Emily Makings, February 18, 2026)
Analysis of state K-12 appropriations per student adjusted for inflation.

Reliability: Nonprofit research group on Washington fiscal policy. It uses state budget appropriations and the implicit price deflator, not district spending data.
- State K-12 appropriations per student for 2026 and 2027, adjusted for inflation, are higher than in 2020.
  
  What the source says
  
  Consequently, inflation-adjusted per-pupil appropriations are also higher than in 2020.
  Body, after first chart
- The implicit price deflator is the inflation adjustment the state uses for K-12 salary and supply allocations.
  
  What the source says
  
  That is the inflation adjustment used for state allocations for K–12 salaries and material, supplies, and operating costs.
  Body, note on method
- Contradicts: Reykdal said in February 2026 that state funding has lost ground to inflation over seven years.
  
  What the source says
  
  state funding for public education has lost ground to inflation over seven years.
  Opening quotation · Chris Reykdal, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction
Other Internet Archive Wayback Machine. OSPI Washington State Report Card, statewide page, captured September 2, 2025
Archived copy of the state report card with the original targets tab.

Reliability: Independent web archive; shows the page as captured on that date.
- The report card showed state targets for 2027 in early September 2025.
  
  What the source says
  
  State Targets for 2027
  Targets tab
- The original targets tab showed results only for 2018-19.
  
  What the source says
  
  Data for State Targets is only available for the 2018-19 school year.
  Targets tab
Other Internet Archive Wayback Machine. OSPI Washington State Report Card, statewide page, captured October 22, 2026
Archived copy of the state report card with the rebuilt targets tab.

Reliability: Independent web archive.
- Qualifies: The rebuilt targets tab shows goals for 2029, extended two years for COVID-19 disruptions.
  
  What the source says
  
  extended the state’s long-term goals by two years to account for COVID-19 disruptions
  Targets tab
FactHub record FactHub dataset. Money per student after inflation (saved analysis)
Per-student General Fund spending and state plus local revenue in 2024-25 dollars, 2015-16 to 2024-25.
- All-funds spending per student rose from $17,863 in 2018-19 to $19,371 in 2024-25 with national prices, and from $16,436 in 2017-18.
FactHub record FactHub dataset. Percent change in real money per student (saved analysis)
Change by measure, price index, base year and end year.
- All-funds spending per student rose 3.3% to 8.4% after inflation from 2018-19, and 5.4% excluding COVID programs through 2023-24 with national prices.
- Qualifies: State and local money per student, from 2018-19: 0.0% (U.S. prices), -1.1% (government index), -3.8% (Seattle) to 2023-24; +3.5%, +3.0%, -0.4% to 2024-25. From 2019-20 with Seattle prices: -3.2% and +0.2%. State money only, from 2019-20 with Seattle prices: -6.6% and -3.0%.
- Census current spending per pupil rose 2.8% to 6.8% after inflation from 2018-19 to 2023-24.
FactHub record FactHub dataset. Washington K-12 money per student, test levels and NAEP ranks
Full dataset, including the replication of OSPI's funding chart.
- Recomputing OSPI's chart gives $17,733 for 2024-25, an exact match, and $17,801 rather than $18,315 for 2018-19.
- Before inflation, all-funds spending per student was $14,239 in 2018-19 and $19,371 in 2024-25; state and local revenue per student was $13,663 in 2018-19.
- In 2024-25, spending per student was $19,371 with COVID programs and $19,368 without, a difference of about $3.
- Qualifies: State revenue per student rose from $9,357 in 2017-18 to $11,507 in 2018-19 before inflation (23%). From 2019-20, all-funds spending per student rose 7.0% (U.S. prices) and 3.5% (Seattle prices) by 2024-25.
- Qualifies: In eighth-grade math, 7 states scored significantly higher than Washington in 2022 and 14 in 2024 (NAEP table).
FactHub record FactHub dataset. Share at Level 2+ and Level 3+, spring 2024 (saved analysis)
Statewide test results by cut line.
- In 2024, 70.9% reached Level 2+ in English and 62.8% in math; 50.2% and 39.7% reached Level 3+.
FactHub record FactHub dataset. Washington NAEP rank and states significantly ahead (saved analysis)
NAEP rank among 50 states and significance counts, 2013, 2019, 2024.
- Grade 4 math: 246 and 10th in 2013, 27th in 2024; 3 then 4 states significantly higher. Grade 8 math: 7th to 25th, 14 states significantly higher in 2024. Reading 2024: 5 states (grade 4) and 4 (grade 8) significantly higher.
FactHub dataset Washington K-12 money per student after inflation, state test levels and NAEP ranks, 2015-2026
- Tables: per-student-funding, price-indexes
  
  Saved analysis real-per-student-trend
- Tables: sba-statewide
  
  Saved analysis test-levels-2024
- we have less money today adjusted for inflation per kid than we did six years ago
  Chris Reykdal, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction, June 17, 2025 · In the dataset
- the real fact is what percentage of kids are at grade level which is about three quarters
  Chris Reykdal, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction, June 17, 2025 · In the dataset
- there's national data that suggests very few states are statistically out-performing Washington
  Chris Reykdal, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction, June 17, 2025 · In the dataset
- about 60 percent not on track for college level learning in math and 50 percent when it comes to English
  David Boze, Communications Director, Washington Policy Center, June 20, 2025 · In the dataset
- Between 2013 and 2024, fourth grade students in Washington fell from a ranking of 10th in the nation in Math to 27th.
  Todd Myers, Washington Policy Center, October 8, 2025 · In the dataset
FactHub chart wa-school-money-per-student-real
FactHub chart wa-test-levels-two-cut-lines-2024

Update history 2 changes, last November 3, 2026

November 3, 2026 First version.
November 3, 2026 Version 2, before publication: anchored the answer and summary on 2023-24, the latest year when Reykdal spoke; added 2019-20 base, Seattle-price COVID-excluded and government-index figures; cited the NAEP reading and eighth-grade counts and the nominal and state-only figures; fixed quote marks and the targets-page answer; noted the Census data's overlap with state reports. Addresses auditor feedback 2516085634948658580, 2516085634951131001, 2516085634953610112, 2516085635761433198, 2516085635763986360 and 2516085635766579398.

Feedback these versions applied

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Technical details: node handle article:wa-reykdal-school-funding-scores

School spending per student in Washington beat inflation since 2019.

What might surprise you

The short version

Key points

What the evidence establishes

The evidence

Common questions 9

“Reykdal's "three quarters" and WPC's "60 percent not on track" come from different data.”

“The real fact is what percentage of kids are at grade level, which is about three quarters.”

“About 60 percent [are] not on track for college level learning in math and 50 percent when it comes to English.”

“Between 2013 and 2024, fourth grade students in Washington fell from a ranking of 10th in the nation in Math to 27th.”

“There's national data that suggests very few states are statistically out-performing Washington.”

“Isn't the increase just federal COVID relief money?”

“Shouldn't school funding be adjusted with Seattle prices?”

“Was 2018-19 a typical starting year?”

“Did OSPI remove its state test targets from its website?”

Conclusion

How we checked

Expert-review status

Funding and conflicts

Sources 17

Update history 2 changes, last November 3, 2026

Feedback these versions applied

For developers: ClaimReview data

Challenge this fact-check

Send feedback

What might surprise you

The short version

Key points

What the evidence establishes

The evidence

Common questions 9

“Reykdal's "three quarters" and WPC's "60 percent not on track" come from different data.”

“The real fact is what percentage of kids are at grade level, which is about three quarters.”

“About 60 percent [are] not on track for college level learning in math and 50 percent when it comes to English.”

“Between 2013 and 2024, fourth grade students in Washington fell from a ranking of 10th in the nation in Math to 27th.”

“There's national data that suggests very few states are statistically out-performing Washington.”

“Isn't the increase just federal COVID relief money?”

“Shouldn't school funding be adjusted with Seattle prices?”

“Was 2018-19 a typical starting year?”

“Did OSPI remove its state test targets from its website?”

Conclusion

Related fact checks

How we checked

Expert-review status

Funding and conflicts

Sources 17

Update history 2 changes, last November 3, 2026

Feedback these versions applied

For developers: ClaimReview data

Challenge this fact-check