Schools

Washington’s public schools properly identified special education students and spent 26% percent more than the state provided to serve them, according to a new performance audit. 

The Legislature asked the Office of the Washington State Auditor to review the prevalence of disabilities in student populations in the state and compare that need to the funding available to identify and serve special education students. Auditors were also tasked with determining whether any populations were under evaluated or underserved in special education. 

If your school is experiencing budget shortfalls, it’s crucial to know which funding sources are appropriate to use—and which are not. School districts have various types of revenue, some of which are restricted to certain purposes. These include federal grant awards, levy or bond proceeds and even Associated Student Body (ASB) money. It’s important that districts do not use these funds for general budget purposes.

Whether from yearbook sales, prom tickets or direct donations, the money raised by Associated Student Body (ASB) groups are public funds. 

The Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO) is hosting its annual conference this week in Spokane and SAO representatives will be there in person, sharing the latest news on financial reporting and auditing issues specifically for schools

Efforts to ensure Washington’s school children have adequate time to eat lunch were stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but are progressing again now, according to a new performance audit by the Office of the Washington State Auditor.

Originally published October 2, 2024

Updated October 4, 2024

Washington colleges and universities accept nearly all the college-level credits students earn in high school – if the students follow through on a crucial step in the transfer process, according to a report released today by the Office of the Washington State Auditor.

The Marysville School District’s ability to keep operating is in doubt, based on its declining financial condition, according to an audit by the Office of the Washington State Auditor.

The district serves about 9,700 students, and its finances have eroded rapidly over the past year. Auditors found the district’s current financial position “raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.”

Like most states, Washington reports shortages of qualified special education staff. Without properly trained staff, school districts struggle to provide eligible students with important services like lessons to develop study skills, speech or physical therapy, behavior management and vocational education.

The Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO) is hosting its annual conference this week in Tacoma and SAO representatives will be there, sharing the latest news on financial reporting and auditing issues specifically for schools and school districts.

As a bonus, we’ve created a special-edition Audit Connection newsletter filled with articles and information designed to help school business officials throughout Washington state.