June 17, 2020

Dear Director Schumacher:
Thank you for your letter informing the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
about your decision to accept the unanticipated receipt of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and
Economic Security (CARES) Act funding, specifically Elementary and Secondary School
Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. Your staff have been excellent in their communication
throughout your deliberation.
I write to express our profound disappointment in your decision to hold back the funds
directed to the state education agency (SEA), as well as the portion being held from our local
educational agencies (LEAs). The federal law clearly intends for all of these funds to be spent
by the respective education agencies to cover COVID-related costs and to develop prospective
plans for addressing COVID impacts as we move forward.
OSPI clearly articulated our plans for further preparing the K–12 system for remote learning,
closing opportunity gaps in remote learning, and strengthening communication between
schools and families during these uncertain times.
These plans include:
1. Purchasing connectivity for low-income families who may find themselves in remote
learning environments once again.

2. Partnering with community-based organizations for language translation services and
other parent and family engagement needs.

3. Narrowing the volume of learning management systems to a handful of the most
effective. We have heard from policymakers, parents and families, and students that if
we are going to engage further in remote learning, we MUST do this.

4. Offering professional development to our educators across the state in a short amount
of time (July and August) to be prepared for the possibility of additional remote
learning in regions or at scale if necessary.
The SEA funds were intended for statewide coordination, statewide strategies, and statewide
scale in purchasing and training. This is a smart use of these funds.

 Director Schumacher
June 17, 2020
Page 2
Now is not the time for the traditional budget strategy of cut first and ask equity questions
later. Connectivity, parent and family outreach, effective learning management systems, and
training are absolutely about better success for low-income families, and families having the
most difficulty having educational success in the COVID era.
Please release the SEA funds for their stated purposes and maintain your commitment to
releasing the rest of the LEA funds in August. We are losing precious time to be ready for our
fall reopening.
I would be happy to discuss this further.
Sincerely,

Chris Reykdal
Superintendent of
Public Instruction
cc:

Nona Snell, Assistant Director – Budget, OFM
Val Terre, Budget Assistant, OFM
The Honorable Christine Rolfes, Washington State Senate
The Honorable Lisa Wellman, Washington State Senate
The Honorable Andy Billig, Washington State Senate
The Honorable John Braun, Washington State Senate
The Honorable Brad Hawkins, Washington State Senate
The Honorable Timm Ormbsy, Washington State House of Representatives
The Honorable Pat Sullivan, Washington State House of Representatives
The Honorable Sharon Tomiko Santos, Washington State House of Representatives
The Honorable Drew Stokesbary, Washington State House of Representatives
The Honorable Mike Steele, Washington State House of Representatives
Jeffrey Naas, Sr. Fiscal Analyst, Senate Ways & Means Committee
Kayla Hammer, Fiscal Analyst, Senate Ways & Means Committee
James Mackison, Fiscal Analyst, House Appropriations Committee
Jordan Clarke, Fiscal Analyst, House Appropriations Committee