East King News

Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account (PSTAA) was passed by the King County Council, which is a plan that will invest $318 million in King County education over 15 years.

“Education and early learning are critical to our children’s success, but too many miss out on opportunities because of persistent, systemic inequities due to race and income,” King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci said in a press release from King County. “This fund, carefully crafted with both expert educators and community partners, will provide early learning facilities, K-12 educational supports, and a Promise program to launch students into post-secondary learning and careers.”

The plan will put funds toward three categories: early learning facilities, the King County Promise and K-12 community-based organizations. 

Fifty-two percent of the funding will go toward early learning facilities and the King County Promise will receive 38% of the funding. The last 10% will be put toward community based organizations, such as Love and Liberation, a pilot program that will give youth programs to the community for Black, Indigenous and People of Color. 

“I’m particularly proud of working with former Councilmember Larry Gossett to draft language that allows funding to go to Love and Liberation, a groundbreaking pilot that will explicitly empower organizations with staff and leadership that have relevant lived experience or expertise in this area, and reflect the communities to be served,” Balducci said in the press release.