A variety of school districts face the challenging task of balancing budgets amid declining enrollment, expiring grants, inflation, and other constraints. These pressures have often led school boards and district leadership to propose or enact cuts to certain educational programs. This document synthesizes meeting snippets with a specific focus on which programs are being cut.
Where possible, direct quotations from public comments or board statements have been preserved, as these highlight the authenticity and gravity of the cuts being made.
Five primary categories of concern emerged from district meeting snippets:
“The administration… has several Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes that are not needed based on student forecasting requests for the 2024-2025 school year… A total of 0.8 CTE classes are eliminated.”
— Battle Ground SD (05/13/24)
“Contain escalating Special Education costs… [We are] exploring CTE changes if enrollment dips further.”
— Granite Falls SD (03/13/24)
Key Concern: Maintaining hands-on workforce preparation while facing decreased enrollment or insufficient sign-ups can be difficult. Districts must weigh whether to continue specialized CTE pathways with low enrollment.
“Resolution proposes the cut of the Culinary Arts Program at West Sound Tech. Enrollment is down and because of construction, there is no space right now…”
— Bremerton SD (03/21/24)
“He commented on the proposed budget reduction and asked for a more equitable division of reductions, focusing on deeper cuts to administration. Another community member lamented the potential cuts to the culinary class and larger class sizes.”
— Blaine SD (04/22/24)
“There are programs available that need to be seriously looked at for retaining the theater class… ‘Proposal to eliminate the drama teacher position,’ we need to think very seriously about how to keep that position.”
— Tukwila SD (05/28/24)
Key Concern: Arts programs are beloved but often costly. Cuts risk reducing student engagement and disproportionately affect students whose strengths lie in creative fields.
“…the 21st Century Grant is not funded for the next school year, so we are looking at alternative before and after‐school programs…”
— Tukwila SD (02/27/24)
“The board was reminded that the 21st Century before/after‐school program lost its funding and has been cancelled for the 2024–2025 school year…”
— Highland SD (06/03/24)
“Students should not suffer because of the failures of adults. The budgeting issues have brought up potential sports/activities cuts… We also heard from parents about possible after‐school changes if SROs also had to be cut.”
— Moses Lake SD (05/23/24; Public Comments)
Key Concern: These programs offer critical academic, social, and childcare support. With federal grants expiring, districts often cannot absorb costs in local budgets.
“Last week I received an email that stated because of funding my position is being cut. The district claims they want to make cuts furthest away from students; however, it seems the majority of the cuts, at the elementary level, have been to staff who work directly with our students.”
— Tukwila SD (05/28/24)
“Thanked board members for their work. Expressed that cutting direct services, specifically Tier II services, should be last on the list.”
— Vashon Island SD (05/09/24)
Key Concern: Interventions for literacy or social-emotional supports help the most vulnerable students. Reductions risk widening achievement gaps.
“If we start removing this program and position, there is a chance that it is going to collapse. We absolutely need to figure out how to keep this…”
— Tukwila SD (05/28/24)
“One parent wrote about their concerns that the district may cut AP and accelerated classes to help with budget issues… This affects not only my high school plans, but my future college acceptance.”
— Moses Lake SD (05/23/24)
Key Concern: Cutting graduation specialists or advanced courses reduces students’ college competitiveness and scholarship opportunities.
This table captures the program types, the districts implementing the cuts, and direct quotations illustrating the concerns, context, and impact.
| Program Type | District / Date | Number Cut / Detail | Direct Quote / Snippet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career & Technical Education (CTE) | Battle Ground SD (05/13/24) | 0.8 CTE classes eliminated |
“The administration… has several Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes that are not needed…
A total of 0.8 CTE classes are eliminated.” — (Board Meeting 05/13/24) |
| Career & Technical Education (CTE) | Granite Falls SD (03/13/24) | Not enumerated; references potential further adjustments |
“Contain escalating Special Education costs… [We are] exploring CTE changes if enrollment dips further.” — (Meeting Snippet 03/13/24) |
| Performing & Visual Arts (Culinary, Drama, etc.) |
Bremerton SD (03/21/24) | 1 Culinary Arts program cut (West Sound Tech) |
“Resolution proposes the cut of the Culinary Arts Program at West Sound Tech. Enrollment is down… recommended
shutting down the program for 24–25 school year…” — (Board Meeting 03/21/24) |
| Performing & Visual Arts (Culinary, Drama, etc.) |
Blaine SD (04/22/24) | Not enumerated; references Culinary reduction and deeper cut concerns |
“He… asked for a more equitable division of reductions, focusing on deeper cuts to administration.
Another community member lamented the potential cuts to the culinary class and larger class sizes.” — (Board Meeting 04/22/24) |
| Performing & Visual Arts (Culinary, Drama, etc.) |
Tukwila SD (05/28/24) | Drama teacher position threatened; no numeric detail |
“There are programs… for retaining the theater class… ‘Proposal to eliminate the drama teacher position… we need
to think very seriously about how to keep that position.’” — (Board Meeting 05/28/24) |
| After‐School & Extended‐Day Programs |
Tukwila SD (02/27/24) | 21st Century Grant ended; Champions after‐school ended in March |
“…the 21st Century Grant is not funded… so we are looking at alternative before and after‐school programs…” — (Board Meeting 02/27/24) |
| After‐School & Extended‐Day Programs |
Highland SD (06/03/24) | 21st Century Program canceled for 24–25 |
“The 21st Century before/after‐school program lost its funding and has been cancelled for the 2024–2025 school year…” — (Board Meeting 06/03/24) |
| After‐School & Extended‐Day Programs |
Moses Lake SD (05/23/24) | Sports/activities potentially impacted |
“Students should not suffer because of the failures of adults… we also heard from parents about possible after‐school
changes if SROs also had to be cut.” — (Public Comments, 05/23/24) |
| Specialized Interventions (Tier II, Literacy, Summer) |
Tukwila SD (05/28/24) | Literacy interventionist cut; specifics not enumerated |
“Last week… my position is being cut. The district claims they want to make cuts furthest away from students…
majority of the cuts… have been to staff who work directly with our students.” — (Board Meeting 05/28/24) |
| Specialized Interventions (Tier II, Literacy, Summer) |
Vashon Island SD (05/09/24) | Tier II support threatened; no numeric detail |
“Thanked board members… expressed that cutting direct services, specifically Tier II services, should be last on the list.” — (Board Meeting 05/09/24) |
| College/Career Readiness (Counselors, AP, Graduation Specialists) |
Tukwila SD (05/28/24) | College/Career center slated for elimination |
“If we start removing this program and position, there is a chance that it is going to collapse. We absolutely need
to figure out how to keep this…” — (Board Meeting 05/28/24) |
| College/Career Readiness (Counselors, AP, Graduation Specialists) |
Moses Lake SD (05/23/24) | AP/Accelerated classes at risk |
“Dear Board of Directors… concerned… the District may cut AP and accelerated classes to help with budget issues…
This affects not only my high school plans, but my future college acceptance.” — (Public Comments, 05/23/24) |
Across districts of varying sizes, special education underfunding, expiring grants, and declining enrollment remain consistent pressure points leading to program cuts. Most districts strive to protect core academics first, leaving specialized programs—like arts, after‐school tutoring, advanced electives, and direct literacy interventions—at higher risk. Community members across districts frequently testify that these reductions have a human impact:
“These cuts hurt… What you see as numbers on paper our students see as the people they rely on…”
— Tukwila SD (03/26/24)
Despite widespread frustration, district leaders plan for possible restoration if enrollment or state funding improves. Continued advocacy by stakeholders may help ensure these critical programs persist.