By Cody Mahar-Kjos, Oceana Baker, Giuliana Natale, and Michael Doyle – Green Party of NE Washington

The Crisis Is Here—Will We Fight Back?

With Washington State facing a $13 billion budget shortfall and the U.S. Department of Education officially dissolved, public education is collapsing. Federal education funding is gone. Schools will close, teachers will be laid off, and students—especially from working-class and marginalized communities—will be abandoned.

This is by design. The ruling class has never valued public education because educated, empowered people threaten their control. They want learning to be a privilege, not a right. They want students drowning in debt, not fighting for change.

But we refuse to let them destroy our future.

The Green Party of Washington must take action now to:

✅ Expose the crisis—Tell the truth about what’s happening to our schools.

✅ Organize resistance—Rallies, protests, and mass action to demand real funding.

✅ Build alternatives—A new education system that puts power in the hands of communities.

We don’t have time to wait. The future of our students—and our movement—depends on what we do next.

The Plan: From Awareness to Action

1. Demand Immediate Alternative Funding for Education

If the state claims there is “no money” for education, we must expose their lies and fight for new funding sources:

Progressive Taxation & Closing Corporate Loopholes

Tax the ultra-wealthy—A 1% wealth tax on millionaires and billionaires could generate billions for education.

End corporate tax loopholes—Washington State gave $2.7 billion in corporate tax breaks in 2023 alone. That money could fully fund schools.

Increase capital gains taxes—Make the wealthy pay their fair share.

Redirect State Spending from Police & Military Contracts

Defund bloated police budgets and redirect that money into education, mental health services, and community programs.

End subsidies to war profiteers—Washington is home to major defense contractors like Boeing that receive billions in subsidies while schools are left to rot.

Use Publicly Owned Cannabis & Green Energy Revenue

Take back control of marijuana tax revenue—Much of it currently disappears into the general fund instead of being used for education.

Publicly owned green energy projects could generate sustainable, long-term funding for education.

If politicians refuse to act, they expose themselves as enemies of working-class students and families.

2. Organize a Mass Movement to Defend Public Education

Flood social media with testimonies from teachers, students, and parents.

Hold public town halls and mass rallies to demand action from lawmakers.

Organize school walkouts, teacher strikes, and mass demonstrations—direct action gets results.

Build alliances with labor unions, working-class movements, and student activists.

3. Build a Community-Led Education System

If the state continues to fail, we must take education into our own hands.

Community-Led Education Alternatives

Worker-run and parent-run schools—Cooperative schools where teachers, parents, and students make decisions democratically, completely independent from the state.

Community homeschooling networks—Families and volunteers pool resources to educate children collectively in small, community-driven learning groups.

Education cooperatives—Community-funded schools where tuition is kept low or free through grassroots fundraising, mutual aid, and nonprofit models.

Mutual Aid & Free Community Education Centers

Convert public libraries, community centers, and empty buildings into free educational hubs run by volunteers, retired educators, and community members.

Create a Green Party education fund—A grassroots, people-powered fund to support community schools and homeschooling efforts.

Develop free online education resources—The Green Party and its allies can build open-source curriculums so students have access to high-quality education outside the state system.

Partner with labor unions and worker-owned businesses to fund vocational training and apprenticeships.

We cannot rely on the state to fix this crisis—we must build a decentralized, community-powered education system that puts people before profit.

The Next Steps: Organize. Mobilize. Win.

Assign regional coordinators to oversee actions and outreach — contact us to get involved.

Launch an immediate social media and press campaign to expose the crisis — campaign presentation.

Schedule the first major town hall or protest event within 30 – 90 days — join us to make it happen!

Begin working with educators and activists to build alternative schooling options — we need your support!

This is our moment to prove that education is a human right, not a privilege. If we don’t fight, who will? If we don’t lead, who will?

The Green Party of Washington must be at the forefront of this battle. We are the ones who believe in people over profit, justice over greed, and knowledge over ignorance.

Call to Action: Stand up. Speak out. Fight back.

For our students. For our communities. For our future.