Mercer Islanders Support our Schools
Mercer Island students excel in academics, the arts, and athletics. Student success reflects dedicated educators, supportive families, and a community that takes pride in its schools. Learn more here about student achievements, our schools, and community support.
Mercer Island students excel in academics, the arts, and athletics. Student success reflects dedicated educators, supportive families, and a community that takes pride in its schools. Learn more here about student achievements, our schools, and community support.
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Citizens for Mercer Island Public Schools (CMIPS), founded over 30 years ago, is an all-volunteer group dedicated to ensuring stable school funding through bonds and levies. Our mission is to support students and schools by sharing accurate, factual information, and advocating for the resources public education needs to thrive.
If you question anything documented here, please contact us. [email protected] |
Educational Programs & Operations (EP&O) Replacement Levy
Every four years, Mercer Island voters decide whether to replace the Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) Levy. This levy is funded through local property taxes, and every dollar raised on Mercer Island stays in our schools to support Mercer Island students.
The current EP&O Levy expires at the end of 2026. Voters will be asked in February 2026 to approve a replacement levy that will begin in 2027. A simple majority is required for passage. In 2022, Mercer Islanders approved the current levy with 74% support, reflecting our community’s long-standing commitment to strong public schools.
Today, the EP&O Levy provides 16% of the MISD operating budget. These funds are essential. While Washington State is responsible for funding basic education, the state does not fully cover key services such as Special Education and transportation. The EP&O Levy fills those gaps and also ensures students have access to the high-quality programs, staffing, and learning experiences that define Mercer Island schools.
Renewing the levy protects the educational opportunities families count on and keeps Mercer Island schools strong for the next generation.
The current EP&O Levy expires at the end of 2026. Voters will be asked in February 2026 to approve a replacement levy that will begin in 2027. A simple majority is required for passage. In 2022, Mercer Islanders approved the current levy with 74% support, reflecting our community’s long-standing commitment to strong public schools.
Today, the EP&O Levy provides 16% of the MISD operating budget. These funds are essential. While Washington State is responsible for funding basic education, the state does not fully cover key services such as Special Education and transportation. The EP&O Levy fills those gaps and also ensures students have access to the high-quality programs, staffing, and learning experiences that define Mercer Island schools.
Renewing the levy protects the educational opportunities families count on and keeps Mercer Island schools strong for the next generation.
What is funded by the EP&O Levy? What is at risk?
The EP&O Levy plays a vital role in sustaining the educational experiences, staffing levels, and day-to-day operations that make Mercer Island schools exceptional. The items below are funded by the current levy and are not fully supported by the State of Washington.
If the replacement EP&O Levy is not approved in February 2026, many of these programs, positions, and services will no longer be fully funded.
Learning Experiences
7-Period Day at MIHS: Most Washington high schools operate on a 6-period schedule. The 7-period day at MIHS is funded by the EP&O levy and gives students an extra class every day. This expands access to AP courses, world languages, science, math, music, radio, and other electives that help shape post-secondary pathways. Without levy funding, MIHS would shift to a 6-period schedule.
Music Programs: Elementary, middle, and high school music instruction, including band, orchestra, and choir.
Drama Programs: Middle and high school drama classes and productions.
Elective Courses: A broad range of electives at Islander Middle School and MIHS that support student interests and career exploration.
Art Programs: Art education across elementary, middle, and high school.
Athletics and Activities: Over 50 athletic teams at MIHS and 16 at IMS, along with numerous clubs and co-curricular opportunities, would face reductions.
Enrichment Programs: District and school-based enrichment offerings would be scaled back.
Special Education and Intervention Services: The levy currently supports between $3–4 million annually in Special Education and intervention programs. These services must continue, so reductions would shift to general education programs if the levy is not renewed.
Staff
Teachers: Levy funds support teaching positions that help maintain smaller class sizes. Without the levy, class sizes would increase across the district.
Support Staff: Para-educators and classroom support staff play a direct role in student learning. MISD currently employs about 40 para-educators; this number would drop to approximately 7 districtwide without levy support.
Nursing Services: Levy funds help sustain school nursing. Without the levy, the district would need to cut general education spending to maintain nurses in the schools.
Academic Counselors: Counseling services would be reduced to the state-funded minimum of 0.38 FTE, which is roughly 15 hours per week for the district.
School Resource Officer: The Mercer Island Police Department’s School Resource Officer would shift from full-time to part-time.
Operations and Materials
District Operations: Transportation, insurance, and building maintenance rely on levy funding.
Instructional Materials and Technology: Fewer funds would be available for updated textbooks, instructional materials, and technology that support modern learning.
If the replacement EP&O Levy is not approved in February 2026, many of these programs, positions, and services will no longer be fully funded.
Learning Experiences
7-Period Day at MIHS: Most Washington high schools operate on a 6-period schedule. The 7-period day at MIHS is funded by the EP&O levy and gives students an extra class every day. This expands access to AP courses, world languages, science, math, music, radio, and other electives that help shape post-secondary pathways. Without levy funding, MIHS would shift to a 6-period schedule.
Music Programs: Elementary, middle, and high school music instruction, including band, orchestra, and choir.
Drama Programs: Middle and high school drama classes and productions.
Elective Courses: A broad range of electives at Islander Middle School and MIHS that support student interests and career exploration.
Art Programs: Art education across elementary, middle, and high school.
Athletics and Activities: Over 50 athletic teams at MIHS and 16 at IMS, along with numerous clubs and co-curricular opportunities, would face reductions.
Enrichment Programs: District and school-based enrichment offerings would be scaled back.
Special Education and Intervention Services: The levy currently supports between $3–4 million annually in Special Education and intervention programs. These services must continue, so reductions would shift to general education programs if the levy is not renewed.
Staff
Teachers: Levy funds support teaching positions that help maintain smaller class sizes. Without the levy, class sizes would increase across the district.
Support Staff: Para-educators and classroom support staff play a direct role in student learning. MISD currently employs about 40 para-educators; this number would drop to approximately 7 districtwide without levy support.
Nursing Services: Levy funds help sustain school nursing. Without the levy, the district would need to cut general education spending to maintain nurses in the schools.
Academic Counselors: Counseling services would be reduced to the state-funded minimum of 0.38 FTE, which is roughly 15 hours per week for the district.
School Resource Officer: The Mercer Island Police Department’s School Resource Officer would shift from full-time to part-time.
Operations and Materials
District Operations: Transportation, insurance, and building maintenance rely on levy funding.
- About $1 million in transportation costs would need to be absorbed by cutting elsewhere in the general education budget or by reducing transportation services.
- Insurance obligations and maintenance would also require cuts to general education spending if levy funds are not available.
Instructional Materials and Technology: Fewer funds would be available for updated textbooks, instructional materials, and technology that support modern learning.
Learn more about the EP&O Levy
Learn more about how Washington State allows the EP&O amount to be calculated. All revenue from the EP&O levy is from Mercer Islanders and stays on Mercer Island to support our schools. You can also learn more about MISD's open enrollment (non-resident students) and the impact to your property taxes.
Timeline
- October 9th – First Reading – EP&O Resolution No. 747
- October 23rd – Second Reading /Adoption – EP&O Resolution No. 747
- October 23rd - Pro & Con Committee Recruitment - Board Meeting Presentation
- November 13th – Board Appoints Committee to draft the “pro” and “con” statements for the local voters’ pamphlet
- December 12th – King County Filing Deadline for February 10, 2026, Election
- January 9, 2026 - Online voter guide available
- January 21, 2026 - Ballots and voters pamphlets mailed
- February 10, 2026 - Election Day, final date to turn in your ballot
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