| Charter School Proposal in Washington State Gains Ground |
| posted by: Cindy Omlin | July 25, 2012, 07:00 PM |
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Last Friday, supporters of charter schools in Washington turned in more than enough signatures in their efforts to legalize public charter schools in the state. In alliance with several organizations, using paid and volunteer signature gatherers, backers collected about 350,000 signatures for Initiative 1240 in just 18 days. According to Washington law, a ballot initiative needs about 242,000 valid signatures to qualify, and must be approved by the Secretary of State's office. While the petition figures are an impressive victory for supporters, the possibility of allowing public charter schools is not a new concept in Washington. Voters previously rejected similar charter school initiatives in 1996, 2000 and 2004. Advocates need to explain the idea to the public and persuade voters it will be a positive step forward for education stakeholders. The task will be no easy feat in Washington. Governor Christine Gregoire, the state's largest teachers union, and many state legislators are against the concept of charter schools. Despite their success in other states, opponents argue that Washington's "innovative schools" can fill the role that charter schools would in serving students. Despite the uphill battle, coalition groups of supporters are hopeful for a successful outcome through commonsense legislation that addresses concerns. They maintain that the state should take what has been learned elsewhere by offering only types of charter schools that have shown to improve achievement, making sure the oversight is excellent, and quickly shutting down the schools that aren't working. According to Robin Lake, director of University of Washington's Center on Reinventing Public Education and a national expert on charter school research, the proposal has a strong focus on accountability. It would allow a maximum of 40 charters over five years, limit authorizers to school boards and a statewide board, require the closure of unsuccessful schools, and allow only nonprofit operators. In addition, it prioritizes applications for schools that would serve economically and academically disadvantaged students. School districts could turn over low-achieving schools to a charter operator and the district would provide rent-free facilities. Still, while creating a flexible law focused on accountability is a step in the right direction, there is no guarantee that every school will be excellent from the start. "It takes commitment and on-the-ground work after the law is implemented," Lake stressed. What do you think about the charter school proposal in Washington? Comment below. Originally posted by Alix at AAE.
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