Stay informed on the latest news about public charter schools. Learn more about what’s happening at the Washington State Charter Schools Association (WA Charters) and with public charter schools in Washington.
Four Washington Schools Join Prestigious NewSchools Venture Fund Cohort to Reimagine K-12 Learning
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Monday, July 1, 2019 CONTACT | Maggie Meyers, maggie@wacharters.org or 724.263.9826 NewSchools Funding and management assistance will fuel efforts to launch new,…
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Lumen High School Approved to Open Charter Public High School for Teen Parents in Spokane
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Friday, June 28, 2019 CONTACT | Maggie Meyers, maggie@wacharters.org or 724.263.9826 Spokane, WA—On June 26th, Spokane Public Schools approved Lumen High…
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Newest Cohort of School Leadership and Design Fellows Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Wednesday, June 11, 2019 CONTACT | Maggie Meyers, maggie@wacharters.org or 724.263.9826 Four Groups Begin a Journey to Open New, Rigorous, Equity-Focused…
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Our Statement on Green Dot Destiny and Excel Public Charter School Closure Announcement
The Green Dot Public Schools Washington’s Board of Directors voted to close two of its schools at the end of the current school year: Destiny…
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State Commission Authorizes Four New Charter Public Schools
For Immediate Release May 30, 2019 Contact: Maggie Meyers at maggie@wacharters.org or 724.263.9826 Four New Charter Public Schools Approved by State Charter School Commission New…
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WA Charters Launches Aspiring Leaders Program
For Immediate Release | May 28, 2019 Contact | Maggie Meyers at maggie@wacharters.org or 724.263.9826 WA Charters Invests in Diverse Leadership for the Future Seattle, WA—This…
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Meet Dawit, Rainier Prep ’18 Alum
I graduated from Rainier Prep in 2018 after attending Rainier Prep for its first three years. I now attend Phillips Exeter in New Hampshire. Rainier…
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Meet Oscar.
I never planned on going to a charter public school. A friend who enrolled at Summit insisted that I try it out for the first…
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Meet Chris.
Before I came to Summit Olympus, I didn’t really care about school. I was just doing the bare minimum to get by. My 8th grade…
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Meet George.
I’m a founding student and eighth grader at Rainier Prep. I live in Burien with my brother and our parents, who immigrated from Vietnam. My…
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Recent Updates
- Four Washington Schools Join Prestigious NewSchools Venture Fund Cohort to Reimagine K-12 Learning
- Lumen High School Approved to Open Charter Public High School for Teen Parents in Spokane
- Newest Cohort of School Leadership and Design Fellows Announced
- Our Statement on Green Dot Destiny and Excel Public Charter School Closure Announcement
- State Commission Authorizes Four New Charter Public Schools
- WA Charters Launches Aspiring Leaders Program
- Meet Dawit, Rainier Prep '18 Alum
- Meet Oscar.
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After a day diving deep on design thinking, our School Leadership and Design Fellows enjoyed delicious dinner at FareStart with peer leaders.
FACT CHECK – Charter public schools do not add any new costs to the public education system. Unlike district schools, charter public schools do not receive support from local levies. In Washington state funding comes from the state’s Opportunity Pathways Account which contains lottery revenues. Learn more!
Washington charter schools ARE public schools. The Washington State Constitution specifically allows for different types of public schools. ESSB 6194, Washington State’s Charter Public School Law, passed in 2016, ensures that charter schools are one type of public school. Learn more.
SCHOOL DESIGN IS UNDERFOOT! Our newest cohort of School Leadership and Design Fellows dove deep into reimagining design in an engaging Transcend Explore the Future workshop.
Did you know that the boards that oversee charter public schools are subject to state and non-profit financial audits and have to answer to the community. Since families choose their charter schools, those schools are directly accountable to parents and must ensure they are meeting parents’ standards and expectations. Learn more!
Take some time to read more about how our very own Center on Reinventing Public Education is reimagining public education to prepare our students for the age of automation.
Like any other WA public school, public charters are accountable to the OSPI & State Board of Education and must comply with State and federal laws & meet the same academic standards. Charter public schools must:
- Employ teachers with the same certifications
- Administer the same standardized tests
Learn more!
Rainier Valley Leadership Academy is looking for mission-aligned teachers and staff to join its team. Explore jobs and apply today!
Read more about why it is so imperative that financial literacy is taught long before students begin to apply for college and financial aid.
Charter public school teachers must be certified, just like teachers at other public schools. Reflecting the diversity of the students they serve, 39 percent of Washington’s charter public school teachers are people of color, compared to 13 percent at public schools statewide.
Hear from a student about the amazing partnership between Purdue Polytechnic High School – a public charter school – and Purdue University.
Did you know that WA’s charter schools ARE public schools? Learn more!
Here is an excellent resource for all of our teachers hard at work over the summer.
Did you know that charter public schools serve students with IEPs and 504 plans?
Charter schools are free, public, and open to ALL students. In fact, Washington’s charters offer innovative and inclusive approaches to special education that are attracting a high percentage of families with students who have special needs. Learn more!
How has this university closed the achievement gap? Read more to find out!