Blog
Opportunity for Washington Charter Applicants
In order to support the growing charter school movement in our state, the Washington State Charter Schools Association (WA Charters) is launching a new membership program for Washington charter school development teams. We are inviting charter...
State now taking applications for charter schools
SEATTLE (AP) - Washington state's new Charter School Commission opened the statewide application process for charter schools on Monday. The first step in the process is an Oct. 22 deadline for submitting a letter of intent to apply to open a...
Tacoma shows new interest in charter schools
Board members say questions that stopped them from filing an application last year have been answered Tacoma Public Schools will submit a second letter of intent to state officials, indicating the district’s renewed interest in possibly becoming an...
Washington’s charter-school pioneers need to be bold
Three Washington educators are at the forefront of the state’s new charter school effort. Columnist Lynne K. Varner welcomes them to this exciting endeavor. Today I’m welcoming to the scene three Washington state educators with huge ambitions to...
Three women and a charter schools movement
My column this week features three longtime Washington educators preparing to launch three separate public charter schools. Brenda McDonald, Kristina Bellamy-McClain and Maggie O’Sullivan are working with the Washington State Charter Schools...
Washington State Voter Analysis Shows Support Among Minority Communities
This blog originally ran on the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools website. One of the most interesting aspects of last fall’s ballot box victory for public charter schools in Georgia was the overwhelming support from African-American...
Spokane Public Schools taking proposals as cutoff nears
Seven years of foreign language. Extra math and science. Nine-hour school days and an extended school year. These are the makings of a charter school planned for Spokane next year. Brenda McDonald plans to submit an application to Spokane Public...
First Washington District Chosen to Authorize Charters
The 29,000-student Spokane Public Schools in Eastern Washington has been tapped to be the first school district in the state to authorize charter schools, following voters' approval of charters in the 2012 election. The district was approved as a...
Spokane to have first charter school
Spokane could have the first charter school in Washington by next fall. It will be a historic and controversial development closely watched by school administrators, teachers, politicians and education reformists throughout the state. Voters...