Blog
I-1240 is One Step Forward on Washington’s Path to Improving Education for All Students
Washington state’s education system must change in big ways — and it will, partly by stick and potentially by choice. The stick is the recent state Supreme Court decision in McCleary v. State of Washington, which declared the state has utterly...
How a Charter School Saved a Rural Farming Community
The town of Walton, Kan., cuts a modest swath through a rich carpet of winter wheat that stretches in green and amber patches toward the Flint Hills. ... Along with U.S. 50, another vital artery, the railroad is a reminder that no matter how quiet...
Tri-City Herald: It’s Time for Washington to Say Yes to the Option of Public Charter Schools
Usually coming late to the dinner table means cold leftovers and the good stuff already is gone. Not the case with charter schools. Being one of the last states in the union to consider a charter school provision means that Initiative 1240 is "the...
Everett Herald Says YES on 1240: Public Charter Schools are a Key Ingredient in Education Reform
Public charter schools, like religion and politics, should not be discussed in polite company (or at a union hall, a PTA meeting or happy hour for wonky foundation staffers.) Advocates figure to bleed money from a tapped-out system and change the...
The Columbian Endorses YES on 1240: The Time Has Come to Allow the Option of Public Charter Schools
Considering that -- as stated in the state constitution, and as affirmed by the state Supreme Court — basic public education is the state's paramount duty, it is time for the people of Washington to approve the establishment of charter schools. It...
Independent Policy Expert Dispels Myth About a ‘Trigger’ in I-1240
... Some of the opponents of a Washington state ballot item that would for the first time allow charters schools are pointing to that language and arguing that it would establish a trigger policy in the state, similar to controversial laws on the...
Former PTA President: I-1240 Provides a Public School Option for More Classroom Flexibility
As a parent, educator, and former PTA President, I know that a one-size-fits-all approach to education doesn’t work for all students. Parents need more options to find the best learning environment for our kids, and students need more options to...
Traditional Schools Working Well for Some, Not for All – Public Charter Schools Can Change That
As an involved parent of students who attend public schools, and as an active member of the Parent-Teacher Association both locally and statewide, I'm a strong supporter of our public school system and its teachers. That's why I support a "yes"...
Wenatchee World Urges YES Vote on 1240 to ‘Inject New Possibilities’ Into Public Education
Initiative 1240 would allow Washington to participate in a small educational experiment. It would allow creation of 40 charter schools over five years, or eight new schools per year. They would be public schools subject to all the pertinent state...