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Hearing Draws Statewide News Coverage and Editorial Board Support for Charter Families
The May 17 state Supreme Court hearing on the charter school case captured the attention of media statewide. Here is a roundup of key coverage on the latest legal milestone, including several strong editorials from major statewide newspapers, calling for an end to the legal attacks on charter public schools and families. Charter school backers … Read More
Students on Path to Win: House Passes Bill to Save Public Charter Schools
Advocates: This Is a Huge Victory for Washington Kids OLYMPIA — In an 11th hour vote, legislators in the Washington State House of Representatives acted to save public charter schools, voting to end the six-month debacle that thrust more than 1,100 students and families into limbo. The bill, SB 6194, which passed with bipartisan support, … Read More
Summit Olympus Student To Serve As Senator O’Ban Page
Katie Wilton (right) will be a Senate page this year. Katie Wilton, a founding student at Summit Olympus, will serve as a page for Washington state Senator Steve O’Ban for a week in Olympia at the end of the month. Being selected as a page is an honor that hundreds of students across the state … Read More
Letter from State Superintendent Randy Dorn to Charter School Parents
Today, Randy Dorn, Superintendent of Public Instruction, sent the following letter to public charter school parents across the state—reassuring them that the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is committed to ensuring that there will not be a disruption to the education of students enrolled in our state’s nine charter schools. Read Supt. Dorn’s full letter … Read More
Partner Statements on State Supreme Court Ruling
WA Charters is not the only organization to weigh in on the State Supreme Court ruling on public charter schools. Take a look at the excerpts below and links to the full statements from state and national partners. Democrats for Education Reform: DFER-WA Statement on Washington State Supreme Court Ruling on Public Charter Schools “Late … Read More
Charter Schools in the News: School Openings
As the hot summer days wind down, an annual milestone is ramping up: back to school season. Backpacks, pencil cases, and notebooks line the shelves of retail stores. Kids become anxious to get to know their new teacher, meet new friends, and as Kid President says, “get their learn on.” This year is particularly meaningful … Read More
In Case You Missed It: Spokane Public Schools to consider three charter school proposals
Three separate and vastly different organizations met the June 15 deadline to file notices of intent with Spokane Public Schools to open charter schools in Spokane for the 2015-2016 school year, including iLEAD, an organization whose charter was rejected last year by Spokane school board members. The three schools have until July 15 to submit … Read More
Editorial: Lawmakers should help others help charters
The Spokesman-Review June 10, 2014 When Washington approves a charter school, it doesn’t come with a check. By the time the first eight have opened their doors – most in August 2015 – supporters of each may have ventured as much as $2 million for curriculum materials, equipment and, most importantly, a building students can … Read More
Center on Reinventing Public Education: Washington’s First District Authorizer Approaches Charters with a Collaborative Mindset
Washington State voters approved a charter school initiative in 2012—its fourth appearance on the ballot—making Washington the 42nd state to allow charter schools. Spokane Public Schools (SPS) submitted its application to authorize charter schools shortly after the law went in to effect. SPS is the first and, to date, only district out of 295 in the … Read More
In Case You Missed It: Los Angeles charter students learn more than in traditional public schools
Stanford University’s Center for Research on Economic Outcomes (CREDO) issued a report Saturday that found charter school students in Los Angeles learn more in a year than their peers in traditional district schools. According to the study, charter school students receive the equivalent of about 50 more days of learning in reading and 79 days … Read More