Who we are.
We are a statewide nonprofit organization that advocates for and supports high-quality, student-centered charter public schools that are informed by the strengths and needs of communities.
Charter public schools are free and open to all students and offer families more public school options. Washington’s charter public schools offer, and innovative academic models in exchange for being held to higher levels of accountability.
Washington’s charter public school policy is one of the strongest in the nation, and our work is built on the belief that every student should have the chance to go to a great school that puts their needs first, regardless of zip code, income, or ability level.
WA Charters helps grow, sustain, and advocate for Washington’s charter public school sector, a network of schools that serves higher than average percentages of systemically underserved students, and 3x the percentage of teachers of color as compared to the statewide average.
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Our mission
We advocate for and support a thriving, innovative charter public school sector that upholds quality via student-centered, community-rooted schools and aspires to disrupt a systemically racist and inequitable education system.
Our vision
An anti-racist, student-centered public education system accessible to all students.
Our values
- Aspiring Antiracism | We aspire to identify, dismantle, and actively transform racist systems, policies, practices, and mindsets, in order to care for and be in solidarity with our beloved communities. We hold ourselves accountable to practices that center and celebrate the voices and lived experiences of Black, Asian, Indigenous, and People of Color, and that disrupt unchecked power and privilege.
- Cultural Humility | We commit to listening, leading with compassion and honesty, and celebrating all cultures in order to build trust and authentically support community restoration and empowerment. We embrace lifelong learning, self-reflection and power sharing as guiding principles in our practice.
- Educational Justice | We advocate for equitable access to resources and adopt innovative and student-centered models to create an inclusive school environment where students can thrive. Our work is guided by transforming oppressive practices and systems for marginalized students to feel safe, seen, and empowered.
- Collaborative Partnerships | We commit to listening attentively, practicing cultural humility, and amplifying the voices of our communities. We partner with our communities through consensus-building and shared decision-making in order to achieve mutual values, goals, and outcomes.
