After a state Supreme Court ruling Thursday, the state Legislature must act to fix the state’s charter school law.
THE state Legislature must act to save Washington charter schools after a disappointing state Supreme Court decision.
On Thursday, the court denied several motions to reconsider its September ruling that the state’s charter schools are unconstitutional. The court maintained charter schools do not fit the state constitution’s definition of a common school and therefore are not eligible for common-school funding.
The good news is the fight continues. A bipartisan and bicameral group of legislators is working on a bill — really, a technical fix, said state Sen. Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island. The goal is to allow public charter schools to continue receiving state funding as envisioned by voters when they approved Initiative 1240 three years ago.
Washington’s nine charter schools serve more than 1,200 students.
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Lawmakers should act in the best interest of children and families who have embraced charter schools. In their first year of operation, many of the state’s charter schools have enrolled high levels of low-income, minority and special-education students — children who have not all been well-served by traditional schools and whose families cannot afford private school.
In a case of dissonant timing, the state Supreme Court announced its decision the same day that hundreds of charter-school students, parents and advocates visited Olympia. Some testified before a legislative committee to ask for support to keep charter schools going.
The Legislature now must act.