Charter Schools

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Charter Schools

Definition: Charter schools are public schools managed and operated by a charter school board in accordance with a five-year charter that meets the terms specified by law. They include new schools and “conversion” schools (traditional public schools that have been converted to charter schools). Charter schools are exempt from most state regulations governing traditional public schools, but must comply with all the rules specified by law, and must meet the standards of academic achievement specified by law.

How charter schools benefit students and teachers
Letter to teachers | May 27, 2004 | Marsha Richards
As you know, legislators recently passed a law making our state 40th in the nation to approve charter schools. Your union, the Washington Education Association, would like to overturn the law and cites three main concerns. Here is a brief response to the WEA's concerns about the new public schools...more

Washington's Charter School Law

Full text
Section 1:	Intent (why charter schools?)
Section 2:	Definitions (terms related to charter schools)
Section 3:	Powers (what charter schools can do)
Section 4:	Legal Status (legal definition of charter school)
Section 5:	Exemptions (regulations governing charter schools; testing requirements)
Section 6:	Admission Requirements (student eligibility and enrollment requirements)
Section 7:	Charter Application/Process (timelines and process for applications)
Section 8:	Application Requirements (how to apply)
Section 9:	Approval Criteria (how applications are judged)
Section 10:	Charter Agreement/Amendment (changes to charter)
Section 11:	Charter Renewal/Revocation (standards for renewing and revoking charters)
Section 12:	Funding (how charter schools are paid for)
Section 13:	Administration Fee (funding for administration)
Section 14:	Leaves of Absence (leave to teach at a charter school)
Section 15:	Study of Charter Schools (planned evaluation study)
Section 16:	Number of Charter Schools (timeline, maximum 45 schools)
Sec. 17-20:	Collective Bargaining (labor regluations)
Sec. 21-23:	Retirement, Pensions (employee definitions)
Sec. 24-27:	Miscellaneous

Studies

Do charter schools work? Click here for recent studies.

Resources

Education Department Spokesperson Issues Statement Regarding New York Times' Articles on Charter Schools
Department of Education | Press Release | August 18, 2004
It is unfortunate that the New York Times has published several seriously inaccurate articles on charter schools. These articles contain faulty analysis that do nothing to inform the public about these schools, which are often the last resort for parents desperate to ensure their child is not left behind....more
(In response to this New York Times article.)

NYC Public Schools Chancellor Joel Klein's Remarks to the NY Charter School Association's Conference
DLC | Speech | May 25, 2004
So why is it, that I -- the public schools Chancellor -- am an unalloyed supporter of charter schools? Frankly it's simple: educators, families, and children want good schools. Charters are one way to create them...more

Education Excellence Coalition
Interested in starting a charter school? Would you like more details? Do you have other questions that haven’t been answered yet? Contact the experts:

Jim & Fawn Spady, co-directors
Education Excellence Coalition
4426 2nd Avenue NE
Seattle, WA 98105-6191
Office phone: 206-634-0589
Home phone: 206-275-2089
Email: JimSpady@WAcharterschools.org

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Evergreen Freedom Foundation
P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507
Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874
Email: effwa@effwa.org

Election Reform

Grassroots Washington

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1 Part Honesty; 2 Parts Arrogance

At a March 23, 2005, House Appropriations hearing on a bill to gut the voter-approved I-601 spending limit, Rep. Jim McIntire (D) asked a supporter of I-601�s two-third supermajority requirement for the legislature to raise taxes the following question:

"Can you name a time when we [legislators] have actually not just set it [supermajority requirement] aside by majority vote? I mean, this is in many respects a procedural motion that has no bearing. It�s a statutory constraint that cannot constrain any legislature that chooses as a majority to set it aside . . . have we ever used a supermajority [to raise taxes]?"

- Rep. Jim McIntire (D - 46)
(360) 786-7886

Despite the arrogance of some state officials, Washington's constitution is clear: "All political power is inherent in the people..."

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