Here is the Washington State Court Decision that Found Charters Unconstitutional

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1. April says:

   September 5, 2015 at 1:03 am

   Ok, I admit it…I voted for charters. For many months now, I have been reading about them and have been kicking myself and regretting what I had done. Thank goodness this issue went to the courts and it was over turned. Thank you, Diane for opening my eyes. I have spoken out to whoever would listen.

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2. Bruce h Lederman says:

   September 5, 2015 at 8:36 am

   This seems to me like a very solid and well written decision. Makes me wonder why there have not been more decisions like this around the country.

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3. Laura H. Chapman says:

   September 5, 2015 at 9:00 am

   Local voter control a defining feature of public schools in the Washington constitution. This should be lifted and taken as good reason to characterize all charter schools that fail to have this attribute private schools. The phrase “public charter schools” is misleading but a good way to tap public funds for private gain without customary sunshine laws.

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4. John says:

   September 5, 2015 at 9:41 am

   Washington State Supreme Court.

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5. John says:

   September 5, 2015 at 10:31 am

   Diane,
   How is this a “big win for parents”? It’s clearly a huge loss for the parents who enrolled their students in the schools.

   I don’t see how taking this choice away from those parents and kids benefits any other parents.

   This would be like saying closing a neighborhood school is a big win for charter parents. Nonsense! Loss for everyone except for neighborhood schools whose monopoly on public education will be protected no matter what they do for students.

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   • Susan Nunes says:

     September 5, 2015 at 11:53 am

     The schools are garbage because there is no oversight. They are another form of wealth transfer from the masses to the few.

     You want private education, pay for it yourself. Don’t ask the taxpayers to fund it.

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     • John says:

       September 5, 2015 at 12:39 pm

       Susan,
       I know pretty much nothing about Washington state charters. Do they serve kids from low income families, or are they an attempt to pay for schools that parents would pay for?

       Hard to believe anyone sends their kid to a “garbage” school, and charters without kids close.

     • dianeravitch says:

       September 5, 2015 at 1:47 pm

       John,

       Charters were approved in Dec 2012. I think that one has opened, and a dozen more are supposed to open now.

6. Duane Swacker says:

   September 5, 2015 at 5:47 pm

   The most important constitutional challenge that needs to occur is the one that challenges the educational standards and standardized testing regimes that reward some students, not by race, gender, sexual orientation but by inherent, just like the three classifications mentioned, mental capabilities with moving on to the next grade, garnering scholarships/preferential treatment and/or graduation and that deny and/or punish other students through inherent mental capabilities by holding back students in grade, not allowing students to take courses they may wish to take, and/or not getting diplomas, awards etc. . . .

   As stated in the Missouri Constitution about the purpose of government (of which public schools are a part):

   “Article 1

   Promotion of general welfare–natural rights of persons–equality under the law–purpose of government.

   Section 2. That all constitutional government is intended to promote the general welfare of the people; that all persons have a natural right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and the enjoyment of the gains of their own industry; that all persons are created equal and are entitled to equal rights and opportunity under the law; that to give security to these things is the principal office of government, and that when government does not confer this security, it fails in its chief design.”

   I contend that the rewards and denials as outlined above contravene Section 2 of the Missouri Constitution. I’d bet that most state’s constitutions have similar language. Someone needs to take advantage of the constitutional guarantees like Section 2 and challenge the standards and testing regimes as discriminatory.

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7. Christina says:

   September 7, 2015 at 12:23 pm

   My hope is that the charter schools will have the opportunity to change some of their operating practices in order to meet the court’s requirements.

   My spouse is a public school teacher but we send all three of our kids to charter schools. We have families from all races and income levels at the charter and our students are required to participate in all state testing. All teachers at our charter are also fully credentialed by the state. Charter schools have been a great option for us because we have a son with a severe peanut allergy. The public school options for kids with food allergies is frequently dismissed, but they are truly treated as second class citizens at most schools. One school in our area handled kids with food allergies by keeping them with the lunchtime detention kids because the lunchrooms aids would be nearby to police unruly behavior. Another school said our kindergartner could just be sent to another side of the class if a student wanted to bring in food to celebrate their birthday. It’s no wonder many kids with food allergies suffer from depression.

   If there are specific issues that those suing have with the management of charters, my hope is that all interested parties find a way to accommodate. If they only want to see an outright end to all charters, then their concern about the education of all children is disingenuous.

   http://www.bradleyhasbroresearch.org/child-adolescent-behavior-newsletter/2010/november/psychosocial-aspects-of-pediatric-food-allergies/

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   • John says:

     September 7, 2015 at 4:51 pm

     Christina,
     Thanks for posting and I hope you get to keep your children in the school you want them in.

     The “interested parties” in this suit represented the interest of the adults in neighborhood schools and yes, they want an outright end to all charters.

     Their concern is about schools as employers, not about children.

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