Charter schools: Back to court in Washington State
“I’m just frustrated that we can spend all this time and passion talking about what we want to do for a handful of schools, when I am frustrated that we do not do the job we’re supposed to do for all the schools in the state.”
Sen. Dean Takko, D-Longview
Some state legislators worked really hard to pass a bill to fund charter schools where approximately 800 students are enrolled even though charter schools have been ruled unconstitutional in Washington State. The two legislators who pushed it the hardest, both Republicans, were Senator Steve Litzow and Representative Chad Magendanz (aka Charter School Chad).
And, by the way, the Supreme Court is holding the State Legislators in contempt of court for not meeting their “Paramount Duty” of adequately funding public schools.
But, big donors must come first, at least for some of these Democrats.
- Clibborn-D, 41st-Mercer Island (and Mercer Island will never see a charter school let alone a minority community.)
- Hurst-D, 31st-Enumclaw
- Kagi-D, 32nd-Seattle/Shoreline (Hmmm, folks in her district thought she was a Democrat.)
- Lytton-D, 40th-Anacortes
- Morris-D, 40th-San Juan Islands (Really?! I don’t see a minority community there desperately wanting a charter school. Is there even any minority community there?)
- Pettigrew-D, 37th-Seattle (Bought)
- Sawyer-D, 29th-Lakewood
- Senn-D, 41st-Mercer Island (Ditto from above.)
- Springer-D, 45th-Redmond
- Sullivan-D, 47th-Kent, Covington, Auburn
- Senator Mullet-D, 5th-Issaquah (a mostly white suburb of Seattle)
- Senator Hobbs- D, 44th-Lake Stevens
The “Dirty Dozen”.
So it’s back to court. The Washington State Education Association along with at least one former plaintiff, Dr. Wayne Au, will be going back to court for a ruling on the constitutionality of charter schools being supported with public money.
To view the roll call vote for the House go to Access Washington.
To view the roll call vote for the Senate, go to Access Washington.
Stay tuned.
Dora Taylor
Post Script:
For more on the charter school battle in Washington State:
Washington’s Charter School Fight—Let’s Set the Record Straight
Does the Education Platform of the Washington State Democrats Mean Anything to Our Legislators?
Money for charters but nothing for public schools? It’s time for a recall in Washington State
For more on Eric Pettigrew:
Rainier Beach High School Responds to the League of Education Voters Attack on Its School and Community
Bill 1497: Looks like Mayor Murray wants to run the school district now
Apartheid House Bill 1860: No one wants to split Seattle in two except for Reps. Santos, Pettigrew and oh yeah… Magendanz. Remember him?
Post Script 2: Some of the Democrats named above need to be replaced.
Yes, Shoreline DID think they had a Democrat who was in favor of PUBLIC schools representing them. Obviously not. Good thing she’s retiring, because no N. Seattle/Shoreline teacher would be out there phone banking for her after this. Perhaps that’s why she did it. Supposedly she even pushed charter schools at the caucus yesterday, though that is second-hand info, so grain of salt.
Anyway, thank goodness Maralyn Chase still had the good sense to vote no and explain in no uncertain terms.
Wow. Thank you for keeping me informed. I hope WA continues to stand against the public funding of independent (charter) schools.