Today a bipartisan group of lawmakers announced the filing of S-3706, a bill to keep Washington’s charter schools open. The legislation is sponsored in the Senate by Senator Litzow (R-Mercer Island), and Sens. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah and Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens.  

Senator Litzow, (R-Mercer Island), Chair of the Senate Education Committee, lead sponsor, said:

“Public charter schools provide a meaningful opportunity for students – especially minority children from low-income families – who are disproportionately failed by Washington’s inequitable public school system.”

Representative Eric Pettigrew, (D-Seattle), and House Majority Caucus Chair, said:

“The opportunity to get a great education should be available to everyone, regardless of their zip code or the color of their skin. But many students, especially students of color, are not getting the education they deserve in our current system. In 2012, students, families and Washington’s voters agreed that charter schools should be a part of the solution to a public education system that is leaving too many kids without the education, hope and opportunity to achieve the American dream.”

S-3706 would amend and strengthen Washington’s charter school law, which was passed by voters in 2012. This new legislation would bring charter schools into compliance with the ruling from the state supreme court last September. The bill establishes the source of charter school funding as the state’s Opportunity Pathways Account. This account contains state lottery revenues not restricted to common schools.

Public charter schools are very popular with parents, especially with low-income and minority parents. Washington’s eight new charter schools are especially popular with their students. On November 19, over 400 students enthusiastically rallied Olympia to save their schools. The signs they waved said I Love My School and Give Us a Chance.

S-3706 would give these students the chance they deserve to keep their charter schools. The bill would also protect charter schools for the thousands of other students who hope to get a high-quality charter school education in Washington state.

This report is part of WPC's Charter School Follow Up Project 

Correction: The bill number for this legislation is yet to be determined. S-3706 is the number assigned to the draft bill.