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What's New

Some last-minute help on candidates and issues

November 5, 2012 in In the News
The Spokesman-Review (Spokane)
Source: 
The Spokesman-Review (Spokane)
Date: 
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Link: 
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2012/nov/05/some-places-look-ballot-information/

Coming to a school near you: A charter school that prepares students for a job with Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing?

November 5, 2012 in Blog

If Initiative 1240 passes tomorrow, education entrepreneurs will be able to use the charter school model to develop authentically innovative ways to motivate and educate high-school students. One great example of a new idea in education is PTech High charter school, which opened in New York City on September 8, 2011 with a class of ninth- graders.  The school will run for six years, from grade nine to grade 14.

Sam Reed forecasts what to expect on Election Night

November 2, 2012 in Blog

Retiring Secretary of State Sam Reed was a guest on TVW's Inside Olympia last night discussing what to expect on Election Night next week.

According to Reed:

Losing the charter school debate? Just invent some numbers

October 30, 2012 in Blog

There’s a joke among policy researchers that if you can’t find the numbers to support your conclusion just make some up.  642 sounds nice.  432,396 looks impressive in many cases.  How about 100 million?  Now that’s a nice round number. 

But it’s distressing when the invent-a-number game goes beyond humor and is used in the public debate over serious issues, like whether Initiative 1240 to allow charter schools would help struggling school children. 

Why Parents Will Love Charter Schools

October 30, 2012 in Publications
By

Liv Finne, Director, Center for Education

, October, 2012

Many parents hope voters will pass Initiative 1240, the ballot measure to allow charter schools in Washington. This is especially true of parents whose children are trapped in failing inner-city schools. Earlier this year Representative Eric Pettigrew, speaking for many low-income families in his South Seattle district, put it this way.

Seattle School Board Votes to Defend the Status Quo

October 29, 2012 in Publications
By

Paul Guppy, Vice President for Research

, October, 2012

My child struggles in school. She needs extra help. As parents, my wife and I worry about her future, and like all parents we want to give her a quality education and the best possible start in life. In our case, she got assigned to a good Seattle public school. She has great teachers and receives the support she needs. Not every family is so fortunate.