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Key findings:

1. On October 25, 2018, the state supreme court held charter schools are constitutional and an equal and integral part of the state public education system
2. Washington state has 12 operating charter schools, serving 3,500 students
3. Charter schools mostly serve low-income families and students of color  
4. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal is proposing capital budget requests for funding public school construction and modernization
5. Superintendent Reykdal says “Equity of Access” to capital funding is his top policy priority
6. Superintendent Reykdal’s proposal includes $200 million for a new program, the School Preservation Program (SPP)
7. Superintendent Reykdal’s proposal does not extend to charter school families  
8. Lawmakers should end Superintendent Reykdal’s policy of discrimination and allow charter school families full, fair and equal access to state capital funding for their public schools

Proposal by state school superintendent seeks to deny access to equal funding to charter school families 

Introduction 

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal is proposing a two-year capital budget request (for 2019-21) and a ten-year plan for funding public school construction and modernization in Washington.  He has announced that “Equity of Access” to capital funding is his top policy priority for school construction and modernization projects.  

The Superintendent says the current problem in his education department is inequitable access.  As he puts it:  

“OSPI’s 2019-21 Capital Budget Priorities: 

Reality: Equity of Access

Washington does not have a standardized model for funding school construction in an equitable way.  This means not all students learn in buildings that are safe, enhance their health and well-being, or meet the needs of today’s students and educators.” 

The Superintendent says his goal is Equity of Access:

“Goal: Equity of Access

Every student should have the opportunity to learn in a facility that:

• Supports their health and safety
• Provides the best educational outcomes

…. Regardless of a school district’s ability or inability to raise capital project funds” 

Further, the Superintendent defines his long-term goals as: 

“1. Every student has the opportunity to learn in a facility that supports their health and safety and provides the best educational outcomes, regardless of a school district’s ability or inability to raise capital project funds. 

2. Long-term capital investments in K–12 education should be rooted in sustainable and equitable funding policies.”

Superintendent Reykdal’s policy of “equity,” however, does not extend to charter school families.  His capital funding program would deny equal funding to the state’s 12 current charter public schools, and to any future charter schools that may open over the next ten years. 

Download the full Legislative Memo