Last Friday, February 19th, hundreds of parents, children, teachers and supporters of charter schools drove on rainy freeways to Olympia to ask the House Education Committee to save their charter schools. The Senate has already passed a bill which would fund charter schools, SB 6194. Washington Policy Center President Dann Mead Smith attended the hearing. The most moving testimony came from charter school students.

The House Education Committee heard public testimony on the bill to save charter schools passed by the Senate. So many people appeared in support that four overflow rooms were needed to hold everyone. Since seventy percent of charter school students are low-income minority children, many of the hopeful parents in the room were African-American and Hispanic.

Ed Pacheco, a parent from Yakima, testified that Latino students need charter school options. Alice Lara, a retired teacher, testified that English Language Learners need charter schools. Shirline Wilson of Seattle testified how her son Miles is benefiting from the education he is getting at Rainier Prep Charter School. Melissa Pailthorpe, mother of a Summit Sierra student, said charter students are making outstanding progress in learning.

But the most compelling testimony of the day came from the five children who summoned the courage to testify before the House Education Committee.  

Katie Wilton, 9^th grade student at Summit Olympus in Tacoma, said: “Summit Olympus has opened my eyes to ways I can achieve in school…” (At Time Stamp 32:40.)

Ashley Lopez, 7^th grade student at Excel Public Charter school in Kent, said: “At Excel I have learned to set goals, and one of them is to go to college….At my old school I never participated in class for fear of being laughed at. At Excel no one laughs at me, they just encourage me to keep trying…Excel gives us a quality education and the chance to go to college.” (At 49:43.)

Heskiyas Wondaferew, 6^th grade student at Excel, said:  “If you close Excel, I am not confident any other public school can do the same for me....I am standing in front of you here asking you humbly not to take such a great education away from us.” (52:59.)   

Tatiana Cueva, 16 year old 9^th grader at Summit Olympus in Tacoma, said: “This issue is important to me because [my charter school] has changed my life and many other lives for the better….” (1:03:19.)

Jayden Isabell, 9^th grade student at Summit Sierra in Seattle, said: “Summit Sierra truly is the best fit for me and my needs. This school is guaranteeing that I will go to college and not to prison…” (1:07:55.)

The Education Committee will vote this Thursday, February 25th, whether to send SB 6194 to the floor of the House for a vote.

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