On August 10th, the board of the Washington state PTA voted 11 to 6 to reverse the decision of 262 voting PTA delegates and not support charter schools as proposed in Initiative 1240, a measure that will appear on the ballot in November.
Initiative 1240 would lift the state ban on charter schools, independent public schools that are tuition-free and open to all students.
Over two days last year, on October 15th and 16th, PTA delegates representing teachers and parents from across Washington gathered at the SeaTac Marriott for their annual Legislative Assembly. After hours of intense discussion and debate, PTA delegates voted to endorse lifting our state’s ban on charter schools:
“The Washington State PTA shall initiate and/or support legislation or policies that drive innovation and accountability in public education by allowing the operation of public charter schools in the state of Washington.”
The PTA delegates further noted:
“Public charter schools are independent public schools granted more site-based authority. Usually, this frees them up to be more innovative.”
Then, on May 4th this year, PTA delegates again met in their annual convention. This time they voted 170 to 92 to pass a formal Resolution in support of non-profit charter public schools. With this vote, they made support for charter public schools official PTA policy.
But this month, on August 10th, the PTA Board chose to take a position opposite to the one its own elected delegates have taken twice: that Washington should lift the ban on charter schools.
With this sudden reversal, Executive Director Bill Williams, President Novella Fraser and the rest of the PTA board summarily cancelled two carefully considered votes by the representatives of PTA members. These delegates in good faith had traveled from across Washington to come together and discuss, deliberate and vote on the pressing issue of public school reform. Two years in a row PTA delegates have endorsed allowing charter schools in Washington state.
What is the point of holding statewide meetings, carefully considering the facts, and taking a public position in support of a proven reform that helps school children, only to have the decision later overturned by a small group of top leaders?
The state PTA has taken a clear position in support of charter schools. The PTA board only hurts their own organization’s respected position in the education debate by undermining their own official position.
