After months of suspense and threats of closure, members of the state Charter School Commission narrowly voted Thursday to allow First Place Scholars charter school, located in Seattle’s Central District, to continue operations.  The school serves some 75 low-income and homeless families, including a number of special needs children, who otherwise would have difficulty gaining access to a quality public education.

A tense six-hour session of public testimony and debate concluded in a 4-3 vote to allow the school to continue serving students.  Commission Chairman Steve Sundquist said a majority of commissioners “felt that you [school leaders] have made substantial progress as a school, we absolutely want you to continue.”    

The dramatic meeting was held at South Seattle Community College. The Commission convened in a room packed with students, parents, teachers, administrators, volunteers and community supporters.

A series of witnesses spoke, often emotionally, about their deep-felt support of First Place School.  Here are some examples.

“My [special needs] son has received an education that is on par or better than at a traditional school. He is reading at third-grade level. They have loved my son so fiercely that they may have missed some [of the Commission’s] paperwork.” Charlotte Wheelock, parent.

“First Place helped us find a home. It was a miracle that they were here for us. First Place is magical.” Christina Davis, mother of two autistic children.

“...think about what it means to children to be homeless. Taking away the charter would be seriously injurious to the children and their parents. They don’t need another setback in their lives.” Joseph Aprile, community volunteer.

Commission staff director Joshua Halsey said First Place “has made incredible progress,” but added on a darker note, “The financial situation is still murky.”

After public statements, the Commission considered a resolution offered by Commissioner Larry Wright to revoke First Place’s state charter and close the school.  Commissioners Kevin Jacka, Margit McGuire and Wright voted to close First Place School. Commissioners Trish Dziko, Dave Quall, Steve Sundquist and Cindi Williams voted to keep the school open. Commissioner Raymond Navarro was absent.

The three votes to close the school came as no surprise to long-time observers. Commissioner Jacka opposed passage of the state charter school law.  He was appointed to the Commission by Lt. Governor Brad Owen.

Commissioner McGuire is a professor at one of the state’s approved schools of education, where charter schools are often opposed because of their freedom to hire teachers from outside the traditional system. She was appointed to the Commission by House Speaker Frank Chopp, an opponent of public charter schools. Commissioner Wright was appointed by Lt. Governor Owen.

The contentious meeting raised concerns that the Commission’s strict oversight of First Place is unfair, and indicates a double standard in judging performance in public education.

Seven blocks from First Place is Bailey Gatzert Elementary, a traditional public school operated by the Seattle School District.  Bailey Gatzert is ranked as “Underperforming” by the State Board of Education.  Each year, the school fails to meet state requirements in a range of areas, including proficiency standards in reading, math, writing and science. There is no discussion by Seattle Public Schools that Bailey Gatzert should be closed. District officials continue to assign neighborhood children to the school, knowing that many children will receive a sub-standard education there.

Had the position of Commissioners Jacka, McGuire and Wright prevailed, many children now attending First Place charter school would have been assigned to Bailey Gatzert, or may have dropped out.

First Place parents and leaders are aware of being subjected to a double-standard by state officials. First Place board member Reverend Harriett G. Walden told the Commission,

“No matter what First Place did to answer questions from Commission staff, it was never good enough. It should have been a partnership, not the punitive way it has happened...we should have been working together. The Commission required First Place to meet a new set of criteria, a new set of special education regulations…”

Board member and former state legislator Dawn Mason said,

“It takes time to be in compliance. We did not have a full year to get in compliance. Our school leader, Dr. Linda Whitehead, has worked so hard. For her not to be given a break over the summer is brutal. She needs a break. I would like the Commission to get past the paperwork.” 

Special education teacher Cori Ryason reported,

“We are being held to a higher standard than any of my previous experience. If you look at the data, all our children have made progress since March in academic and social and emotional learning.”

Interestingly, Commissioner Jacka is superintendent of the Mary Walker School District.  District officials there have decided not to authorize any charter schools in their area.  Yet Commissioner Jacka operates Springdale Elementary, which scored “Fair,” or 5.0 out of 10, in state rankings, and reported a score of one out of 10 in providing math instruction to low-income students.  It seems unlikely Springdale Elementary could remain open if it had to meet the criteria Commissioner Jacka is using to judge First Place School.

Reverend Walden told the Commission that, with more encouragement, the story of First Place School’s first year could have been different.  Instead, First Place has received tougher conditions, threats of closure, and a series of hurtful stories in the press. Instead of collaborating with families to help First Place succeed, the Commission’s ever-changing requirements have led the school’s supporters to engage in heroic efforts, and to essentially plead that they be allowed to keep their school open.

To many First Place families and community supporters, the Commission’s harsh oversight seems unfair, arbitrary and unnecessarily tough.  It is almost as if, despite all their sincere efforts to help children in need, they are being set up to fail.

The Commission’s narrow vote of approval is a bit of welcome good news.  It indicates that, at least for now, First Place charter school will continue to serve some of Seattle’s neediest families.

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