As the legislature meets next week for the 2020 session, it is likely lawmakers will consider two important policy improvements that would benefit charter school families - ending funding discrimination and extending the law that authorizes their schools.

Since voter approval of Washington’s charter school law, nine public charter schools now serve about 3,000 students, providing an important option within the state’s public system of 2,100 schools.

Politically, charter families have been under continual assault.  The powerful WEA union sought, twice, to shut down their schools through the courts.  Then a bi-partisan vote in the legislature provided secure, but unequal, state funding for charter school families.  Governor Inslee let the bill become law without his signature, indicating weak enthusiasm from the governor for these popular, innovative public schools.

Still, demand from parents for more charters remains strong.  Nearly every school has a waiting list, and more children want to attend than places to serve them. 

Five more public charters will open in the fall.  It won’t be enough, but they will add another 1,500 classroom seats.

I am hearing that two key policy improvements will be considered in the coming 2020 session.  First, education advocates will ask lawmakers to end funding discrimination against charter school families. Currently these children are denied access to local levy funding, even when the community has willingly voted for higher taxes to fund public schools.  Further, charters are denied access to the capital budget, so these public schools actually pay rent to use their buildings.

Second, the popular charter school law, considered one of the best in the nation, is up for re-authorization.  Naturally, opponents would like the authorization to quietly expire, killing the possibility of new schools and placing every current school at risk (the WEA union says it wants to close every charter school in the state.)

Ending funding discrimination would disproportionately benefit black and Hispanic children, to the tune of about $2,500 per student.  More importantly, it would show lawmakers respect charter school parents on an equal basis, and that their children deserve as much support as families in other public schools.

It is a simple question of fairness.  After all, the state constitution does say:

“It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste or sex.”

Despite union hostility, charter schools perform exceptionally well.  For example, students Rainier Prep Charter School in Seattle and Spokane International Charter perform above par on state tests.  Last spring, all (100 percent) of the graduating classes from the Summit Charter High schools were accepted to college.

Washingtonians are rightly proud of our achievements in aerospace, bioengineering, medical research, computer software and more.  Given their success, we can be equally proud of our public charter schools.  In the coming weeks lawmakers will likely consider bills to end funding discrimination and to re-authorize the state charter school law, so that all children, rich and poor alike, can have an equal chance to succeed.