Vote NO on 1240 the Charter Schools ballot Initiative this November election.
You might be a charter school advocate, but this is not what Washington State needs at this time or ever.
If you want to know about what this initiative is all about, then this is what this measure provides for:
1. It will authorize the creation of schools that are not subject to oversight by elected boards, hence, it would weaken the public’s ability to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent effectively.
2. It takes away the ability of the public to elect or un-elect school directors; this is a means that the voter has to making sure that bond and levy money are spent wisely.
3. Under the initiative, charter schools could be authorized and monitored by a new state commission separate from the locally-elected boards.
4. You won’t have an opportunity as a voter/taxpayer to go to public meetings and question programming and expenses
5. There will be 40 such schools.
6. Your child is not guaranteed admission even if you live in the area of the new school because a lottery will determine admission.
7. Washington School Districts already have the flexibility to provide “charter like” educational programs under the Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) statute that was revamped in 2005.
8. Don’t be mislead, this will take away funds from already underfunded Washington schools. Money that the state doesn’t have, the Washington State Legislature has already reduced education funding, it’s primary constitutional responsibility, by $2.5 Billion in the past three years, about $1.2 M cut from Orcas public schools.
These are all wrong for education in Washington at this time.
There are more than 75 schools districts in Washington that provide ALE programs for their students. Here at the Orcas Island School District we know this well. We have created K-12 educational programs in OASIS (our version of the Alternative Learning Experience) that have become a model for other districts. Students that demand more challenging coursework can work with their teacher to be more challenged. Students that need more time to master the subject matter can receive assistance from teachers that know their subjects and can parlay their knowledge. And, finally, students that want to access online learning can do so as well, and study subjects that are not normally provided in the classroom.
We don’t need another bureaucracy what we need is for the state to fully fund K-12 education and also fully fund the ALE educational programs.
Please vote NO on 1240 this November.
Tony P Ghazel
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Well said, Tony!
Our school has the Oasis program and enrollment is up because of it. We don’t need to re-invent the wheel and take more control out of public hands.
We totally agree, Tony! Your message clarified our concerns! Thank you!
Frank and Jan Loudin
Unfortunately Orcas Island schools make no accommodations for intelligent but not over achieving students, the teachers don’t make time for them either. So if you don’t learn well on-line and you aren’t qualified for the Oasis program and you don’t happen to be a jock you are out of luck. We moved so our son could get an education.
It’s interesting for me to read these comments as someone new to Washington state. In Los Angeles, the charter schools often do the opposite of what it sounds like they would do here. Control is put into the hands of the parents. Lots less bureaucracy to deal with. More creative teaching. And often higher salaries for teachers. I am looking forward to learning more opinions on the matter as they pertain to this state.