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House approves long awaited charter schools bill
A landmark bill to give
parents a new choice in education for their children passed the House of
Representatives today. House Bill 2295 would allow a limited number of
charter schools to be established in Washington. Charter schools are
independent schools that receive public funding and are exempt from many
of the regulations that traditional public schools adhere to.
The bill approved by the House would authorize 45 charter schools to be
created statewide, either through the creation of new schools or the
conversion of an existing public school. Twentieth District Reps.
Richard DeBolt and
Gary
Alexander say the measure would give a new lease
on life to Packwood Elementary School, which is facing the prospect of
closure or consolidation with a neighboring district.
“I have assurance from state officials that Packwood would be at the top
of the list for approval to convert to an independent charter school,”
said DeBolt, R-Chehalis. “The school is threatening to close, which
would force students to travel 30 miles or more to attend class. The
school is the heart of this community and this bill would give Packwood
its school back. It would provide relief from many of the state
regulations that add costs to operations and are making it difficult for
them to keep their doors open. This is a perfect case to demonstrate the
need for charter schools, to give parents and communities this choice to
determine the best course of action for meeting the educational needs of
their children.”
Charter schools would be
free from many of the regulations traditional schools must adhere to,
but must meet all of the performance requirements of other public
schools. A charter would be revoked if the school did not attain student
achievement levels at least equal to other similar student populations
in the district.
DeBolt and Alexander say the cornerstone of the charter school bill is
its assurance of local control. The legislation stipulates that the
decision to convert an existing school or create a new charter school
rests with local school boards.
“This is an idea whose time has come. It’s a great tool for communities
looking for innovative models for helping students achieve higher
standards, especially students who are disadvantaged or have special
needs,” said Alexander, R-Olympia. “The decision to convert or create a
charter school is locally driven, giving broad discretion to the school
board members who are elected by the community and responsive to local
needs. The bill maintains strong local control and accountability, which
is essential to the success of this effort.”
The charter schools would operate on five-year contracts. In addition to
the requirement of meeting academic standards, a charter may be revoked
if a school violates health and safety laws.
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For more information, contact:
Brendon Wold, Public
Information Officer: (360) 786-7698
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