League of Women Voters of Washington

4730 University Way NE, #720 Seattle, WA 98105 PH: 206-622-8961 (outside toll area) 1-800-419-2596 FAX: 206-622-4908 Web Site: http://www.lwvwa.org Email: lwvwa@lwvwa.org

Why the League of Women Voters of WA Opposes I-1240, Public Charter Schools People have begun gathering signatures for the Charter Schools Initiative, and a minimum of 241,153 must be turned in by July 6. Refuse to sign. LWVWA opposes I-1240, Public Charter Schools, for the following reasons:

Private boards selected by non-profit corporations rather than publicly elected

by citizens will govern charter schools. Voters will lose their right to elect (or unelect) representatives to oversee the spending of their taxes.

Charter schools will be exempt from state statutes and rules applicable to school districts and boards, creating a separate and unequal school system even though Article IX of the Washington state Constitution requires a general and uniform system of common schools. The Initiative would create additional administrative functions and costs for the State Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction and School Districts at a time when the Supreme Court has ruled in McCleary v. State that Washington is failing to provide ample funding for the basic education required by the Legislature (HB 2261).

Although proponents of the Initiative promise at risk students and those from
low-performing schools will be served by charter schools, nothing in the Initiative requires it.

There are many successful innovative and alternative schools as part of the

public school system in Washington state. Lets encourage them and work toward full funding for all students in all schools rather than be distracted by charter schools that would only serve a few students chosen by lottery.

Catherine Ahl Education Chair, LWVWA

cathahl@hotmail.com 360-697-7924

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