Authorizing charter schools.   Official Text and Analysis.

And active in the 2004 legislative session.

To establish that governing boards of higher education institutions are not eligible to approve a charter. An appeals process is established for new charter school applications. Requirements are added for charter schools to adopt quality management plans and conduct annual self-assessments, and to be subject to independent performance audits every three years. The number of new charter schools authorized is reduced from 70 to 45. The substitute passed in committee on January 29, 2004.

By Rep. Quall; W. David Shaw, Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission; Lile Holland, Washington Association for Learning Alternatives; Marcia Atkinson, taxpayer; Charles Hoff, Vice President of Federal Way School District and others, who testified that the chartering process provides school districts with another tool for creating educational opportunities for all students. It allows school districts to respond to various environmental challenges in low-performing schools, and to transform these schools into high-achieving schools.

By Mary E. Bass, Pres. of the Board of Seattle Public Schools; Theresa Cardamone, Citizens for Effective Administration of Seattle Education; Wendy Rader-Konofalski and Janice Greer, Washington Federation of Teachers and others, who testified that charter schools are not necessary to achieve the results the proponents claim will be achieved. These options already exist through the state board. The proposal disregards previous public mandates turning down charter schools.

And passed in committee on February 10, 2004.

To require a referendum.

To strike everything after the enacting clause and add a new version of the bill.

To insert additional wording to the bill.

To change one word in bill.

To make changes to the wording of the bill.

To make changes to the wording of the bill.

To require, for certificated and classified school employees at a new charter school, that (1) the employees will be in existing school district bargaining units, and (2) if variances from collective bargaining greements are requested by a charter school, the school district (in consultation with the charter school) and the exclusive bargaining representative of the bargaining unit must negotiate concerning the request. (The amendment also includes provisions from the underlying bill that apply similar requirements to conversion charter schools).

To limit the authority to create a conversion charter school or a new charter school to the board of directors of school districts serving at least 3,500 students.

To allow a charter school board of directors to include as an ex officio member a director from the school board in the district in which the charter school is located, if requested by a local school district.

To require charter schools to provide student transportation on routes comparable to the routes used by other schools in the district. New charter schools are authorized only for schools with the primary purpose of serving educationally disadvantaged students and located in, or accessible to students who live in geographic areas in which a large proportion of students have difficulty meeting state student achievement standards or in which a large number of schools have been identified for school improvement.

Authorizing 45 charter schools. Charter schools are state-funded public schools operated by a nonprofit corporation and functioning independently of most state laws and rules. According to the bill, a charter school may not charge tuition and a sectarian or religious organization cannot operate a charter school. Charter schools must be willing to serve educationally disadvantaged students and conduct outreach to find them. A school district may convert a school to a conversion charter school if the school has failed to make adequate yearly progress for three consecutive years.

Authorizing charter schools.

Authorizing charter schools.