Washington State Supreme Court Refuses to Reconsider Stunning Decision Claiming Charter Schools Unconstitutional; 1,200 Students Without Choice
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the Washington State Supreme Court announced it will not reconsider its stunning decision issued in September, which ruled that the state’s voter-approved charter school law is unconstitutional. Yesterday’s decision not to reconsider guarantees that the 1,200 students enrolled in the state’s public charter schools will now be left wondering where they’ll attend school next year.
The court decided to not even reconsider the voter-approved law, despite pleas from hundreds of students and families, as well as a group of bipartisan legislators, former attorneys general, the state’s charter school association, and the state’s current attorney general.
The lawsuit, brought by the state’s teachers’ union, and subsequent court decision leaves confusion, anger and heartbreak for the students and families who benefited from more choice in education. This decision takes away a parents’ ability to choose the school where their child will learn best and have the most opportunities for success.
Voters approved Washington’s charter school law in 2012.
STATEMENT FROM TILLIE ELVRUM, PUBLICSCHOOLOPTIONS.ORG PRESIDENT, PARENT LEADER AND SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATE:
“The court decided to ignore the pleas of students and families benefiting from public charter schools, instead siding with a teacher’s union that does not have the best interests of students at heart. This is disappointing because it takes away a parent’s choice and leaves many students wondering where they will attend school next year. Every child deserves equal opportunity for a great education, and that means parents need more, not fewer, choices. The court’s decision to side with the union takes away choice and Washington’s children will suffer because of it.”
PublicSchoolOptions.org is a national alliance of parents that supports and defends parents’ rights to access the best public school options for their children. The Coalition supports the creation of public school options, including charter schools, online schools, magnet schools, open enrollment policies and other innovative education programs. Additionally, we advocate for equal access without restrictions to these public schools for all children.
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