Seattle judge to hear arguments on Washington charter schools

SEATTLE (AP) — A King County Superior Court judge is scheduled to hear oral arguments Friday over the constitutionality of Washington’s new charter school law. A coalition of parents, educators and community groups say it violates the state Constitution by diverting public school dollars to private organizations that are not subject to voter control. And the coalition contends the charter schools law gets in the way of the state’s constitutional obligation to pay for public schools. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include the state teachers’ union, a group that represents Washington school administrators, the League of Women Voters , El Centro de la Raza and several parents, children and school advocates. They are asking the court to prevent further implementation of the new law passed a year ago and to declare it unconstitutional.