House Backs Legislation Allowing Charter Schools

Charter school legislation got a strong bipartisan send-off in the House on Friday but still faces hurdles in the Senate.

The vote was a lopsided 72-22. The measure, HB2019, was quickly forwarded to the Senate, where similar legislation has died three years in a row. Senate sponsors hope they can come up with a compromise that will make it this time.

Gov. Gary Locke and state school chief Terry Bergeson have endorsed the House version.

During the House debate, supporters said the legislation gives parents and kids more choices and should bring innovation. Some opponents said charter schools still are in the experimental phase and other foes said the state shouldn’t start anything new before properly funding existing public schools.

Charter schools are publicly funded, independent schools that would be chartered by the local school district or a public university. They would operate independently and would be exempt from most state and local regulations.

Rep. Dave Quall, D-Mount Vernon, who has made charter schools something of a personal crusade, said schools in other states are having stellar results with dropouts and inner-city kids. Charters are still public schools and accountability is built into the system, he said.

“These charter schools must measure up, or we’ll shut ‘em down,” he said. “Think if that were true of all of our schools today.

“I trust our teachers. I trust that good things are going to happen.”

House Education Chairwoman Peggy Johnson, R-Shelton, said the plan “gives parents the opportunity to tailor their kids’ education” and assures parental involvement, one of the keys to success.

Rep. Gigi Talcott, R-Lakewood, a co-sponsor, disputed those who call it an experiment. Hundreds of schools are working well across the nation, she said. Talcott read Democrat Locke’s appeal in the State of the State address for passage of the legislation.

The ranking Democrat on the Education Committee, Grace Cole of Seattle, said she fears the state would be creating a two-tier system of public schools, with the more involved parents and kids opting to leave the regular classroom.

Rep. Steve Conway, D-Tacoma, and other critics said it’s premature to expand into charter schools before fully funding the current system.