Overview
1.
What is a charter school?
2.
Charter schools vs. public schools
3.
What charter schools might offer
4.
The charter school critique
5.
Charter schools in Washington state
6.
Resources for further learning and perspectives
Charter schools,
local and national
What is a charter school?

Charter school = K-12 school funded by both public and private
monies with autonomy established by its charter and governing
body

NOT a private school, but has similar characteristics

Approved by an oversight committee

Approved charters set parameters for school

In WA state



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Non-profit
Non-religious
Politically unaffiliated
Open to all students
Tuition-free
Typical public school
funding structure
Local/State funding
Federal funding
Public
School
Private
funding
Public vs. Charter Schools
Public School
Charter School

Funded primarily by public dollars

Funded by a combination of public
and private dollars

In theory, must educate all students
in service area

May be selective about student
population

Students generally live in the
neighborhood

Students apply or enter lottery to
attend

Generally bound by teacher union,
state regulations for hiring/staffing

May create its own hiring criteria
and decisions

Accountable to local school board

Accountable to its own governing
body

School day/year length, curriculum
set by state

School day/year length,
curriculum set by school
What might charter schools
offer?

The school choice argument


The freedom of autonomy argument


Students may choose which school they would like to attend
Charter schools may set their own school structure and
curricular agenda
The freedom to fund and develop resources

Charter schools are not bound by fixed amount of funds per
year
The charter school critique

Charter schools pose resource competition to public schools

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Charter schools can be selective with student population
demographics

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In some cases, charter schools have influenced the closing of
local public schools
Students with special needs, immigrant students,
underrepresented populations
Schools may be selective about student population to
influence standardized test scores
Funding and accountability

Funding from private investors could influence school
decisions
WA state charter schools

Initiative 1240 approved by voters in November 2012

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Established commission for oversight
Charters must be approved by commission

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Application includes detailed funding structure and
development plan
Came after years of controversy and failed attempts to
establish charter schools within the state
1 open currently, 7 open more open this fall
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First Place Scholars Charter School
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First charter school in the state
Currently on improvement plan
Converted from private to charter school
Further resources
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Center for Reinventing Public Education
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Washington State Charter Schools Association
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UW Bothell-based
Advocacy organization
Membership consists of currently approved charter schools
Offers workshops and seminars on writing a charter
Washington State Charter School Commission

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Oversees charter school applications
Writes annual charter school report for state government
Questions?

Anthony Longoria
[email protected]