WA PSers

[jeteaa]

Why is it that most all the other states have charter school options, but not WA (and small few others)? dd1 just turned 5 and we have always planned on hsing, but I at least wanted to research our local schools and other options before making our final decision about K. We can't afford private so public is our only other school option. whenever I come across a post or mention of a "great school" they seem to always be charter/magnet. Our local elementary is very depressing..... we will have the option to move (almost anywhere) next spring. So if I could find a GREAT public/charter/magnet school we might consider moving if we do want to go the school route. But I would much rather WA allow charters.

[Eris]

(I'm not a PSer, but I am a parent in Washington state)

The basic reason is, the voters voted a law passed by the legislature down, I think several times but most recently in 2004. The referendum to vote on the legislation, and to vote no on it, was pushed primarily, and heavily, by schools boards and (teachers?) unions- the no-on-charters side successfully convinced voters that charter schools are bad.

Hm. Here's one pro-charter-schools site's take on it:

http://www.wacharterschools.org/learn/nocharterinwa.htm

There are quite a few alternative on-site schools in various districts, some of which are very good, and also several "homeschooling" options, including WAVA, CVA, and iAcademy (I think there's also one that's based in or near Spokane? I can't remember now what it's called), and programs like Seattle's "homeschool resource center", which is sort of a hybrid- you can be registered at it full-time, and be a public school student taking classes at the center and doing work at home, or you can register part-time and retain your home-based instruction status.

So, there ARE options. But no charter schools. I like the charter school options that other states have and wish Washington had them, though I suspect we still wouldn't use them.

[The Hidden Life]

If I remember correctly, Seattle has had some charter schools in the past. There was the African-American Academy and a music & theatre type school at the Seattle Center I think and some others. There's the online school WA K12. Also Seattle Public Schools has long had several alternative school options--Summit K-12 and others that met the sort of unschooly/self-directed learning families' needs. Unfortunately, a lot of these programs are being cut or scaled back because of the bad economy reducing the schools budget.

Seattle Public Schools is always in conflict. There has been an impression for decades that the schools are terrible (since before I was enrolled there in the '70s/'80s), although there have always been a shining few great schools that are fought over by families seeking admission. Charter schools have mainly been seen as a way for affluent (often white) families to escape being assigned to less desirable schools. Then of course there is the legacy of mandatory bussing and now the school choice mess (ongoing for years in various forms).

[jeteaa]

OP here... dd1 will do a PPP (parent partnership program) with a local school dist. but its still more of a hsing program than going to school.

[Eris]

Originally Posted by The Hidden Life

If I remember correctly, Seattle has had some charter schools in the past. There was the African-American Academy and a music & theatre type school at the Seattle Center I think and some others. There's the online school WA K12.

All of these, as far as I know, are alternative schools and not, technically, charter schools. I'm not personally really sure what the charter school proposals were which have gotten voted down in Washington, or how district alternatives like the Center School are different, but presumably none of these are them, since Washington state doesn't have, and never had, charter schools!

[miss_sonja]

I'm all for charter schools and puzzled why we keep voting them down here in WA state. There's huge prejudice against them, yet many of the problems afflicting the local school district could be solved by trying charters.

I'm for vouchers too, which pretty much forces me to keep my mouth shut at various school discussions:-(.

[griffin2004]

Originally Posted by miss_sonja

I'm all for charter schools and puzzled why we keep voting them down here in WA state.

WEA = Washington Education Association = the teachers' union

[Linda on the move]

It's not just where you live. There aren't any charters where we live, and all the private schools are religion based. So our options are homeschooling and traditional public school.

Luckily, our traditional public school is quite good.

I think that giving into "only option X is good" is a negative thinking trap. If you set yourself up to believe that only charters are good and there are no charters where you live, you will be miserable whatever happens. And while there are some great charters, other charters have a lot of problems (my best friend lives in a city with lots of charters).

Not all the good schools are charters, really. My DDs school has small classes, compassionate teachers, and provides a well rounded education. No religious nonsense, and they work to tailor the education to the child. It has a level of diversity not found in private schools or homeschooling groups.

So I'm sorry that you local school isn't appealling, but stay positive about finding one that you like because they really do exist!