Washington, D.C. – Nina Rees, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released the following statement in reaction to the Washington State Supreme Courts ruling on the constitutionality of the states public charter school law:
“We are shocked by and deeply disappointed in the Washington State Supreme Court’s wrongheaded and ill-advised decision that the state’s public charter school law is unconstitutional. Notwithstanding the Court’s dubious legal gymnastics, it is unimaginable that public charter schools – legal in every state where the question has ever been raised – have been deemed unconstitutional in Washington.
“While the Court has turned its back on the tens of thousands of students in the state who need more high-quality public school options, we stand behind the many advocates that fought for this law and will support them in any way we can. If new laws or constitutional amendments are necessary, we are ready to lend whatever help we can to get them passed.
“Nationwide, more than 1 million names are on charter school wait lists because charter schools have proven successful, particularly for those students who traditionally have had few options. Washington State’s students deserve these same educational opportunities. It is very troubling that this Court has decided to deny them these options.”
About Public Charter Schools
Public charter schools are independent, public, and tuition-free schools that are given the freedom to be more innovative while being held accountable for advancing student achievement. Since 2010, many research studies have found that students in charter schools do better in school than their traditional school peers. For example, one study by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University found that charter schools do a better job teaching low income students, minority students, and students who are still learning English than traditional schools. Separate studies by the Center on Reinventing Public Education and Mathematica Policy Research have found that charter school students are more likely to graduate from high school, go on to college, stay in college and have higher earnings in early adulthood.
About the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is the leading national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the public charter school movement. Our mission is to lead public education to unprecedented levels of academic achievement by fostering a strong charter sector. For more information, please visit www.publiccharters.org.
