This fall, nearly 1,200 students in Washington State are walking through the doors of eight brand new public charter schools, marking the first time that many of our families, hungry for rigorous, joyful and successful school experiences for their students, are able to exercise public school choice. Next year, three more public charter schools are slated to open in the Evergreen state, two more in the Puget Sound region, and one in Walla Walla, the first of its kind in rural Southeast Washington.
Washington State may be late to join the charter movement, but being late certainly has its share of benefits! As the 42nd state to adopt a charter school law, we’ve had the opportunity to replicate only those practices that are most profoundly moving the needle for our most historically disadvantaged students. Our law, approved by voters in 2012, was ranked among the strongest in the country by the National Alliance earlier this year; it focuses on the development of a high-quality, transparent charter sector that meaningfully holds public charter schools accountable for student outcomes. At the same time, our charter law laudably remains open to bringing new and innovative academic programs to our state, providing educators with flexibility to best meet the individual needs of every student they serve. In short, we have the best of both worlds! Supported by the resources and programming provided by the Washington State Charter Schools Association (WA Charters), the advocacy and membership organization that I lead, Washington’s charter school pioneers have themselves thoughtfully selected and iterated upon existing best practices established in high-performing charter schools across the nation. Our school leaders have meaningfully connected with their communities, ensuring that they will remain relevant and responsive to the diverse needs that they encounter while providing a rigorous, high-quality public education. As we move into this new school year, WA Charters is dedicated to supporting our new schools as they deliver on the promise of a high-quality public education to students from our state’s most vulnerable populations, while also incubating another cohort of aspiring public charter school leaders. It is truly humbling and rewarding to witness the transformation of public education in Washington State, the result of a many-years-long battle to pass the charter law, and more recently, the many months of incredible care that my team and our schools have put into operationalizing our ambitious goals. Finally, I share in the excitement that Washington State is at last on the national charter map. I am thrilled to be engaging in critical discourse with colleagues from across the nation to move this important work forward in a state so desperately in need of more high-quality options for our youth. Recently, I joined the National Alliance and colleagues around the country in reaffirming our commitment to quality, a strong example of the power of important conversations that gain momentum when they cross state lines. The work that we have embarked upon in Washington State is not unusual, but by building upon the solid foundation established in countless cities and states across the county, our opportunity is certainly unique. By partnering with pioneering school leaders and many courageous families, we are confident that we are leading this state down a path to deliver on our mission—every student deserves a high-quality public school option. For more information about public charter schools in Washington State, or to learn more about why the Washington State charter sector may be the right fit for you, please visit www.wacharters.org. Thomas Franta is the CEO of the Washington State Charter Schools Association.
Menu
