DETAILS
Position Paper on Charter Schools
The Washington State Special Education Coalition continues to seek ways to inform and educate school boards, principals, teachers, families and policy makers about the broad flexibility which already exists in statute for boards to organize their district and schools for the most effective means of educating students - those with special needs, as well as those without.
The Washington State Special Education Coalition supports the concept of charter schools on the basis that they may represent a creative, effective way of increasing the involvement of families, other adults and community members in schools and contribute to improving students' academic and personal achievement.
The WSSEC will consider support of charter schools within these guidelines:
- Charter schools shall be accountable to and under the direction of the elected local school board.
- Charter schools shall report to the local school board regarding all public expenditures.
- A limited number of charter schools shall be authorized and studied before state-wide expansion is considered.
- The State Board of Education shall not be assigned an appellate role should a local school board not approve a charter school application.
- Charter schools shall be subject to the same requirements concerning education reform.
- Charter schools shall be non-sectarian and shall not discriminate in the enrollment of students based on race, creed or disability.