What charter schools mean for Yakima
YAKIMA, Wash. -- We're still covering Campaign 2012 as Election Day moves closer. Some think this could be the year charter schools get the OK in Washington. Voters rejected them in the past despite 41other states having them. We wanted to know how Yakima would be affected if charter schools were allowed.
Basically, charter schools undergo the same government oversight as traditional public schools, but are free of district management. They're run by non-profits, but still must meet state standards with state-certified teachers. However, charter schools can follow their own educational philosophy and curriculum.
If one was built in Yakima, your kid could get the chance to go through a lottery system, but, there's no guarantee. It depends on the grade levels being taught and whether there's enough space.
Initiative-1240 aims to bring 40 charter schools to Washington over the next five years. There's no guarantee where they'd go.
"Yakima could have a charter school." said the president of the Yakima school board, Martha Rice. "Honestly I think it's fairly unlikely that Yakima would end up with a charter school...Having said that that doesn't mean the people in Yakima shouldn't be concerned about this because Yakima's taxpayers dollars go into the state fund that help fund those privately operated charter schools"
That's the challenge. Proponents argue charter schools will force our current schools to be more competitive. Others say they would simply split state money even more leaving current schools to do more with less.
The Washington Policy Center calls Initiative 1240 the best charter school law in the country. The teachers' union hopes you'll keep these schools out of our community once again.Voters will decide if now's the time for charter schools in Washington. Staffing to oversee the charter schools would be an added cost to the taxpayer.
I-1240 would have a charter schools commission that would cost the state about three-million dollars over the five years that schools would be established. If adopted, the first charter school could open next year.
Basically, charter schools undergo the same government oversight as traditional public schools, but are free of district management. They're run by non-profits, but still must meet state standards with state-certified teachers. However, charter schools can follow their own educational philosophy and curriculum.
If one was built in Yakima, your kid could get the chance to go through a lottery system, but, there's no guarantee. It depends on the grade levels being taught and whether there's enough space.
Initiative-1240 aims to bring 40 charter schools to Washington over the next five years. There's no guarantee where they'd go.
"Yakima could have a charter school." said the president of the Yakima school board, Martha Rice. "Honestly I think it's fairly unlikely that Yakima would end up with a charter school...Having said that that doesn't mean the people in Yakima shouldn't be concerned about this because Yakima's taxpayers dollars go into the state fund that help fund those privately operated charter schools"
That's the challenge. Proponents argue charter schools will force our current schools to be more competitive. Others say they would simply split state money even more leaving current schools to do more with less.
The Washington Policy Center calls Initiative 1240 the best charter school law in the country. The teachers' union hopes you'll keep these schools out of our community once again.Voters will decide if now's the time for charter schools in Washington. Staffing to oversee the charter schools would be an added cost to the taxpayer.
I-1240 would have a charter schools commission that would cost the state about three-million dollars over the five years that schools would be established. If adopted, the first charter school could open next year.
http://peopleforourpublicschools.org/
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Within the past 3 years Washington State lost $2.5B in educational cuts. Charter schools are publicly funded, but privately operated schools that will siphon dollars from an underfunded system. We need to fund proven solutions for ALL students, not unproven initiative for a few.
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The most comprehensive study was done by Stanford University which states only 17% of charter schools out perform public schools. 37% of charter schools perform worse than public schools and the rest perform the same.
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A simple majority of teachers or parents will have the ability to sign a petition which would allow a public school to be gifted to a private entity.
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The Washington State PTSA opposes Initiative 1240.
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Charter schools have been voted down 3 times by voters. We should vote it down a 4th time.
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A Charter Commission would over see charter schools and they are not accountable to the voting public.
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Vote NO on 1240
leave the post up...let the people know what a charter school is ,,just a private school with a new name
charter school will take money that is in need for public school..the rich will profit from charter school and the kids going to public school will have less for keeping there program going, you can't have a bunch of school all over washington taking fund or tax dollars for private school,,the people pushing just change the name form private school to charter school to miss lead voter most don't know what a charter school isÂ
Woah fourty more schools charter or not means more taxes. I can see the state standing with their hands our for more tax money, when does the madness end.