Signed by Governor Jay Inslee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that authorizes public charter schools.

Highlights:

• Specifies that charter schools must be open to all children free of charge and by choice (Sec. 102).

• Authorizes charter schools to enter into contracts with any school district, public entity, or private entity to provide property, equipment, supplies, and educational services (Sec. 103).

• Prohibits charter school boards from acquiring property by eminent domain (Sec. 103).

• Requires a performance audit to be conducted after the charter school’s first full year of operation and every 3 years thereafter (Sec. 103).

• Requires charter schools to participate in statewide standardized tests and comply with all federal, state, and local regulations (Sec. 104).

• Authorizes charter schools to hire non certified instructional staff of unusual competence and in exceptional cases (Sec. 104).

• Prohibits charter schools from engaging in sectarian practices (Sec. 104).

• Requires charter schools to create a weighted enrollment preference for at-risk students, siblings of currently enrolled students, and children of charter school employees  (Sec. 105).

• Establishes the Washington State Charter School Commission to enforce charter contracts and ensure standards of accountability are met (Sec. 107).

• Requires the initial term of a charter school’s authorizing contract to be 6 years (Sec. 109).

• Requires charter school applications to provide an executive summary of the charter’ school’s purpose and vision, planned enrollment, and the proposed location of the school (Sec. 113). admissions preference to at-risk students and siblings of enrolled students

• Specifies that no more than 40 charter schools may be established within 5 years of this bill’s effective date (Sec. 115).

• Requires charter schools to adopt performance standards that include but are not limited to (Sec. 117):

• Student Academic Proficiency

• Student Academic Growth;

• Attendance;

• Enrollment Retention Rates; and

• High School Graduation Rates and Student Postsecondary Readiness.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes public charter schools.

Highlights:

• Specifies that charter schools must be open to all children free of charge and by choice (Sec. 102).

• Authorizes charter schools to enter into contracts with any school district, public entity, or private entity to provide property, equipment, supplies, and educational services (Sec. 103).

• Prohibits charter school boards from acquiring property by eminent domain (Sec. 103).

• Requires a performance audit to be conducted after the charter school’s first full year of operation and every 3 years thereafter (Sec. 103).

• Requires charter schools to participate in statewide standardized tests and comply with all federal, state, and local regulations (Sec. 104).

• Authorizes charter schools to hire non certified instructional staff of unusual competence and in exceptional cases (Sec. 104).

• Prohibits charter schools from engaging in sectarian practices (Sec. 104).

• Requires charter schools to create a weighted enrollment preference for at-risk students, siblings of currently enrolled students, and children of charter school employees  (Sec. 105).

• Establishes the Washington State Charter School Commission to enforce charter contracts and ensure standards of accountability are met (Sec. 107).

• Requires the initial term of a charter school’s authorizing contract to be 6 years (Sec. 109).

• Requires charter school applications to provide an executive summary of the charter’ school’s purpose and vision, planned enrollment, and the proposed location of the school (Sec. 113). admissions preference to at-risk students and siblings of enrolled students

• Specifies that no more than 40 charter schools may be established within 5 years of this bill’s effective date (Sec. 115).

• Requires charter schools to adopt performance standards that include but are not limited to (Sec. 117):

• Student Academic Proficiency

• Student Academic Growth;

• Attendance;

• Enrollment Retention Rates; and

• High School Graduation Rates and Student Postsecondary Readiness.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes public charter schools.

Highlights:

• Defines “charter schools” as free public schools operated separately from the common school system as an alternative to common schools (Sec. 102). 

• Amends the composition of the Washington state charter school commission to consist of the following members (Sec. 107):
• The superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee;
• The chair of the state board of education; and
• 3 members appointed by the governor, 3 from the Senate and 3 from the House.

• Requires the state to use funds from the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account to support charter schools (Sec. 127).

• Requires the state to equally distribute funds for charter public schools and other public schools (Sec. 128).

Full Bill Text