Well-funded charter-school initiative has nearly enough signatures to make ballot | Local News | The Seattle Times

Well-funded charter-school initiative has nearly enough signatures to make ballot | Local News | The Seattle Times:

Well-funded charter-school initiative has nearly enough signatures to make ballot

Supporters of allowing charter schools in Washington state have raised nearly $2 million from a handful of high-profile donors and say they are poised to submit the needed 241,153 valid signatures by the Friday deadline.

By Brian M. Rosenthal

Seattle Times education reporter

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Make no mistake about it, the same technology oligarchs that fund this initiative are... (July 2, 2012, by Pythagoras) MORE

In the 41 states where they exist, charters have sometimes outperformed regular schools... (July 2, 2012, by MikePhoto) MORE

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Sponsors of an initiative to allow charter schools in Washington say they have almost enough signatures to qualify for the ballot — a speedy effort aided by nearly $2 million in donations from a handful of high-profile supporters.

Shannon Campion, a spokeswoman for the initiative, said sponsors plan to submit more than the required 241,153 valid signatures by the Friday deadline, completing the well-funded signature scramble.

Bill Gates has personally donated more than $1 million to the initiative, while fellow Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has kicked in $100,000. Mike and Jackie Bezos, parents of Amazon executive Jeff Bezos, have contributed $450,000.

The money has helped pay professional signature-gatherers who have worked outside grocery stores, farmers markets and community