Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter School Ruling: Part Two - Ruling Itself
(Editor's note: I am not a lawyer. I am a layperson who is interested in the law and I have sought to understand the Washington State Supreme Court ruling on the charter school law.)
Background
For your edification, here's a link to the Washington State Constitution which was ratified in 1889. The key issue in this case is the Constitution's use of the term "common schools." Here's a history of the term "common school" fromPBS. It would appear that it was a historical term meaning schools funded by taxes (as opposed to private or church-led schools). Horace Mann was the best-known leader for common schools.The term first appears in Article II (Legislative Department), Section 28, part 15. Section 28 states:
SECTION 28 SPECIAL LEGISLATION. The legislature is prohibited from enacting any private or special laws in the following cases:
15. Providing for the management of common schools.The main section that the Court used was Article IX - Education - wherein we find the famous "paramount duty" phrase. It's on page 37. One key paragraph that seems to throw some people is this one:
The legislature shall provide for a general and uniform systemSeattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter School Ruling: Part Two - Ruling Itself:
