What the Washington State Supreme Court Decision on Charter Schools Achieved
"Washington Capitol Temple Of Justice" by Cacophony
The Washington State Supreme Court ruled on September 4, 2015 that charter schools are not "common schools" and therefore cannot be funded by common school funds. The judges based their decision on the issue of public funding for schools that are not publicly governed, not subject to local accountability, and not under the authority of elected school boards. Proponents of charter schools and parents who enrolled their students expressed shock and disappointment in response to the Supreme Court decision.
The ruling, however, is not surprising, as Catherine Ahl, Education Chair for the League of Women Voters of Washington, points out. The King County Superior Court ruled in December, 2013 that charter schools are not "common schools" and therefore cannot be funded by tax dollars. The case then made its way to the Washington State Supreme Court. Before the Supreme Court had a chance to issue its ruling, the Charter School Commission, went ahead and approved the opening of 9 new charter schools in the state, and the schools began enrolling students.
Why did the commission approve these schools if the case had not been settled? Were parents told when they enrolled their students in the charter schools that the schools might close at any time pending a Supreme Court decision?
The charter school advocates should have been more cautious. The court ruling blocking the spread of charter schools is not surprising given the history of charter schools in Washington State. Charter schools had been voted down by Washington voters three times. Two times,
