Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter School Update

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter School Update:

Washington State Charter School Update

It's March 3rd and there is now just one more week until the end of the session on March 10th.  A new bill - 6670 - a so-called "title-only" bill that is a placeholder (along with HB 3000, also a placeholder) for something to come.  Here's 6670 - in its entirety -

Sec. 1. This act may be known and cited as the public schools that are not common schools act.

This Hemingway-length legislation is brought to us by the usual suspects in the form of Senators Fain, Mullet, Litzow and Hobbs. 

A little backstory on what this is and how it is happening comes to us via theTri-City Herald which seems to take a dim view of this type of legislation (bold mine). 

The Washington Constitution includes a provision to prevent legislators from considering bills introduced at the last minute. The provision is designed to make sure the public has a chance to learn about the legislation and provide comment.

Article 2, Section 36 of the constitution says “No bill shall be considered in either house unless the time of its introduction shall have been at least ten days before the final adjournment of the legislature, unless the legislature shall otherwise direct by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house.”

But the crafters of that language underestimated the cleverness of the members of our state legislators and their proclivity for finding ways to avoid public 

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Washington State Charter School Update: