THAT TIME BILL GATES DECIDED THAT WASHINGTON STATE WOULD HAVE CHARTER SCHOOLS OR ELSE

THAT TIME BILL GATES DECIDED THAT WASHINGTON STATE WOULD HAVE CHARTER SCHOOLS OR ELSE

In a move that surprised absolutely no one, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates decided that Washington state would have charter schools or else. And by "or else," he meant a grant of $1.7 million to The Seattle Times, which just so happened to support charter schools.

Now, for those of you who don't know what charter schools are, they're publicly funded but privately run schools that operate independently of locally elected school boards and face fewer regulations. In other words, they're like regular schools, but with less oversight. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, as it turns out, quite a bit. Charter schools in Washington state have faced legal challenges and controversies, such as the 2015 state Supreme Court ruling that declared them unconstitutional and the subsequent legislative efforts to keep them open. But hey, who needs pesky things like the constitution when you've got Bill Gates on your side?

Of course, The Seattle Times editorial board was quick to jump on the charter school bandwagon. They advocated for fixing the law to improve charter schools by extending the authorization deadline and providing equitable funding for charter students. Because nothing says "equitable" like giving public money to private schools.

They also criticized the legal challenges and controversies surrounding charter schools, conveniently ignoring the fact that those challenges and controversies exist for a reason. But hey, why let facts get in the way of a good narrative?

And let's not forget about the academic performance and outcomes of charter schools. According to a 2019 Stanford report, charter-school students in Washington learned at similar rates as their peers in traditional public schools. Of course, that report was funded by the Gates Foundation, which has been heavily involved in supporting charter schools in Washington state. But who needs unbiased research when you've got a billionaire calling the shots?

Groups that have supported charter schools in Washington state include the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Stand for Children, Democrats for Education Reform, and the League of Education Voters. And let's not forget about the political action committees that endorse pro-charter candidates, which have received millions of dollars in donations from pro-charter groups and individuals like the Gates Foundation, Stand for Children, and Vulcan Inc. Because nothing says "democracy" like buying elections.

So what's the history of charter schools in Washington state? Well, they first opened in 2014, years after they had already reached most other states. And they've been facing legal challenges and controversies ever since. They're authorized by the state or by authorizing districts, and are subject to comprehensive monitoring and data collection. But despite all of that oversight, they still receive less funding than traditional public schools.

In conclusion, it's clear that charter schools are a great idea...if you're a billionaire looking to privatize public education. But for the rest of us, they're just another way to funnel public money into private pockets. Thanks for nothing, Bill Gates.

Big Education Ape: KAMA SUTRA OF SCHOOL PRIVATIZATION https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2023/05/kama-sutra-of-school-privatization.html 

According to the search results, The Seattle Times editorial board has expressed support for charter schools in Washington state in various ways, such as:

• - Advocating for fixing the law to improve charter schools by extending the authorization deadline and providing equitable funding for charter students⁴.
• - Advocating for leaving charter-school funds in the budget to offer short-term relief for charter schools that face systematic underfunding².
• - Criticizing the legal challenges and controversies surrounding charter schools, such as the 2015 state Supreme Court ruling that declared charter schools unconstitutional and the subsequent legislative efforts to keep them open¹.
• - Highlighting the academic performance and outcomes of charter schools, such as a 2019 Stanford report that found charter-school students in Washington learned at similar rates as their peers in traditional public schools³.

 Bing, 6/17/2023

(1) Extend window of opportunity for new public charter schools. https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/extend-window-of-opportunity-for-new-public-charter-schools/.

(2) Leave charter-school funds in the budget | The Seattle Times. https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/leave-charter-school-funds-in-the-budget/.

(3) Fix the law to improve charter schools | The Seattle Times. https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/fix-the-law-to-improve-charter-schools/.

(4) An anti-transparency editorial in The Washington Post. https://www.cjr.org/analysis/washington-post-charter-schools-editorial.php.

A LITTLE MORE HISTORY FROM CHATGPT

The history of charter schools in Washington State is marked by controversy, legal battles, and involvement from various organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Let's dive into the details:

Early History:

Charter schools are publicly funded schools that operate independently from the traditional public school system. Washington State first passed a charter school law in 1993, becoming one of the early adopters of the charter school movement in the United States. However, this initial law was never implemented due to a legal challenge that deemed it unconstitutional.

First Charter School Law and Legal Challenges:

In 2004, Washington State passed a new charter school law, which allowed the establishment of charter schools. The law limited the number of charter schools to 40 over a five-year period. However, opponents of charter schools filed a lawsuit challenging the law's constitutionality, arguing that it diverted public funds away from traditional public schools and violated the state's constitution.

Legal Battles and Supreme Court Ruling:

In 2015, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that the state's charter school law was unconstitutional. The court held that charter schools did not qualify as "common schools" under the state constitution and, therefore, could not receive public funding intended for common schools. This ruling effectively shut down all existing charter schools in the state.

Charter School Act of 2016:

In response to the Supreme Court ruling, charter school supporters launched an initiative campaign to pass a new charter school law. In November 2016, Washington voters approved Initiative 1240, known as the "Charter School Act of 2016." This law created a pathway for charter schools to operate in the state by establishing a separate funding mechanism.

Involvement of the Gates Foundation and Bill Gates:

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has been a prominent supporter of charter schools nationwide, including in Washington State. The foundation has provided financial support to organizations advocating for charter schools and has funded research and initiatives aimed at improving charter school performance. While the Gates Foundation has played a role in supporting charter schools in Washington State, it is important to note that they are one of many organizations involved in the debate.

Groups Supporting Charter Schools:

Several groups have actively supported charter schools in Washington State. These include the Washington State Charter Schools Association (WA Charters), Stand for Children, Democrats for Education Reform, and League of Education Voters. These organizations have advocated for charter school expansion and have been involved in lobbying efforts and campaigns to support candidates who favor charter schools.

Election Support for Charter School Candidates:

Various political action committees (PACs) and advocacy groups have supported candidates who are in favor of charter schools in Washington State. For example, the Washington State Charter Schools Association's PAC has endorsed and provided financial support to candidates who support charter schools. Stand for Children and Democrats for Education Reform have also been involved in supporting candidates who align with their goals of charter school expansion.

It's important to note that the charter school debate in Washington State has remained contentious, with ongoing discussions about the impact on traditional public schools, equity concerns, and accountability measures for charter schools. The involvement of the Gates Foundation and other organizations reflects the complex dynamics surrounding the charter school movement in the state.