I received a thoughtful comment from Senator Wellman, the Chair of the Senate Education committee, in response to my piece on KUOW’s latest hit piece against charter school.  Here’s my response.

Dear Senator Wellman,

Thank you for your note regarding my reporting on the weaknesses in KUOW’s education coverage.  In its zeal to go after charters, KUOW is ignoring facts that are essential to understanding the challenges the legislature has imposed on charter schools.

First, as you know, state law does not require a person to have a formal certificate to teach in a public or private school (see RCW 28A.150.203(7)).  In fact, Harvard University research shows that having a teaching credential is not a guarantee of instructional quality (see https://www.educationnext.org/photo-finish/ ).

Second, there is no state law or regulation that puts diplomas in jeopardy if students take a class from a non-certified instructor.

Third, the legislature has stacked the deck against charter school families:

The legislature has cut charter school funding by some $3,000 per student per year.

The legislature has denied charter school families access to local levy funding.

The legislature has denied charter school families access to public facilities.

The legislature has cancelled the authorization law and denied families access to new charter schools, even in communities that want one.

Earlier this year the legislature killed HB 1591, which would have provided funding equity to charter school families.

Targeting charter schools is narrow-minded and unfair when so many fully-funded traditional schools are failing students.  Impact and other charters are serving vulnerable students who need the most help.  All of Washington’s charter schools serve mostly low-income, minority families, and nearly every charter school has a waiting list.

Meanwhile, over 41,000 families have left the public system.  Attacking popular options like neighborhood charter schools will simply cause more families to leave.

By attacking charters and other innovative education choices lawmakers are perpetuating a closed monopoly system that is increasingly irrelevant to the learning needs of many of today’s children.

Instead of threatening a popular local school with a $3.8 million fine, lawmakers might do more to help, starting with repealing the policy that imposes systemic funding inequities on charter school children.  I’m hopeful the legislature can address this core disparity in the next session.