Big Money Rolling in for Charter Initiative
Well that didn't take long.
Crosscut is reporting that the initiative is receiving a $4M boost from the Gates Foundation and $1M from Nick Hanauer (and I suspect the rest is from Stand or some other booster).
Oddly, LEV has nothing on its site about sponsoring this bill.
Bad news for Dem candidates:
Speaking of Jay Inslee, if the charter initiative does go forward, watch for the anti-charters Washington Education Association, the teachers' union, to match the charter camp in spending, which will drain a traditional source of money away from the Democrats in the governor's race.
I think this assessment is true but that's what happens when people in political parties split over a single issue.
I wonder if people will have a reaction to that kind of money being spent on an education measure (either way).
I have read through the initiative which uses the charter legislation bill as a template.
There is some definite tweaking which I will have to ponder for possible outcomes. They did do some good things to make this a better bill/initiative but left in a lot to argue against. I will probably not say much at this point as I'm not going to help the other side out with their campaign.
There are some groups around the state joining together to fight this initiative. The WEA can fight it on their turf but it seems to be common wisdom that it will be the pro-charter folks against the teachers union. That might make for a good story but it will not be the case. There will be lots of others who have no association and nothing to do with the union.
Crosscut is reporting that the initiative is receiving a $4M boost from the Gates Foundation and $1M from Nick Hanauer (and I suspect the rest is from Stand or some other booster).
Oddly, LEV has nothing on its site about sponsoring this bill.
Bad news for Dem candidates:
Speaking of Jay Inslee, if the charter initiative does go forward, watch for the anti-charters Washington Education Association, the teachers' union, to match the charter camp in spending, which will drain a traditional source of money away from the Democrats in the governor's race.
I think this assessment is true but that's what happens when people in political parties split over a single issue.
I wonder if people will have a reaction to that kind of money being spent on an education measure (either way).
I have read through the initiative which uses the charter legislation bill as a template.
There is some definite tweaking which I will have to ponder for possible outcomes. They did do some good things to make this a better bill/initiative but left in a lot to argue against. I will probably not say much at this point as I'm not going to help the other side out with their campaign.
There are some groups around the state joining together to fight this initiative. The WEA can fight it on their turf but it seems to be common wisdom that it will be the pro-charter folks against the teachers union. That might make for a good story but it will not be the case. There will be lots of others who have no association and nothing to do with the union.
Comments
In its SECOND post, it notes it is now giving political endorsements via its 'LEV PAC'. Wow. The group gets more Stand for Children-like every day. How unfortunate.
Just got a friend's email pointing me to Rep. Reuven Carlyle's blog. In which he salutes his friend Hanauer and has a longwinded ramble about 'innovative' education reforms. He is pretty soundly smacked down in the comments afterward. Worth a read.
EdVoter
voter
This is just out of hand. Now no doubt various associations and unions will push back with their own anti-charter dollars.
What a waste of money and conversation at a time when there are more important education priorities in WA state.
I blame the PACs of Stand for Children and LEV and Democrats for Education Reform for pushing this crap conversation on us right now. Thanks for getting everyone riled up and throwing money down rabbit holes instead of to our children in need.
Mary B.
P.S. I just posted the same thought on Reuven Carlyle's blog, mentioned in the post before mine.
-sps mom
For the Washington State House of Representatives:
Reuven Carlyle (D-36) North Seattle, Ballard, Magnolia
Judy Clibborn (D-41) Mercer Island, Bellevue, Sammamish
Cyrus Habib (D-48) Bellevue, Redmond
Chad Magendanz (R-5) Issaquah, Snoqualmie, North Bend, Maple Valley
Eric Pettigrew (D-37) South Seattle, Renton
Larry Springer (D-45) Sammamish, Kirkland, Woodinville
For the Washington State Senate:
Bruce Dammeier (R-25) Pierce County, Puyallup
Mike Hewitt (R-16) Walla Walla
Steve Litzow (R-41) Mercer Island, Bellevue, Sammamish
Stand plans to release the remaining legislative endorsements in June.
ALL this effort and attention over the very few. Meanwhile the majority of our kids are stuck in poorly funded schools. And we want to spend more money for more bureaucracy. This is good for public education? This makes no sense!
-PS mom
Chasing Signatures for Charter Schools in Washington State
Two and a quarter years to go
You've listed Stand's early endorsement list. Where did you find this?