Continuing Fall-Out from Washington Charter Schools Situation
Update: the Washington State Charter Schools Association chimed in yesterday and boy, do they stretch the truth of the situation.
1) They have gone from calling the issue a "glitch" to saying:
Washington’s public charter schools are narrowing in on a stopgap solution that would keep eight of the state’s voter-approved charter schools open and public for the remainder of the school year while advocates work with the legislature on a permanent fix that reflects the will of the voters.
Oh, so now it's a "stopgap" measure until there is a "permanent fix." Then they go right back to calling it a "glitch."
2) They call the Supreme Court decision "foolish."
3) They mention the "partnering" with Mary Walker SD (which it really isn't) and don't mention how it got to the district of a former Charter Commission who is the superintendent of that district.
4) They also claim that the current schools are "delivering successful education programs" with zero evidence. Are they open? Yes. Are some students and parents happy? Yes. Maybe you could call that "successful."
5) They say that the fix would have to "reinstate" the WA Charter Commission.
I hate to tell them but their idea that they can go from charter schools to tutoring institutions and back to charter schools is going to be a big add to any charter law (because it's not in there now.) That's going to take some mighty tricky wordsmithing in the revised law. Good luck with that because I suspect that is what will put this back into the court system.
end of update
The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin is reporting that Willow Academy, which was approved by the Charter Commission to open in Fall 2016, is now unlikely to open. Depending on what happens in the Legislature, they may try to open in Fall 2017.
Also, a well-placed source has told me that Dr. Linda Whitehead, the principal at First Place Scholars, has been asked to resign. My source did not know the reason. I previously reported that another source said that First Place may be attempting to go back to being a private school.
1) They have gone from calling the issue a "glitch" to saying:
Washington’s public charter schools are narrowing in on a stopgap solution that would keep eight of the state’s voter-approved charter schools open and public for the remainder of the school year while advocates work with the legislature on a permanent fix that reflects the will of the voters.
Oh, so now it's a "stopgap" measure until there is a "permanent fix." Then they go right back to calling it a "glitch."
2) They call the Supreme Court decision "foolish."
3) They mention the "partnering" with Mary Walker SD (which it really isn't) and don't mention how it got to the district of a former Charter Commission who is the superintendent of that district.
4) They also claim that the current schools are "delivering successful education programs" with zero evidence. Are they open? Yes. Are some students and parents happy? Yes. Maybe you could call that "successful."
5) They say that the fix would have to "reinstate" the WA Charter Commission.
I hate to tell them but their idea that they can go from charter schools to tutoring institutions and back to charter schools is going to be a big add to any charter law (because it's not in there now.) That's going to take some mighty tricky wordsmithing in the revised law. Good luck with that because I suspect that is what will put this back into the court system.
end of update
The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin is reporting that Willow Academy, which was approved by the Charter Commission to open in Fall 2016, is now unlikely to open. Depending on what happens in the Legislature, they may try to open in Fall 2017.
Also, a well-placed source has told me that Dr. Linda Whitehead, the principal at First Place Scholars, has been asked to resign. My source did not know the reason. I previously reported that another source said that First Place may be attempting to go back to being a private school.
Comments
Just another breech of privacy on save Seattle schools .
Some people say...
It's disturbing why anyone would interfere with FPS school. I'm voting no on any school levies going forward unless they include funding for FPS school.
PC NOMORE
PC, First Place Scholars is a charter school and unaffiliated with SPS.
I wish them well and hope the can be brought back to reality.
PC NOMORE