Comments on: Washington State Will Vote on Charters – for the Fourth Time http://www.educationnews.org/education-policy-and-politics/washington-state-will-vote-on-charters-for-the-fourth-time/ Education News Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:01:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Melissa Westbrook http://www.educationnews.org/education-policy-and-politics/washington-state-will-vote-on-charters-for-the-fourth-time/#comment-13266 Melissa Westbrook Sun, 02 Sep 2012 23:34:50 +0000 http://www.educationnews.org/?p=218079#comment-13266 I am the head of the No on 1240 campaign. I'd first like to point out to Wintertime that Bill Gates (and his friend, Alice Walton of Walmart in Arkansas and his friend, the head of Netflicks in LA ) and his friends who are paying the Yes side's bills? They will spend 3x what any opposition will. And you have to ask? Why are out-of-state interests telling Washington state voters how to educate our children? - charters don't work, not for academic outcomes or accountability. The Feds report that over half their charter authorizers complained about NOT being able to close low-performing charters. And the best outcomes? Only about 17% of the time. - we underfund our existing schools in Washington State (we don't even fund to a national AVERAGE). So bringing on MORE underfunded schools is the answer in an system that has not proven it works any better is the answer? - Washington State voters have said no three times and that's because we are a smart and independent bunch of voters. The fourth time will be the final time. - the initiative would harm far more than it could ever help. Examples: - the new Charter Commission? once appointed, ZERO oversight by anyone - districts that have for sell or for lease buildings HAVE to sell to charters at or BELOW market value. That loses money for taxpayers and districts. - the most harsh trigger law in the country is embedded in this initiative. It would allow an approved charter to circulate a petition and with a majority of signatures from parents OR teachers, take over a school, building and all. This is for ANY existing school, failing or not. So in an average elementary, you have 18 teachers. Ten could sign a petition and upend an entire school community? That is not good for public education and not good public policy. It goes on. In short, as doctors say, first do no harm. I-1240 is harmful, charters don't work and we need to fund and support our EXISTING schools first. I am the head of the No on 1240 campaign.

I’d first like to point out to Wintertime that Bill Gates (and his friend, Alice Walton of Walmart in Arkansas and his friend, the head of Netflicks in LA ) and his friends who are paying the Yes side’s bills? They will spend 3x what any opposition will. And you have to ask? Why are out-of-state interests telling Washington state voters how to educate our children?

- charters don’t work, not for academic outcomes or accountability. The Feds report that over half their charter authorizers complained about NOT being able to close low-performing charters. And the best outcomes? Only about 17% of the time.

- we underfund our existing schools in Washington State (we don’t even fund to a national AVERAGE). So bringing on MORE underfunded schools is the answer in an system that has not proven it works any better is the answer?

- Washington State voters have said no three times and that’s because we are a smart and independent bunch of voters. The fourth time will be the final time.

- the initiative would harm far more than it could ever help. Examples:

- the new Charter Commission? once appointed, ZERO oversight by anyone
- districts that have for sell or for lease buildings HAVE to sell to charters at or BELOW market value. That loses money for taxpayers and districts.

- the most harsh trigger law in the country is embedded in this initiative. It would allow an approved charter to circulate a petition and with a majority of signatures from parents OR teachers, take over a school, building and all.

This is for ANY existing school, failing or not.

So in an average elementary, you have 18 teachers. Ten could sign a petition and upend an entire school community? That is not good for public education and not good public policy.

It goes on.

In short, as doctors say, first do no harm. I-1240 is harmful, charters don’t work and we need to fund and support our EXISTING schools first.

]]> By: wintertime http://www.educationnews.org/education-policy-and-politics/washington-state-will-vote-on-charters-for-the-fourth-time/#comment-13248 wintertime Sun, 02 Sep 2012 10:32:11 +0000 http://www.educationnews.org/?p=218079#comment-13248 Even if 1240 fails, some good has been done. It has caused the teachers unions millions to defeat it. That means fewer millions to do damage elsewhere in the world of politics. If supporters of school choice were smart they would put this issue on the ballot **every** year just to make the teachers unions spend millions to defeat it. By the way, I noticed that the reporter stated the amount being spent by those supporting school choice ( 3 million). The writer neglected to tell us the amount being spent by the teachers unions to defeat it. My guess? The teachers are spending 6 or more million. Good! That is likely 6 million dollars less for the liberal/Marxists to spend supporting candidates who support liberal/Marxism. Even if 1240 fails, some good has been done. It has caused the teachers unions millions to defeat it. That means fewer millions to do damage elsewhere in the world of politics.

If supporters of school choice were smart they would put this issue on the ballot **every** year just to make the teachers unions spend millions to defeat it.

By the way, I noticed that the reporter stated the amount being spent by those supporting school choice ( 3 million). The writer neglected to tell us the amount being spent by the teachers unions to defeat it. My guess? The teachers are spending 6 or more million. Good! That is likely 6 million dollars less for the liberal/Marxists to spend supporting candidates who support liberal/Marxism.

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