Activists, teachers apply for state charter school commission
SEATTLE (AP) - Education activists, teachers, lawyers, a PTA leader and a woman who used to work with charter schools in California are among the applicants to the new state commission that is expected to approve some of Washington's first charter schools.
The governor, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House have until March 6 to each appoint three volunteers to the new Charter School Commission for four-year terms.
They will have a variety of people to choose from, The Associated Press has learned through public records requests and interviews with people expected to apply. There is no deadline for applying and their choices are not limited to those who fill out applications.
Washington became the 42nd state to OK the independent public schools in November. Voters authorized the opening of up to 40 charter schools over five years.
Charter schools will be authorized through two different paths in Washington: through local school boards that get permission from the State Board of Education to be authorizers and through the new statewide commission.
The makeup of the commission was outlined in the charter schools initiative approved by voters, but the new statute is not specific about a lot of details. It does not say how a chair will be chosen, for example, and it does not specify what kind of staff support the nine volunteers will have.
Former Gov. Chris Gregoire put money in her budget to get the commission started from within her office, said a spokeswoman for Gov. Jay Inslee, Jaime Smith. The chair will either be chosen by the commission members or the three people making the appointments, but that hasn't been determined, Smith said.
The statute requires members of the commission support the idea of charter schools as a strategy for strengthening public education. As a group they should possess experience in public and nonprofit governance, management and finance, public school leadership, assessment, curriculum, instruction and public school law.
The governor's office had received 18 applicants through its online system as of the middle of this past week. Some people also put their names on a virtual list in the lieutenant governor's and speaker's offices. Those offices do not have an online application process and people said they applied through emails or letters.
Jim Spady, vice president and legal counsel of Dick's Drive-In Restaurants Inc., has been advocating for charter schools in the state for nearly 20 years. He believes he also would be an asset to the commission because of his experience with contract law.
Spady was appointed by previous governors to education task forces and said he believes charter schools will help improve education choices for disadvantaged kids.
"Many children are not getting the quality educational opportunities they deserve," said the father of two grown children and the grandfather of one.
Liz Finne, director of the Center for Education Reform at the Washington Policy Center, is another lawyer and education advocate who would like to serve on the commission.
Because of her job, she has done years of research on charter schools and wants to put that to further use as a member of the commission. She was quick to mention, however, 10 other people she would consider if she was making the decision.
"I think my best qualification is that I have studied the charter schools that have worked and I know how difficult it is to make any school be successful," Finne said. "I'm someone who would be very careful to choose only the best applicants."
Ryan Grant, a fifth grade teacher at Michael Anderson Elementary on the Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, said he has been attracted to the idea of charter schools thanks to teaching kids who have been in charter schools in other states plus the experience of parenting a 6-year-old who is deaf and getting the help she needs at a special school.
"I've seen the power that specialized programs can have," Grant said. "I see a lot of potential around the state for innovative schools."
Although Grant is active in the teacher's union, the Washington Education Association, which opposes charter schools, he said he is cautiously optimistic about charter schools and has seen them be successful in other states.
"It would be neat to be part of it," he said.
Grant, Finne and Spady said they would like to see a mix of people on the commission.
Other applicants include:
• A consultant who used to administer charter schools for the California Department of Education and now lives on Bainbridge Island.
• A former community college administrator from Renton.
• A former public school teacher and administrator who lives in Issaquah.
• A former Seattle School Board member.
• A former classroom teacher who now focuses on school technology in the Centennial School District in Portland, Ore.
• A PTA activist and lawyer from Redmond who pushed the state PTA to support the idea of charter schools.
The governor, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House have until March 6 to each appoint three volunteers to the new Charter School Commission for four-year terms.
They will have a variety of people to choose from, The Associated Press has learned through public records requests and interviews with people expected to apply. There is no deadline for applying and their choices are not limited to those who fill out applications.
Washington became the 42nd state to OK the independent public schools in November. Voters authorized the opening of up to 40 charter schools over five years.
Charter schools will be authorized through two different paths in Washington: through local school boards that get permission from the State Board of Education to be authorizers and through the new statewide commission.
The makeup of the commission was outlined in the charter schools initiative approved by voters, but the new statute is not specific about a lot of details. It does not say how a chair will be chosen, for example, and it does not specify what kind of staff support the nine volunteers will have.
Former Gov. Chris Gregoire put money in her budget to get the commission started from within her office, said a spokeswoman for Gov. Jay Inslee, Jaime Smith. The chair will either be chosen by the commission members or the three people making the appointments, but that hasn't been determined, Smith said.
The statute requires members of the commission support the idea of charter schools as a strategy for strengthening public education. As a group they should possess experience in public and nonprofit governance, management and finance, public school leadership, assessment, curriculum, instruction and public school law.
The governor's office had received 18 applicants through its online system as of the middle of this past week. Some people also put their names on a virtual list in the lieutenant governor's and speaker's offices. Those offices do not have an online application process and people said they applied through emails or letters.
Jim Spady, vice president and legal counsel of Dick's Drive-In Restaurants Inc., has been advocating for charter schools in the state for nearly 20 years. He believes he also would be an asset to the commission because of his experience with contract law.
Spady was appointed by previous governors to education task forces and said he believes charter schools will help improve education choices for disadvantaged kids.
"Many children are not getting the quality educational opportunities they deserve," said the father of two grown children and the grandfather of one.
Liz Finne, director of the Center for Education Reform at the Washington Policy Center, is another lawyer and education advocate who would like to serve on the commission.
Because of her job, she has done years of research on charter schools and wants to put that to further use as a member of the commission. She was quick to mention, however, 10 other people she would consider if she was making the decision.
"I think my best qualification is that I have studied the charter schools that have worked and I know how difficult it is to make any school be successful," Finne said. "I'm someone who would be very careful to choose only the best applicants."
Ryan Grant, a fifth grade teacher at Michael Anderson Elementary on the Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, said he has been attracted to the idea of charter schools thanks to teaching kids who have been in charter schools in other states plus the experience of parenting a 6-year-old who is deaf and getting the help she needs at a special school.
"I've seen the power that specialized programs can have," Grant said. "I see a lot of potential around the state for innovative schools."
Although Grant is active in the teacher's union, the Washington Education Association, which opposes charter schools, he said he is cautiously optimistic about charter schools and has seen them be successful in other states.
"It would be neat to be part of it," he said.
Grant, Finne and Spady said they would like to see a mix of people on the commission.
Other applicants include:
• A consultant who used to administer charter schools for the California Department of Education and now lives on Bainbridge Island.
• A former community college administrator from Renton.
• A former public school teacher and administrator who lives in Issaquah.
• A former Seattle School Board member.
• A former classroom teacher who now focuses on school technology in the Centennial School District in Portland, Ore.
• A PTA activist and lawyer from Redmond who pushed the state PTA to support the idea of charter schools.
I think having charter schools is a good idea and I would like to see all of the kids get a better education not just the disadvantaged. There is no child who is not important, or there shouldn't be anyway. Perhaps they could try harder to make sure they all get a good education regardless.
So glad this is going to happen.
My kids may not benefit from Charter Schools, but someone else's
 kid will.
The public teachers' union needs to go. They serve no purpose other than to protect themselves and the status quo. Principals need to be able to fire a teacher, or promote a teacher without red tape. We need localized control over schools. That means putting a principal in charge and expecting him/her to do the job. It's time to stop protecting the teachers' unions and start focusing on education and true accountability of both students as well as teachers.
@lakeview What about the teacher's right to association, assemble, representation and free choice. Do you also support dismantling employer associations that are formed so the bosses can collectively bargain against the best interests of a family?
A union is nothing more then a group of US citizens that have common interest in the workplace exercising their constitutional rights. Shall we do away with bowling leagues as well?
Our education system is ranked number 17 in the world.Â
Finland is number 1 with their union teachers.
#2 is So. Korea with their union teachers.
#4 Japan with union teachers.
#6 UK with their union teachers.
#7 Netherlands with their union teachers.
#9 Switzerland with their union teachers.
#10 Canada with their union teachers.
#11 Ireland with their union teachers.
#12 Denmark with you guessed it, union teachers.
#13 Austrailia with their teachers union.
I hope you got the point. The teachers union has nothing to do with the sorry state of our 17th ranked system.
You seem to want to remove rights from citizens without even a cursory investigation of the facts. Where were you educated?
If what you say above is true then perhaps the quality of teachers and curriculum is far better in other countries. If the union isn't responsible then it has to be someone or something that is. The union is the sum of it's members.
I know for a fact that the following schools do not have teachers unions...all the Catholic schools including Kennedy, Bellermine Prep, Eastside Catholic, Archbishop Murphy, etc...Charles Wright, Annie Wright, Tacoma Baptist, Cascade Christian, Bellevue Christian, Seattle Christian, Cedar Park Christian, Kings, Lynden Christian, Lakeside, Rainier Christian, that is about all of them. Where are all the private school unions?
@Tbone...so where are they? Where are the private schools that have teacher's unions? You are the one that is stating that there are private schools with teachers unions as if it is the norm. Where are they? I have never heard of a single one, at least nowhere in the Northwest anyway. Where are they at or is your only proof some obscure qoute from the UFT?
@sometimesright@T_BONE_WALKERMy point? You said,
"There are no unions in private schools, that is why the kids are put before the teachers!"
I showed where you either:
 a) Dont know what you're talking about or,Â
b) Are a liar, you pick Â
 The reason you wouldnt know if there are any around here is that you shot your mouth off like you always do before you checked. Oh, and friends? I am betting I could give you 35 cents at a pay phone and that would be more then enough to call all your friends.
Is that clear enough for you to comprehend?Â
@T_BONE_WALKER @sometimesright Huh? So a FEW private schools have unions? What is your point? I don't know of a single one around here and I have numerous friends and family who work at them, not to mention the 100s of kids I know that attend them. I can safely say that the percentage of private schools that have teachers union is about 1! You can't be this stupid?Â
@sometimesright No even going to try and worm your way around this huh? OK
@sometimesright Oh, then whats this mean? (Get that So Korean kid now because there will be some reading here).
:
The UFT, which represents approximately 200,000 members, is the sole bargaining agent for most of the non-supervisory educators who work in the New York City public schools. We represent approximately 75,000 teachers and 19,000 classroom paraprofessionals, along with school secretaries, attendance teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, adult education teachers, administrative law judges, nurses, laboratory technicians, speech therapists, and 60,000 retired members. We also represent teachers and other employees at a number of private educational institutions and some charter schools.
Read that last sentence one more time. I am sure that So Korean kid will agree, you are a kook.
@T_BONE_WALKER @Jatok There are no unions in private schools, that is why the kids are put before the teachers!
@Jatok Based on the evidence, I'd say private schools should be union. Wouldn't you?
@T_BONE_WALKER @lakeview Also, South Koreas public school system is a joke. They go to "academy" after public school that their parents pay for. Those who are fortunate enough financially send their kids here to get an education in our private and prep schools. Charles Wright, Annie Wright, Bellermine Prep, Life Christian, Cascade Christian, Seattle Christian, Kennedy Catholic, TBS, etc all have about 1/4 of their student body from South Korea.
@T_BONE_WALKER @sometimesright True, he went to a great school that was private and had no liberal union teachers!Â
@sometimesright lol by you? That So Korean kid would run circles around you. My dog is smarter then you.
@T_BONE_WALKER @sometimesright Yeah, it is hard to realize when you have been out debated...get used to it!
@sometimesright Pretty obvious that you know more then me huh? There were some obvious conclusions I came to with regard to you but, that certainly wasnt one of them.Â
@T_BONE_WALKER @sometimesright I am in a union, just not an inept teachers one! Unlike you I actually raise kids from foreign countries that you listed. So far it is pretty obvious that in just about everything we have debated that I know far more than you do. Once again, which Dairy Queen do your kids work at, or are they still living with you as I suspect
@sometimesright "Our unions are completely different from those in the countries you listed"
You wouldn't know what a union was if it were sitting in front of you much less a foreign union.
I hate to think of you raising chickens let alone children.
@T_BONE_WALKER @sometimesright They are a reason for our failed system and they are far different from many you listed. You pointing out apples and oranges did nothing to point it in one way or the other. For one thing in Finland as an example, teaching is one of the hardest professions to get into. They have extensive training and testing that is DEMANDED by the unions. Ours flee at the idea of any kind of means testing for themselves. Our unions are completely different from those in the countries you listed. Also in most of these countries they have a two teired system such as I listed in South Korea. Rich kids still get it better. I have raised kids from four different countries and ALL of them (except Japan) want to send their kids here to our private schools. What we should be doing is looking at what our private schools do and mimic it in public schools.
@sometimesright Lakeview seemed to subscribe to the theory that union teachers were a reason for our failed school system. I simply pointed out the facts that would refute such a theory. Sorry that it went way above your head. Maybe you should have had a So Korean student read the post for you.
@T_BONE_WALKER @lakeview Yeah, let them pay for it all themselves. Quit forcing all of us to pay for your defunct public school system even if we choose not to have our kids in it! BTW...South Koreans send their kids HERE to get educated in our private schools. I have raised a half dozen of them!
@sometimesright@T_BONE_WALKERWhat if I don't want my taxes given to foreign countries or used for certain wars? Can I pick and choose?
@T_BONE_WALKER @sometimesright So then you agree I shouldn't have to pay for public education if my kids don't use it? Glad we agree!
@sometimesright I havent forced you to do anything except look like an idiot drama queen.
You hit the nail on the head! We need all parties doing their best in order to make charter schools a success. Of course, you could say the exact same thing about public schools, but thatâs not going to happen because too many people have completely given up on them. Maybe the idea of a fresh start will give people enough incentive to get actively involved in making their school a success. If so, it will be a big step forward.
It is so exciting to see choices in our schools. It's exciting to see that someone is taking education seriously and knows that our current system needs serious attention. Our system is failing our children. Being afraid that a charter school might fail is no reason to accept a current school that is failing.
Charter schools frequently under-perform regular public schools and they also allow for segregation.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/02/24/study-charter-school-performance
@NW-Economist I think this article is biased. I attended a charter school in central MN back in 2008 after my high school put me in special ed for an autoimmune disease and gave up on my education. There wasn't any segregation--every student there had one on one time with the teachers. It didn't matter if you were black or white, it didn't matter if you had a criminal record or if you were a teenage mother. The teachers all had one goal and that was to help us earn our diplomas when everyone else gave up on us.
I dunno, maybe I'm biased to the subject being that I attended a charter school... but it annoys/hurts me that people put so much effort into bashing them when there's students in crisis out there that would appreciate going to a charter school to finish their education. But that's just my opinion. There may be poorly run charters out there, but I attended one that was very well run so...
@missTelegraph @NW-Economist There are probably just as many good charter schools as there are bad ones, but therein lies the problem- they're a total gamble. This group had better get extra serious about their work, because this whole charter school fiasco could easily end up being a complete failure and waste of money. Very easily.Â
@sometimesright "you are no authority or education"? What were you trying to say? Can you spell yet?
lol, No, my kids are doing well. Thanks for askin and yeah, I am old thats why you cant BS me. I have seen more then you know son.Â
I am sorry your kids have to eat at such establishments. Tell me, do you feel guilty because they cant afford real food? I mean, you lived here in the US's heyday and now you're leaving your kids to clean up your mess.Â
@T_BONE_WALKER @sometimesright "you are no authority or education"? That little peice of grammar is a bit ironic when questioning someone else's education.  If your kids are older than me then you must have one foot in the grave (my folks are nearly 80) or had your kids when you were in high school. Good to know you are done raising kids..what Dairy Queen are they working at so my kids can get good service?
@sometimesright My kids are grown up and are older then you I bet. I can tell from here you are no authority on education and who needs it.
@jowsuf @sometimesright Here you go again..can you debate without steering into ad hominems? I am sorry that your ideas are bankrupt...that is not my fault. Either defend them, or change them. Either way I don't care. When you say something that is ignorant or wrong I will point it out. If the best you can do is various forms of logical fallacies, then it shows that you are either uncomfortable with your ideas or at the very least incapable of defending them.Â
@sometimesright You're clearly hostile and clearly trying to offend those who disagree with you. Knock it off or you're going to get your posts flagged. There's already a plethora of them that are offensive to me and others. Please stop. That's the last time I'm going to say it.
@jowsuf @sometimesright Huh? Berate? Why are you so sensitive? If you want to experiment with your kids then by all means do so. Just quit requiring me to pay for it! Nobody helps me pay my kids tuition and I shouldn't be shook down to pay for yours! If you are so convinced in your righteousness of ideas then you shouldn't be worried about them being examined. If you are not, then maybe you should re-examine them.
@sometimesright You only speak in extremes with everything, and the world isn't that black and white.Â
Why are you so hostile? Why do you feel the need to berate everyone who disagrees with you?
@jowsuf @sometimesright OK..keep thinking that..you can experiment on your kids and they can serve mine from the drive through!
@sometimesright Public schools aren't a complete failure. That's an exaggeration.Â
@T_BONE_WALKER @sometimesright Yep, oldest is about to graduate from a private prep school and he will be a few credits short of being a junior in college. My children are actually educated, you should try it sometime! It is called READING which I have made them do since they were little! You should pick it up now..oh and take a few logic courses too.
@sometimesright OMG! you have kids?
@jowsuf Let's see when what you have is a complete failure why not try something else? I really don't care one way or the other...I pulled my kids out of your mess 12 years ago.Â
They can work if the teachers, parents and students invest 100% into it.
Take a look at Federal Way Public Academy....its not for every kid, but its a lot closer to what our schools should be.
"Of the approximately 6,700 charter schools that have ever opened across the United States, 1,036 have closed. There are 500 additional charter schools that have been consolidated back into the district or received a charter but were unable to open."
The Center for Education Reform (a pro-charter school group)
@thebigteacher So 4,500 are still operating? Your point? If it were not for an endless stream of tax dollars that we are forced to pay for, how many public school would have closed if parents had a choice to go somewhere else?Â
@sometimesright Nobody forced you, you can leave if you dont like it.
@T_BONE_WALKER @sometimesright Once again...HUH?
@thebigteacher The fact that 1/6th of the schools have failed is the whole point and shows that charter schools work. Free market forces. Let the cream rise to the top and let's model future charter schools after them.Â
@thebigteacher How many failed government schools have been closed or completely restaffed? None?
Some ideas fail. Some people fail. By preventing the natural result of failure from happening the best outcome is universal mediocrity.Â
@Iconoclast @thebigteacher Wow, I've never liked three in a row before. Point, counterpoint, summary. Well done.
@jowsuf thank you!
@thebigteacher Frankly--they are not that much different from govt run public schools in that its basically up to the parents/teachers/students in how successful they are. To group them all together would be unfair---just like our current public school system.