Act Now to Keep Washington's Public Charter Schools Open
A recent State Supreme Court decision overruled Washington's voter-approved public charter school law and is threatening to shut down local public charter schools.
Washington legislators have the power to fix the mess the court created.
Shutting down every public charter school takes our state in the wrong direction — back towards the one-size-fits-all approach to education that we believe does not work. Voters approved public charter schools to provide more high-quality public school options for Washington families, particularly in communities that are too often left behind.
Washington's public charter schools are helping to close the education equity gap. Nearly two-thirds of students in public charter schools are from low-income families and almost 70% are students of color. Allowing public charter schools to close down will disproportionately affect families who turned to charters because their child's needs were not being met.
Shutting public charter schools down, just as their inspiring work is getting started, would be a devastating set back. Now Washington legislators have the opportunity to be heroes for more than 1,100 diverse students and their families.
Please sign the petition to join students, their families and communities in calling on legislators to give them a chance and keep their public charter schools open.
To Washington State Legislators:
I am calling on you today to keep local, public charter schools open. This important decision rests in your hands. Across the state parents, teachers, students and families just like me are coming together across the state to stand up for the more than 1,100 kids that currently attend these public schools.
As you know, the Washington State Supreme Court recently released a devastating ruling that steamrolled the will of voters by forcing voter-approved public charter schools to close. Now we are looking to you to be a hero and keep these schools open. Their fate rests in your hands.
I'm calling on you to act now and provide the resources to keep WA public charter schools open.
Washington's public charter schools are helping to close the education equity gap. Nearly two-thirds of students in public charter schools are from low-income families and almost 70% are students of color. Allowing public charter schools to close down will disproportionately affect families who turned to charters because their child's needs were not being met.
Please don't let a flawed decision shut the door on our children's bright futures. Act now and ensure that our public charter schools remain open and innovative.
[Your comments here]
Sincerely,
[Your name]
