washington business
Dorn and Ahl don’t dispute the existing achievement
gap. But both said if the state lived up to its constitutional
obligation to fully and amply fund K-12 basic education
as required by the McCleary ruling, all traditional
public schools would be properly funded to provide
the education every child deserves, regardless of their
background and zip code.
Adding more money in the same static system, some believe, is not
the sole path to solving the problem of underperforming schools.
“I definitely see another path. You see a lot of examples around
the country where schools are working creatively with the budgets
they have,” O’Sullivan said. “I think we need more innovation in the
system. There are a lot of forces that keep the status quo in place.
Charter schools are just one lever to innovation that is badly needed
in our state.”
For some, the cost of a good education is out of reach.
“Every kid has a light switch and it may not exist in the traditional
way we provide education. This is why families who can afford it
sometimes go to the private system or homeschool,” Pettigrew
explained. “Public charter schools fit a need that is there to serve
kids that can’t necessarily afford those same educational routes.”
"Education is the cornerstone of who we
are as a nation.”
— Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle
“What I hope for is that we can come up with a
reasonable solution for kids. What I see is a very
tough road to get a fix in the Legislature.”
— Randy Dorn, State Superinten [