In November, children all over Washington State faced uncertain futures when the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that public funding for charter schools was unconstitutional. While charter schools in Washington managed to secure the funding necessary to keep their doors open through the school year, many wondered if families would be forced to abandon the schools they had chosen for their children.
These families can breathe a little easier now that the Washington legislature has found a new funding source: Charter schools in Washington will now be funded by lottery revenue, pending the signature of Democratic Governor Jay Inslee.
Pressure from teachers unions against charters in the state has added to the sectors’ hassle. The Washington state teachers’ union lobby fought endlessly to ensure that all public funds be given only to traditional public schools.
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