The 74 Million – Carolyn Phenicie
“Students, parents and staff at Washington’s charter schools were just settling in after a few weeks of classes at their brand-new schools, looking forward to a three-day holiday weekend when the news came down late the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 4: The state Supreme Court had ruled that charters, approved statewide in a voter referendum, violated the state constitution. Several parents who spoke to The Seventy Four a week after the bombshell decision said they had spent their Labor Day weekend in a state of shock and confusion. They felt like the rug had been pulled out from under their children and school leaders, but vowed to do whatever it takes to rescue charter options not just for their children, but for all children in Washington. Gov. Jay Inslee announced Friday that he wouldn’t call a special session of the state legislature to deal with the urgent problem, leaving the issue either for a court reconsideration or until the legislature reconvenes in January. Jessica Garcia, whose daughter Isadora has just started sixth grade at the newly opened Green Dot Destiny school in Tacoma, says she was “heartbroken and in complete shock” when she heard the decision. “I just want to have a say in where my child gets an education and where our hard-earned tax dollars are going,” she says.”(more)