Learn > Help bring charter schools to WA!

Dear Friend,

It's been five years since our charter school law was repealed by referendum. For the first time since 2004, there is a realistic chance to bring the choice of charter public schools to Washington State.

If you want to help, click on this link and add your email to our mailing list.

Here is the update:

1. The 2009 Federal Stimulus bill included $4.3 billion for "Race to The Top" grants.

2. These one-time grants will be distributed to states in early 2010 using criteria adopted by the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. He is a big supporter of charter schools, included charter schools in the preliminary critieria and is expected to include them again in the final criteria that will be published in November.

3. If the 2010 Legislature enacts a new charter school law along with some other key changes, our state will likely receive a one-time federal grant in 2010 of between $200 million and $400 million.

4. That's a lot of money, especially for a state that has a $1 billion budget deficit in 2010 with huge cutbacks expected in education and other important programs.

Want To Help?
In order to lobby the Legislature to pass a "Race to the Top" bill that includes charter schools we have created a new organization called Kids First Washington. My wife, Fawn, will be leading this effort. If you would like to be part of this effort you need to click on the following link and add your email to our mailing list: Kids First Washington Update list.

Thank you for your interest in charter schools!

Jim Spady
Jim Spady, President & Executive Director
Washington Charter School Resource Center (WCSRC)
4426 - 2nd Avenue NE Seattle, WA 98105-6191
Jim's office phone: 206/634-0589
Jim's e-mail address: JimSpady@wacharterschools.org

Additional Reading:
Michele McNeil's edweek.org's article, Proposed 'Race to Top' Rules Seen as Prescriptive.

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