I believe there should be quality education for all our children in the State of Washington. Here are some key points about charter schools in Washington:

Initiative 1240 would drain millions of dollars from Washington's K-12 public schools into experimental, privately operated charter schools. After years of school funding cuts, the Washington Supreme Court recently ordered the state to increase funding for existing K-12 public schools so all children have the chance to succeed. Washington has hundreds of examples of innovative public schools that offer a variety of opportunities. Research conducted at Stanford University showed 37 percent of charter schools perform worse than local public schools and only 17 percent provide better educational opportunities for students. Charter schools take away local control and let out-of-state charter operators make the rules. National civil rights groups oppose charter schools because of concerns over segregation and charter schools' failure to meet the needs of students of color. Charter schools in other states have a record of mismanagement, budget deficits, fraud and other problems.

Groups opposing I-1240 are: State PTA, League of Women Voters, State Democratic Party, NAACP, Association of Washington School Principals, school administrators, state school board members, OSPI and WEA. Please vote no on charters, I-1240.

Shirley Potter

Bellingham