State Supreme Court to Rule on Charter Schools

The Washington Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on Tuesday about whether the voter-approved charter school law violates the state constitution.

King County Superior Court Judge Jean Rietschel found in December that parts of the new law were unconstitutional. Her decision focused on whether certain taxpayer dollars can be used to pay for the operation of charter schools. She did not stop the charter school approval or planning process.

Those dollars are essential to the success of these new schools, according to the people who want to open nine charter schools in Washington state next fall. The state's first charter school — First Place Scholars — opened in Seattle this fall.

Both sides asked the state Supreme Court to skip the appeals court process and directly review the case.