Washington Lawmakers Propose New Charter School Fix

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Lawmakers in Washington have a new proposal seeking to keep the state's charter school system open after it was struck down by the state Supreme Court last September.

Legislation announced Thursday by Sen. Steve Litzow, R-Mercer Island, and Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Renton, would fund charter schools through the state's Opportunity Pathways Account, which has revenue from the state lottery. The charter system previously received money from the same place as traditional public schools, but the Supreme Court ruled that unconstitutional.

A bill filed earlier this week by Sen. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, and Sen. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, would hold charter schools accountable to local school districts, seeking to let schools receive money from same place as public schools. Litzow's proposal says charter schools would operate separately from the regular school system.