Policy

Spokane Ready To Embrace Charter Schools

Washington residents finally get some options

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Although votes are still being counted on Washington's charter school initiative, Spokane Public Schools officials have already decided the district will apply to have one if it passes.

"If we are trying to do some innovative programs, we should have a good shot," said Superintendent Shelley Redinger, who helped set up a charter school as a superintendent in Oregon. "Part of it is if we don't have one to offer our community and someone else does, I'm afraid the students will go elsewhere."

Initiative 1240, which in Thursday night vote totals was leading with 51 percent approval, allows for as many as 40 charter schools – eight per year, set up over the next five years. They would be established either by public school districts or by nonprofit organizations.