Washington Charter School Commission holds second meeting

Tuesday, two days ago, the nine-member charter school commission met in Bellevue for its second meeting. The commission is still getting organized. It has the important job of approving some of Washington state’s first charter public schools.

You can read the agenda for the meeting here. The commission selected Steve Sundquist as Chairman. Sundquist is former president of the Seattle School Board. The commission selected Larry Wright as Vice Chairman. He is the managing director of the Bellevue Arts Museum. Next, the commission will hire an executive director and professional staff.

The commission will take charter school applications starting on September 22  and ending on November 22. The commission will have 60 days from November 22 to approve or deny charter school applications.

The commission is not the only entity that can approve a charter school under the new law.  Thirteen school districts have also applied for authority to open charter schools.  This means charter school applications can be approved by either the state commission or a school district.  If more than eight charter school applications are approved, the State Board of Education will hold a lottery next spring to choose the eight lucky community groups who will be allowed to open a charter school in September of 2014.