Washington House passes bill aiming to fix charter schools

(AP) — The Washington House passed a measure on Wednesday that would change the funding source of the state's charter schools, which some lawmakers and advocates of the independent public schools say would ensure the future of the charter system.

The justices had a problem with the new schools getting state money set aside for traditional public schools but not being controlled by a voter-elected school board.

The nine charter schools already opened in the state, plus three others approved to open next fall would be grandfathered into the system, if the measure passes the Senate and is signed by the governor.

"Let us fully fund our schools so that charter schools and public schools are in great shape going forward," said Rep. Chris Reykdal, a Democrat from Tumwater who voted against the measure.

The bill passed Wednesday in the House did not include money to reimburse the open schools for the dollars they lost when the court order to shut down the system went into effect and the schools had to scramble for an alternative source of income.