Repost: Washington's Charter Schools Deliver — If the State Lets Them

The Washington State Board of Education’s 2026 Charter Schools Report found that charter students outperform their peers in traditional public schools, with fourth through eighth graders scoring approximately 12 points higher in math and 8 points higher in English language arts on the Smarter Balanced Assessment. However, the report also documents that the charter sector is shrinking due to funding disparities—Why Not You Academy will close in June 2026, leaving only 15 charter schools serving roughly 4,800 students. Charter schools cannot access local levies or capital bonds that traditional districts receive, forcing them to rely on philanthropy and grants while disproportionately serving Black and low-income students.