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Leadership
Your Governor:
Bob Ferguson (D) (0)
First Term Began in 2025 (Four Year Terms; No Term Limit)
Governor Ferguson enters his first term with a tough road ahead. He can continue to ignore his state’s Board of Education who have called for more charter schools, who by the way are discriminated against with regard to their being the only public schools to pay rent as well as receiving $3,000 less than their traditional counterparts. Once again, it may take empowered parents to demand and push for more opportunities.
STATE LEGISLATURE:
Both chambers are difficult for education opportunity advocates to maneuver in. Bills to provide more options to parents repeatedly get stuck, and teachers unions are the first call for legislators trying to placate their interests. Advocates should make their voices heard and demand more!
Constitutional Issues
"The Washington Constitution contains Blaine Amendment language in two provisions, and both have been interpreted by the Washington Supreme Court as being more restrictive than their federal Establishment Clause counterpart." (Institute for Justice)
After years of legal challenges, the Washington Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that charter schools are constitutional though the use of traditional public school funds are prohibited.
Transparency
Report cards can be located on Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) website, which serves as the main hub for education. School report cards, easily found under the "Data & Report" tab, offer straightforward navigation and furnish parents with pertinent and comprehensive data on student enrollment, performance, graduation, teacher quality, finances, and diversity reports.
Educational options are also readily available on the OSPI website, under “Student Success → Learning Alternatives,” further increasing transparency and parents' ability to make decisions.
School board elections in Washington align with the general election cycle, empowering parents with greater influence in their decision-making due to increased voter turnout.