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Saturday, January 19, 2013

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Saturday Round-Up

Seattle Schools Community Forum: Saturday Round-Up:


Saturday Round-Up

Former State Superintendent Judith Billings weighs in at the Times about charter schools.

So The Times recommends Superintendent Dorn violate his oath of office to uphold the state Constitution. Article III, Section 22 states in plain language — by law not subject to interpretation if the language meets that test — “the superintendent of public instruction shall have supervision over all matters pertaining to publicschools.” The initiative emphasizes charter schools will be public schools, yet excludes the superintendent from supervising them.

Superintendent Dorn has suggested an easy “fix,” if the Legislature wishes to support 51 percent of the voters. A two-thirds majority of both houses of the Legislature could put charters under the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Barring that, amending the constitution itself is the only way to move forward without violating