Staff and supporters of Excel Public Charter School in Kent are “cautiously optimistic” about a legislative fix to restore the state’s charter schools.
The state House of Representatives and the Senate approved Senate Bill 6194 last week. If signed by Gov. Jay Inslee, the bill would amend state law to allow charter schools to continue to operate.
In September, the state Supreme Court ruled charter schools, which were approved by voters in 2012, unconstitutional and ineligible for state funding.
Excel, which opened in opened in August to sixth- and seventh-graders, has been operating as an Alternative Learning Experience though an agreement with Mary Walker School District, north of Spokane, since Dec. 14, when charter schools ceased to exist because of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Inslee has until April 2 to sign or veto the bill.
“We are cautiously moving slowly until we have the governor’s signature,” said Adel Sefrioui, Excel’s founder and director.
Sefrioui said he was pleased the legislature addressed the issue.
“It was the product of a lot of courage on the part of legislators on both sides of political aisle, as well as lot of tireless effort from our families,” he said.
The bill, which was approved by the Senate in January, was amended and approved by the house 58-39 on March 9. The Senate approved the amendments 26-23 the following day.
With a few exceptions, the vote followed party lines, with Republicans in support and Democrats against.
The senators and representatives in the three districts serving Kent voted along party lines, with the exception of 47th District Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, who voted in favor of the bill. Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, who represents the 33rd District, was excused from the vote.
Sullivan was one of the first legislators to support Excel, Sefrioui said. Sullivan, along with Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, and Rep. Mark Hargrove, who also represent the 47th District, attended Excel’s ribbon cutting in August and toured the school.
“We appreciate that (Sullivan) decided to make the difficult decision to support charter schools, especially Excel,” Sefrioui said. “It was his leadership that really helped move the needle on this issue.”
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