State Supreme Court refuses to reconsider decision striking down charter schools law

SEATTLE (AP) — The Washington Supreme Court says it will not reconsider its ruling striking down the state charter school law.


In a decision announced Thursday afternoon, the court denied all requests for reconsideration of its September ruling that the state's charter school law is unconstitutional.

The court also removed one section from its ruling that some people argued would make other kinds of alternative schools ineligible for state dollars.

Seattle attorney Paul Lawrence, who represented the League of Women Voters and others in suing the state over charter schools, said he was pleased with the decision.

Nine charter schools have opened in the state under the conditions of the 2012 law. They have continued to receive state funding, pending the court's decision on the request for reconsideration.

Supporters of charter schools say they will find the money to keep those schools open even when state dollars stop flowing toward the independent public schools.