State should provide choices for students

Washington is one of only 10 states that effectively prohibit low-income parents from choosing where their children go to school.

The battle lines over alternatives such as charter public schools or school vouchers have been sharply drawn in our state.

Supporters say the issue is choice; that education is the key to a child’s future and parents — particularly low-income parents — should be able to send their children to the best possible schools. Opponents argue that alternatives to traditional public schools drain crucial revenue and leave behind only the poorest and most challenging students...