2012 Washington Initiative 1240

Referendum that created a public charter school system Initiative 1240 A measure establishing a public charter school system not to exceed forty schools over the next five years. 1525807 1484125 3009932 275px County results 275px Congressional district results 275px Precinct results Yes #2B2457 90–100% 1px #AAAAAA solid #28497C 80–90% 1px #AAAAAA solid #47729E 70–80% 1px #AAAAAA solid #7D9CBB 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid #B6C8D9 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid No #32320C 90–100% 1px #AAAAAA solid #5D5D2D 80–90% 1px #AAAAAA solid #8B8B54 70–80% 1px #AAAAAA solid #BCBC83 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid #DEDEBD 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid Other #EBEEED Tie 1px #AAAAAA solid #808080 No data 1px #AAAAAA solid Washington Initiative 1240 "concerns creation of a public charter school system" was an initiative that appeared on the Washington state general ballot in November 2012. Originally filed with the Washington Secretary of State on May 31, proponents and paid signature gatherers collected enough signatures to be certified for the ballot on July 25, making it one of the fastest initiatives ever to do so, at an estimated cost of more than $6 per signature.Smith Erik I-1240 May Not Tie Record After All – 1973 Initiative Likely Always to be the Fastest Signature Drive in State History Washington State Wire June 20, 2012 http://washingtonstatewire.com/blog/i-1240-wont-tie-the-record-after-all-1973-initiative-likely-always-to-be-the-fastest-signature-drive-in-state-history/ August 17, 2012Rosenthal Brian M. Wealthy throwing money at charter-schools initiative The Seattle Times July 13, 2012 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018684365_charterfunding14m.html August 17, 2012Westneat Danny Out-of-state money chooses what we vote on The Seattle Times August 21, 2012 http://seattletimes.com/html/dannywestneat/2018963905_danny22.html August 24, 2012 Proposed charter schools would receive public funding but not be governed by local school districts. An August 2012 financial impact study by the state Office of Financial Management estimated "an indeterminate, but non-zero, fiscal impact to local public school districts" and "known state agency implementation costs" of at least $3 million in the first five years.OFM Fiscal Impact Statement (I-1240) Washington State Office of Fiscal Management August 10, 2012 http://www.ofm.wa.gov/initiatives/2012/1240_fiscal_impact.pdf PDF August 17, 2012 The initiative was approved by voters in November 2012.WA Board of Ed to draft rules for charter schools, NWCN.com January 9, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-24 Ballot measure title and summary The full text of the measure is available online.Reed Sam Initiative Measure No. 1240 Washington State Secretary of State May 31, 2012 http://sos.wa.gov/_assets/elections/initiatives/FinalText_274.pdf PDF August 17, 2012 Language describing I-1240 was challenged in court.Callaghan Peter Washington Education Association objects to ballot title on proposed charter school Initiative 1240 Political Buzz The News-Tribune June 14, 2012 http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2012/06/14/teachers-union-objects-to-ballot-title-on-proposed-charter-school-initiative/ August 17, 2012Shannon Brad UPDATE - Judge OK’s ballot for I-1240 (charter schools) The Olympian June 15, 2012 http://www.theolympian.com/2012/06/15/2141973/judge-oks-ballot-words-for-i-1240.html August 17, 2012 As described by the Secretary of State's office, I-1240 "would authorize up to forty y publicly -funded charter schools open to all students, operated through approved, nonreligious, nonprofit organizations, with government oversight; and modify certain laws applicable to them as public schools."Reed Sam Proposed Initiatives to the People - 2012 Washington State Secretary of State http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/Initiatives.aspx?y=2012&t=p August 17, 2012 This measure would allow a y newly -created state commission or approved local school boards to authorize qualifying nonreligious, nonprofit organizations to operate public charter schools, limited to forty schools over five years. Public charter schools would receive standard per-student public school funding and be open to all students without tuition. Public charter schools would be subject to teacher certification requirements, government oversight, and performance reporting requirements, but exempt from certain state laws and school district policies. Support and Opposition Washington voters previously rejected charter school measures. Beginning with I-177 in 1996,Elections Search Results, November 1996 General Washington State Secretary of State http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/results_report.aspx?e=17&c=&c2=&t=&t2=5&p=&p2=&y= August 17, 2012 then I-729 in 2000Elections Search Results, November 2000 General Washington State Secretary of State http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/results_report.aspx?e=20&c=&c2=&t=&t2=5&p=&p2=&y= August 17, 2012 and Referendum 55 in 2004.2004 General Election > Measures Washington State Secretary of State http://vote.wa.gov/Elections/Results/Measures.aspx?e=a3501711-c318-45f4-8a03-1d926ac839b7 August 17, 2012 Each of these proposals was brought forward by a few wealthy individuals and actively opposed by public school teachers, administrators and parent groups. Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna supported the measure, while Democratic opponent Jay Inslee opposed it.Gordon Blankinship Donna Gubernatorial candidates Inslee, McKenna differ on education plans The Seattle Times May 30, 2012 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2018321494_education31.html August 17, 2012 As per RCW 42.17A on "campaign disclosure and contribution," the Washington state Public Disclosure Commission posts campaign information online, including committee and donor information for referendums and initiativesContinuing Political Committees Public Disclosure Commission 2012 http://www.pdc.wa.gov/MvcViewReports/Committee/initiative_committees August 22, 2012 September 7, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130907101724/http://www.pdc.wa.gov/MvcViewReports/Committee/initiative_committees dead As of August, 2012, PDC records show proponents of I-1240 with a nearly 50:1 fundraising advantage. Statements for and against each ballot measure are available online as part of the official online voter's guide.Online Voter's Guide Washington State Secretary of State 2012 https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/press_and_research/PreviousElections/2012/General-Election/Pages/Online-Voters-Guide.aspx September 10, 2012 March 29, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130329073820/https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/press_and_research/PreviousElections/2012/General-Election/Pages/Online-Voters-Guide.aspx dead Support The registered sponsor for the initiative was the League of Education Voters. I-1240 campaign was funded partly by a "handful" of Puget Sound area billionaires, including Bill Gates, Paul Allen and the parents of Jeff Bezos.Rosenthal Brian M. Well-funded charter-school initiative has nearly enough signatures to make ballot The Seattle Times June 14, 2012 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018585780_charterschools03m.html August 17, 2012Gill Kathy Charter Schools Initiative 1240 bankrolled by tech millionaires UW Election Eye 2012 The Seattle Times July 26, 2012 http://blogs.seattletimes.com/uwelectioneye/2012/07/26/charter-schools-initiative-1240-bankrolled-by-tech-millionaires/ August 17, 2012 Alice Walton was also among the top five contributors.Key Facts about I-1240: The Washington Public Charter Schools Initiative Washington Coalition for Public Charter Schools August 2012 http://yeson1240.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/YESon1240_Facts_QA.pdf PDF August 17, 2012Rosenthal Brian M. Latest big gift to charter schools initiative: $600,000 from Wal-Mart heiress The Seattle Times July 17, 2012 http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2012/07/17/latest-eye-popping-gift-to-charter-school-initiative-600k-from-wal-mart-heiress/ August 17, 2012 The measure was also endorsed by Stand for Children.2012 Election Endorsements Stand for Children http://stand.org/washington/take-action-washington-students/2012-election-endorsements August 17, 2012 Opposition The League of Women Voters of Washington opposed the measure,Ahl Catherine Ahl Why the League of Women Voters of WA Opposes I1240, Public Charter Schools LWV Voter League of Women Voters of Washington Summer 2012 http://www.lwvwa.org/pdfs/LWVWA%20Voter%20Summer%202012.pdf PDF August 17, 2012 as did the Washington Education AssociationCharter Schools, No on I-1240 Washington Education Association August 2012 http://ourvoicewashingtonea.org/issues/charter-schools/ August 17, 2012 and the Washington Association of School Administrators.Washington Association of School Administrators Opposes Initiative 1240 Washington Association of School Administrators July 26, 2012 http://www.wasa-oly.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Releases&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentFileID=3590 PDF August 17, 2012 The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has been opposed to all charter schools since 2010,Resolution on Charter Schools National Association for the Advancement of Colored People October 15, 2010 http://naacp.3cdn.net/ec6459eda5247ea257_d1m6bxsf6.pdf PDF August 17, 2012 and, although the National Parent Teacher Association conditionally supports charter schools, the Washington State PTA opposed I-1240 for not meeting "criteria for local oversight."WSPTA Board of Directors WSPTA opposes charter school initiative Grassroots Connection Washington State PTA August 11, 2012 https://wsptagrassroots.blogspot.com/2012/08/wspta-opposes-charter-school-initiative.html August 17, 2012Rosenthal Brian M. Washington PTA announces opposition to charter school initiative Politics Northwest The Seattle Times August 11, 2012 http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2012/08/11/washington-pta-announces-opposition-to-charter-school-initiative/ August 17, 2012 A variety of Democratic organizations and officials oppose I-1240.Maxwell Marcie 21 reasons to oppose charter schools, Initiative 1240 The Stand July 21, 2012 http://www.thestand.org/2012/07/21-reasons-to-oppose-charter-schools-initiative-1240/ August 17, 2012 Results Voters approved Initiative 1240 at the ballot box. The statewide vote to approve the measure was 50.69%; the vote to reject was 49.31%.2011 General Data https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-05/2011-general-data.zip sos.wa.gov live https://web.archive.org/web/20250625074651/https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-05/2011-general-data.zip June 25, 2025 Washington Secretary of State 2012 Washington Initiative 1240 1525807 1484125 By county +County resultsCountyhttps://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20121106/initiative-measure-no-1240-concerns-creation-of-a-public-charter-school-system_bycounty.html https://web.archive.org/web/20250319051152/https://results.vote.wa.gov/results/20121106/initiative-measure-no-1240-concerns-creation-of-a-public-charter-school-system_bycounty.html March 19, 2025 live Initiative Measure No. 1240 Concerns creation of a public charter school system - County Results Reed Sam Sam Reed November 6, 2012 Secretary of State of Washington November 17, 2025YesNoMarginTotal votes#%#%#%Adams2,18947.18%2,45152.82%-262-5.65%4,640Asotin4,07943.07%5,39256.93%-1,313-13.86%9,471Benton39,65951.13%37,90648.87%1,7532.26%77,565Chelan16,84953.84%14,44546.16%2,4047.68%31,294Clallam19,85653.84%17,02446.16%2,8327.68%36,880Clark94,81452.33%86,37047.67%8,4444.66%181,184Columbia1,08049.29%1,11150.71%-31-1.41%2,191Cowlitz20,42647.44%22,63152.56%-2,205-5.12%43,057Douglas7,34750.69%7,14749.31%2001.38%14,494Ferry1,63748.72%1,72351.28%-86-2.56%3,360Franklin11,51151.73%10,73948.27%7723.47%22,250Garfield51141.61%71758.39%-206-16.78%1,228Grant13,52350.47%13,27240.53%2510.94%26,795Grays Harbor13,98549.49%14,27250.51%-287-1.02%28,257Island22,09653.98%18,83846.02%3,2587.96%40,934Jefferson9,04747.13%10,14852.87%-1,101-5.74%19,195King442,19548.41%471,31651.59%-29,121-3.19%913,511Kitsap62,77651.97%58,00848.03%4,7683.95%120,784Kittitas8,85950.45%8,70049.55%1590.91%17,559Klickitat4,61146.54%5,29653.46%-685-6.91%9,907Lewis18,34454.88%15,08145.12%3,2639.76%33,425Lincoln2,60445.66%3,09954.34%-495-8.68%5,703Mason15,46456.23%12,03543.77%3,42912.47%27,499Okanogan7,51146.20%8,74853.80%-1,237-7.61%16,259Pacific5,16250.82%4,99649.18%1661.63%10,158Pend Oreille3,23649.48%3,30450.52%-68-1.04%6,540Pierce183,37054.76%151,51145.24%31,8599.51%334,881San Juan4,48744.22%5,66155.78%-1,174-11.57%10,148Skagit26,67449.66%27,04350.34%-369-0.69%53,717Skamania2,75452.55%2,48747.45%2675.09%5,241Snohomish170,88153.20%150,31446.80%20,5676.40%321,195Spokane108,94249.86%109,53450.14%-592-0.27%218,476Stevens10,29247.16%11,53052.84%-1,238-5.67%21,822Thurston61,67550.19%61,21749.81%4580.37%122,892Wahkiakum95544.17%1,20755.83%-252-11.66%2,162Walla Walla12,16449.76%12,28050.24%-116-0.47%24,444Whatcom48,10948.50%51,08951.50%-2,980-3.01%99,168Whitman7,42545.01%9,07054.99%-1,645-9.97%16,495Yakima38,70851.53%36,41348.47%2,2953.06%75,121Totals1,525,80750.69%1,484,12549.31%41,6821.38%3,009,932 See also Charter schools References External links The Washington Coalition for Public Charter Schools is the primary organization campaigning for I-1240 No on 1240 People for Our Public Schools Category:Public education in Washington (state) Category:2012 Washington (state) ballot measures Category:Initiatives in the United States