The Association of Washington Business (AWB) has expressed its disappointment that Referendum 55 – the measure to repeal Washington’s new charter schools law – may qualify for the November general election.

Reports in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer indicate that unions, primarily the Washington Education Association (WEA) and Washington State Labor Council (AFL-CIO) appear to have collected the 99,000 signatures necessary to put Referendum 55 before the voters.

“Hopefully, voters will defeat Referendum 55 in November,” said AWB President Dan Brunell.

Charter Schools have the support of Gov. Gary Locke, a majority of legislators, including key lawmakers from both political parties, and Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) Dr. Terry Bergeson. Dino Rossi, the Republican candidate for governor, has repeatedly voted for charter schools when he was in the Legislature while Attorney General Christine Gregoire, the leading Democrat for governor, is an outspoken critic.

“Supporters like AWB recognize that alternatives to our traditional public school system need an opportunity to succeed,” Brunell observed. “They pose no threat to the current public school system but allow parents who cannot afford private schools to have an education experience which is more conducive to learning.”.