SEATTLE (AP) — The two leading candidates running to be Washington’s next governor think schools should find new, innovative ways to teach young people. But how they want that innovation to happen illustrates the sharp split in their views as well as disagreement among state voters.
Republican Rob McKenna pitches charters schools as a way to bring fresh thinking to education and give parents more choice about what’s best for their kids.
Democrat Jay Inslee, however, believes that kind of innovation can happen in the state’s existing school system, and wants to take smaller steps toward change. He says he’s concerned about whether charter schools are accountable to taxpayers.
Voters and education organizations are starting to line up behind each candidate, mostly based on their views on hot-button topics including tying teacher pay to student performance.
