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State Board adopts 2026 charter‑school report and recognizes ACSI for residential accreditation
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Summary
The State Board approved the 2026 Public Charter Schools Report and voted to recognize the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) as an accreditor for student living accommodations at private residential schools; staff will submit the report and continue the charter‑sector oversight work.
The Washington State Board of Education voted to adopt the 2026 Public Charter Schools Report and approved the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) as a recognized accreditor for residential student living accommodations at private schools.
Board action: Jan Brown moved to adopt the 2026 Public Charter Schools Report; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously among those present and voting. The board then moved and unanimously approved recognition of ACSI as an accreditor for student living accommodations for private schools.
What the report says: Staff told the board that the 2026 charter‑school report relies on 2023–24 student and school data for comparative analysis and includes a qualitative contractor study of charter school experiences. Key findings presented: roughly 16 charter schools operate this year (projected to be 15 next year), statewide charter enrollment has hovered around 4,800–4,900 students, and charter students on measured indicators perform as well as or better than peers on available outcomes. The report also highlights challenges raised by authorizers: capital funding, timing of apportionments and limits of the 3% authorizer oversight fee.
Why it matters: The report informs legislative oversight, authorizer practice and board policy. Staff recommended retaining the authorizer oversight fee at 3 percent; both authorizers told staff they did not request an increase.
ACSI and residential accreditation: The board heard that under a 2021 statutory change (Bill 5515), private schools that operate residential facilities must either be licensed by the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) or be accredited by a recognized accreditor whose standards are comparable to DCYF requirements. PSAC reviewed ACSI's revised standards and recommended recognition for student living accommodations after ACSI updated standards addressing sleeping accommodations, privacy, health/wellness, ADA accessibility and safety.
Next steps: Staff will file the charter report with the Legislature (report due date and timing were discussed) and submit the ACSI recognition paperwork. Board members asked that staff continue to monitor charter‑sector data and to provide the Student Achievement Council's planned 2024–25 comparative analysis as an addendum later in the year.
