State Journal

The charter school movement hasn't had much luck in Washington state, but supporters of the idea have found a friend in the legislature.

Rep. Dave Quall, who spent 30 years as a high school educator, says he knows firsthand the ways public school bureaucracies can hinder innovation and creativity. The competition and the openness that charter schools could bring would "empower the public school teacher," the 61-year-old lawmaker said last week.

"Teachers sometimes have wonderful ideas that are vetoed by the administration," he added. "I see this as an opportunity for the teachers to determine the...