SEATTLE — More ballots have been counted, but the results are still unclear for Washington’s charter schools initiative.

The measure is narrowly passing, but hundreds of thousands of votes have yet to be counted.

This is the fourth time the proposal has been on the ballot in Washington state, where voters rejected charter schools in 1995, 2000 and 2004.

If voters approve the measure, Washington would become the 42nd state to allow the public independent schools.

Supporters say the charter proposal would offer new choices for struggling kids and their families. Opponents say charters have a mixed track record in other states and they would take away money from regular public schools.

Proponents of charter schools raised more than $10 million to promote the idea, including $3 million from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.