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What is a virtual charter school?
Update: |
Virtual school articles and news releases Bell: Agreement is a sensible compromise [3/11/08] Looking before we leap [2/29/08] Before it's too late [2/25/08] Let's get real about school funding [2/21/08] Mary Bell: Virtual charter school compromise bill is responsible and fair [2/19/08] “WEAC awaits details and data on proposed virtual charter school legislation” [1/25/08] “WEAC calls for fiscal, academic accountability in virtual charter school legislation” [1/24/08] “WEAC seeks balanced legislation that makes virtual schools accountable to all stakeholders” [1/17/08] “WEAC applauds appeals court ruling on Wisconsin Virtual Academy” [12/5/07] In the news: "Virtual schools debate doesn't address state aid issue" The Tomah Journal "Parents group has big concerns about virtual school bill" The Capital Times "K12 is Wall Street's pet as online schooling grows" SmartMoney
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A virtual charter school is a school in which the student and teacher are remote from each other and contact between teacher and students is primarily online over the internet. The form varies, but virtual schools do not offer many of the services and opportunities of a brick-and-mortar school, yet the district receives full funding from the state for its own students and from other districts for open enrollment students at the virtual charter school. Many virtual schools do not offer or have school lunch, nursing, counseling, extra-curricular activities, physical education opportunities; many do not have school buildings to maintain or janitorial services to clean up after the kids. Many have a one-to-50 or -60 teacher-student ratio. Thus, students in most virtual schools are getting fewer services and much less contact and instruction from a certified teacher.
Some virtual schools are nothing more than a correspondence course online. There is a need for state regulation and standards to ensure students receive quality instruction and taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. There are no laws or regulations specifically addressing virtual charter schools.
When properly implemented, distance education can enrich and enhance education, and can be a beneficial alternative to traditional school for some children when done correctly.
What is the history of the Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA)?
WIVA enrolls K-8 students across Wisconsin in a virtual, online setting. The Northern Ozaukee School District chartered the school in the spring of 2003, and began instruction in the fall of 2003, in spite of WEAC’s notice of intention to file a lawsuit.
What is the history of the case against WIVA?
WEAC gave notice of claim in July of 2003 and filed the lawsuit against K12 Inc. and the Northern Ozaukee School District in January 2004. The lawsuits challenged the operation of WIVA on three counts: violation of Wisconsin’s teacher licensure law, violation of the charter school law provision that a charter school must not be located outside the chartering district, and violation of the Wisconsin open enrollment law requirement that students attend school in the district in which they have open-enrolled.
At the trial level, the circuit court granted summary judgment on each claim to Northern Ozaukee School District and K12, Inc. The court of appeals reversed these rulings, and found in favor of WEAC.
What did the appeals court decide?
The court unanimously ruled that the online taxpayer-funded charter school violated the state’s charter school and open enrollment statutes, and relied on parents to serve as teachers in violation of the teacher certification law.
The court also ruled that WIVA could not use the open enrollment statute (its primary source of funding) to provide education to students who receive their education outside the borders of the district to which they had open-enrolled.
CESA 9, a cooperative educational services agency that is an online course provider, filed a “friend of the court” brief in support of the WEAC position.
How is WIVA different from home schooling?
WIVA is different from home schooling because it receives public dollars and is subject to laws governing public education.
How is WIVA different from other public schools?
WIVA is different from other public schools because most students learn at home outside the district to which they have open-enrolled. Additionally most WIVA teachers do not work within the Northern Ozaukee School District, and parents serve as the primary student instructors.
Is WEAC opposed to having parents actively involved in their child’s education?
WEAC has always encouraged innovation in education and parental involvement in schools. We know that students who have active parent involvement perform better in school. WEAC does not support substituting parental instruction for instruction from a licensed teacher in a public school.
What legislation has WEAC supported or opposed in the past?
WEAC opposed Assembly Bill 1060 in 2005. It was designed to make it easier for school districts to start virtual charter schools. This would have lowered the bar for the teaching profession by defining teaching in a virtual charter school merely as "assigning grades or credits for the pupils." This bill would have opened the door for allowing non-certified teachers in all virtual schools and reversed Wisconsin's strong tradition of having highly qualified teachers. WEAC strongly believes that teaching consists of more than assigning a grade. Wisconsin has always required licensed teachers in public schools, and research has clearly shown that qualified teachers are crucial to student achievement.
What legislation would WEAC like to see?
WEAC is eager to work with the State Legislature and with other education groups to develop legislation, as other states have, that encourages innovation, protects taxpayers and students, and ensures that all students attend great schools. WEAC believes:
What will happen to the students at WIVA?
According to Bill Harbron, WIVA and Honors High Online will remain operational this year. K12 Inc. intends to appeal to the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. Depending on what virtual charter legislation is passed or how the courts decide, WIVA could continue to operate but would have to operate within any new rules of law.
WIVA students are welcome in their own school district; the parents also have the right to home school their students.
How does this case impact WEAC members who teach at WIVA?
WIVA teachers who are WEAC members have full rights under the collective bargaining agreement.
Posted January 3, 2008