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February 19, 2008
For more information, contact
Christina Brey, WEAC Communications Coordinator
608-298-2519
WEAC President Mary Bell commended the Wisconsin Senate today for passing a bill that supports innovation and addresses fiscal and educational accountability issues associated with virtual education without interrupting the education of the students already enrolled in virtual schools.
President Bell issued the following statement:
“This compromise bill enables the students enrolled in virtual charter schools to continue their learning, allows for future growth, and establishes a set of requirements for the schools to follow.
“The state has a responsibility to students and taxpayers to assure public schools meet the standards that are set for them. This is especially urgent in the current budgetary environment, where great schools throughout the state are talking about closing, eliminating essential programs and cutting staff because of revenue caps, and where state revenue projections are now more than $650 million lower than expected.
“WEAC has long supported innovation in the classroom and WEAC members throughout the state use virtual education in their lesson plans every day. As soon as the appeals court made its decision in December, WEAC called upon the State Legislature to act quickly for the sake of the students enrolled in Wisconsin Virtual Academy and other virtual schools, for the sake of all public school students and taxpayers in Wisconsin, and for the sake of preserving the hard-won integrity of public education in the state. That is what this bill does.”
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Related news releases
“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]
