Virtual Schools Could Get Logged Off

Online Education Has Sparked Debate On The Dollars And Sense Of Alternative Learning

(AP) 
She and her mother say the school's curriculum, teachers who are specialists in subjects and interaction with other students are all preferable to home schooling.

"It's a great education option for lots and lots and lots of people and they need to save it," Thompson said before logging on to her computer for a lesson on Newton's law.

Lawmakers of both parties say they want to keep the schools open but so far can't agree on the details.

Democrats who control the Senate and the education superintendent are backing a plan that would cut the schools' funding from $6,000 per student to $3,000. That's compared to $11,000 for public school students.

Districts and advocates say virtual schools could not survive on that little money.

But Sen. John Lehman, a Racine Democrat and former high school teacher, said his plan would only mean less profit for companies like K12 Inc., a Virginia-based company that provides curriculum to online schools in 17 states.

His critics say it's unfair to single out the company when textbook publishers, food vendors and busing companies profit from traditional schools.

K12 Inc. vice president Jeff Kwitowski said Lehman's proposal would make Wisconsin unique in refusing to embrace online learning.

"Cutting the funding will impact the teachers and the kids far more than it would impact our company," Kwitowski said.

His company and Republicans who control the Assembly are backing a competing bill that would change state law to allow the schools to stay open with few, if any, changes. Hundreds of students and parents are expected to rally in support of the plan at the Capitol on Wednesday.

Rep. Brett Davis, a Republican sponsor, said Wisconsin has the chance to become a national leader in online learning.

"The bottom line is it's time to modernize education laws in Wisconsin," Davis said. "We have these great virtual schools that are doing well. I think we've become a model for the country to look at but Sen. Lehman's proposal would send us backward."

[jesusloveswe3]

If these people have such a problem with our children being cyber schooled then fix the small country schools that feel they don't have to follow the laws. Our school district took it upon there self to decide what my son medical needed, I was harassed by the LEA,superindent,and neighbors (that where encouraged by the school district to take photos and videos of my son at his home). I was told that he didn't need his medical needed wheelchair and that he had no medical problems and was told by the LEA that i was the cause of my sons disabilities. They also refused to attempt to agree to the medical findings from his own team of doctors they kept saying i was doctor shopping, his doctors agreed to meet with them via phone but they would not even do that. Also my daughter while at that school was so far below her grade level that it was sad that i was wasting her time sending her to a school that wasn't even educating her she is a fifth grader that reads on a 1st grade level and does math on a kindergarten level so who is wasting tax payers money. So until the law makers make the small country schools follow the laws and stop bulling parents and innocent children i can do a better job at schooling them at home with the help of our cyber school they will do allot better where there are at. So before you start attacking our school talk to the parents who have there children in cyber schools and ask them why they chose to cyber school instead of the brick and mortar school offered to them. I just bet if you law makers would turn your attack toward all of the schools our children would of been in you will find allot reason why we are right in our choices. thank you for your time god bless.

[tlcm4]

My question is, do the virtual schools work for the students enrolled? Are their test scores, % of students admitted to universities, and other cultural marks of a successful education on par with or better than the public school in the states in question? If so, then I would suppose the response of at least the teacher''s union is fear based. If too many parents pull their kids into this program they will be forced to reduce the number of teacher/staff/programs they offer. Frankly, I think a little competition would be healthy for our current educational systems. If another system is going to provide my child with a better education, I''m all for it. Oh yeah, I would like my tax dollars to be all for it too, at least for the few years of my tax paying life that my kids will be in school.

[michellem99-2009]

I hope the on-line school stays.I do think some children need it. I am tired of paying for schools but have no say in the matter. Govt schools don''t work and never has. I KNOW. I would rather them be taught as their parents think best. There was a day the govt stayed out of education. Way back. Hats off to ye and stand up for what yer know is right..

[the_quietman]

I meant to type tutoring - sorry.

[the_quietman]

If you have an address you are paying school taxes. It does not matter if you have children or not. These kids have parents and grandparents paying those same taxes. The virtual schools in question are not private schools, they are virtual public schools and deserve public funding. This is not home tutering, the classes are available on-line to every student logged in. If they had been available when my children were in school they most certainly would have been my choice - No peer pressure, no fist fights, no drugs, no guns. A much better learning environment.

[rf35]

Kare-A,
Sorry, I didn''t mean to offend...I was using the opportunity to poke a little fun at the article. I too am a product of our public school system and have my share of errors. I should have added a :) to my posting.

[kare-a]

''rme'' you''re so right i attended public school as well as private, and it''s a product of typing with emotion. i''m sure you have never inaccurately typed a word in your entire life ''ey. smiles* and smh* at the triviality of your sad attempt at cyber bulling. you have a nice day now... *smiles

[kare-a]

''rme'' you''re so right i attended public school as well as private, and it''s a product of typing with emotion. i''m sure you have never inaccurately typed a word in your entire life ''ey. smiles* and smh* at the triviality of your sad attempt at cyber bulling. you have a nice day now... *smiles

[rf35]

priv7et (prvt)
n.
1. Any of several shrubs of the genus Ligustrum, especially L. vulgare or L. ovalifolium, having opposite leaves and clusters of white flowers and widely used for hedges.
2. Any of several similar or related plants.


The definition failed to mention L. ovalofficium.

[rf35]

"privet education"

A product of American public schools?

[kare-a]

another point.. one thing everyone is forgetting is this... we pay public school taxes no mater where you child goes to school, public or privet or vitual. these parents ARE paying for this education already. therefore the other side of it is, those that pay for privet education should get their money back? that will never happen so why should they have to pay additional costs and the public school systems still get paid for the child who is not attending it. again, this is all about money and not about the kids. Shameful!!!

[kare-a]

I have been looking for an alternitive to traditional schooling for my child. He has been bullied both emotionaly and physically in the Oconomowoc Public schools since he was in 3rd grade. He is now in 7th and I have been told in the past by the principle herself that they cannot protect my son. This debate sounds more like it is all about someone''s paycheck, and not about what is best for the children. I am looking into this type of education for my son at this time, and I prey that greed and ego of some do not take away this possibility for my son to possibly obtain an education with out the horrific emotional and physical abuse he endures now. How can a child be productive when they are scared for their lives? They cant.
The public schools are too large, and as clearly stated by a principle at the Oconomowoc school district, they cannot keep children like my child safe. Some children need things like this in order to life a fear free life/childhood that all Americans should have the right to!

[wivaparent]

As a Virtual School parent here in WI I choose this path for my 5 year old son because I wanted his education to accounted for unlike traditional home-schoolers here in WI where all they have to do is sign a paper saying they are home-schooling and that is it. No checks, no accountability. I want to be held accountable for my son. That is what parents are for. I know that this option is not for everyone and that it takes a lot of time to implement and two income families may not be able to do it without many sacrifices but that is their choice. I would like to keep my choice in how my son gets an education. I am a certified teacher without a job because of budget cuts and have been a substitute for many years but am unhappy with our local district education policies and practices. I did not want to traditional home-school as I wanted accountability. So if that is wrong so be it, it is my choice as a parent. If our school closes I will be forced to home-school and not be held accountable for taking state tests, etc. I am not saying I have anything against home-schooling as there are many parents that take it seriously and do a great job, look at most of the national spelling bee winners. Most are home-schooled. It just was not what I wanted when we decided to virtual school. Every student deserves a great school. WIVA

[wivaparent]

As a Virtual School parent here in WI I choose this path for my 5 year old son because I wanted his education to accounted for unlike traditional home-schoolers here in WI where all they have to do is sign a paper saying they are home-schooling and that is it. No checks, no accountability. I want to be held accountable for my son. That is what parents are for. I know that this option is not for everyone and that it takes a lot of time to implement and two income families may not be able to do it without many sacrifices but that is their choice. I would like to keep my choice in how my son gets an education. I am a certified teacher without a job because of budget cuts and have been a substitute for many years but am unhappy with our local district education policies and practices. I did not want to traditional home-school as I wanted accountability. So if that is wrong so be it, it is my choice as a parent. If our school closes I will be forced to home-school and not be held accountable for taking state tests, etc. I am not saying I have anything against home-schooling as there are many parents that take it seriously and do a great job, look at most of the national spelling bee winners. Most are home-schooled. It just was not what I wanted when we decided to virtual school. Every student deserves a great school. WIVA

[wivaparent]

As a Virtual School parent here in WI I choose this path for my 5 year old son because I wanted his education to accounted for unlike traditional home-schoolers here in WI where all they have to do is sign a paper saying they are home-schooling and that is it. No checks, no accountability. I want to be held accountable for my son. That is what parents are for. I know that this option is not for everyone and that it takes a lot of time to implement and two income families may not be able to do it without many sacrifices but that is their choice. I would like to keep my choice in how my son gets an education. I am a certified teacher without a job because of budget cuts and have been a substitute for many years but am unhappy with our local district education policies and practices. I did not want to traditional home-school as I wanted accountability. So if that is wrong so be it, it is my choice as a parent. If our school closes I will be forced to home-school and not be held accountable for taking state tests, etc. I am not saying I have anything against home-schooling as there are many parents that take it seriously and do a great job, look at most of the national spelling bee winners. Most are home-schooled. It just was not what I wanted when we decided to virtual school. Every student deserves a great school. WIVA

[rf35]

I think this is a great compromise between home schooling and public school. The social interaction that kids get from traditional school is missing, but overall, the pros seem to outweigh the cons in this system. The student gets time with a licensed teacher, but is not locked into the traditional school schedule. The old-style schools don''t always work for people in this modern world and this is a step beyond home school. People can also save time and money at the doctor''s office by not exposing their children to those public germ clearinghouses. I''m surprised other Dems are fighting this...think of the carbon savings from not driving your kid to school every day!

[jwohlenberg]

As the parent of a child enrolled in a virtual school, I can tell you it was not my first choice. I saw the holes in her school education, and I tried to help in every way I could at the school level, but in the end, it was in my daughter''s best interest to school her at home, and I love that there is a way to keep her involved in the public school system and still keep her at home. It''s not about a "free ride," to me, it''s knowing that she''s not completely off the grid, that we are following state laws and that her education is meeting state standards, while at the same time, she has the freedom to be challenged at her level, not the level the school tells me she has to be. The entire educational system needs overhaul, and I see the virtual system as one option - I certainly don''t understand why a state would want to rip apart something that is absolutely working. They don''t mention test scores, and I can imagine they are far better than those of the mainstream system. Isn''t that how the rewards work? Higher scores means more funding? Then how come the same rules don''t apply here?

[brianbwb-2009]

Yo Teachers, if, as you claim, education is the primary priority, then does it not stand to reason that how it is done is not important, so long as it is done, and the student can pass the required exams?

Yo Unions, have you not, as is your stated purpose, seen to it that teachers get reasonable recompense for their work, regardless of the number of students physically present?

Yo school boards, if your budget depends on the number of students present at the "fourth Friday count", does your position not make you look as if you are simply trying to pad the numbers, thereby getting more funding that you can corrupt?

Yo feds, since all the evidence shows Bush''s NCLB to be an utter failure, and just more "trickle down" BS, don''t you think that the concept of education should be modernized to include the modern forms of information acquisition?

[lochlan-2009]

"But critics, including the nation''s largest teacher''s union, say the so-called cyber charter schools amount to little more than home schooling at taxpayers'' expense. They complain they take away money from traditional public schools and profit companies who sell curricula to districts."

GREED, PLAIN GREED!!!!

To these people it''s much more important than a parents choice in how their children get educated. To these people it has nothing to do with the families and their ability to raise their children the best they can. To them it''s all about MONEY, at the expense of other people''s children.

[standlee5]

Homeschooling at taxpayers expense? That doesn''t even make sense since most school districts lose federal money when people choose to homeschool. They make a huge profit off these programs which cost very little but require the same fed funding per pupil.