Sparring over (Wisconsin) online schools

Andy Hall:

Key Republican and Democratic leaders launched competing efforts on Thursday to rewrite Wisconsin 's laws for online schools, just weeks before families begin filling out applications to transfer from their traditional home school districts.

Their proposals, described as attempts to clarify confusion after a recent court ruling, quickly came under attack from the opposing party.

Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, chairman of the Assembly Education Committee, proposed that online schools, also known as virtual schools, be allowed to continue operating with few restrictions. About 3,000 Wisconsin students attend online schools.

Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said he 's introducing a measure restricting online schools to half of the approximately $6,000 in state aid they currently receive for each student who transfers from a home district.

"I really believe it 's important to wring the profits out of these operations, " said Lehman, who contends that Davis ' approach forces taxpayers to pay too much to online schools such as the Northern Ozaukee School District 's Wisconsin Virtual Academy. The district north of Milwaukee, with curriculum from a Virginia-based firm, K12 Inc., operates the online school that was the focus of the recent court ruling.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at January 11, 2008 3:30 PM
Subscribe to this site via RSS/Atom: Newsletter signup | Send us your ideas