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NEWS ROUNDUP ON DEAL
There has been a significant amount of coverage about the pending deal to keep our public virtual schools open and available to families. Stay tuned for more information from the coalition.
[03.12.2008] |
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Letter to the editor: Support WIVA for future students
Letter to Editor: Support WIVA for future students
March 9, 2008
My youngest child floundered in traditional schools because he was frustrated by the behavior of other students.
Now, he is thriving as a student of Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA). When he needs a teacher, they are there for him, despite being physically miles away.
In January, we rejoiced that a historic, bipartisan compromise was reached in the state Legislature to save our school. We rallied with 1,100 others in Madison on Jan. 16. We believe in this choice of schooling for our son that much.
Only hours prior to our next trip to Madison on Feb. 19, the rug was pulled out from under us by the governor's threat to veto SB396 unless it was amended to lock out future growth of these Wisconsin public schools. Our state Senate had to give in to avoid a veto.
I applaud state Sen. Carol Roessler's poignant pleas to the senators. She could not understand why we would have limits on educational opportunities. Neither do I. Why restrict learning choices for children who don't fit the cookie-cutter style of traditional schools?
If WIVA closes, my child could again flounder, but this thing is no longer about just my child. It is about future students who may need another option in education. You can learn more at these Web sites: www.wivirtualschoolfamilies.org and dpi.state.wi.us/imt /onlinevir.html.
Then, please share your thoughts on this with Gov. Doyle by calling (608) 266-1212.
Ann Alonzo
Fond du Lac
http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080309/FON06/803090518/1345
[03.09.2008] |
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Editorial: Deal on enrollment
Editorial: Deal on enrollment
No enrollment cap on virtual schools would be best, but if one has to
exist, an Assembly compromise is the way to go. The governor should sign
the bill if it comes his way.
[03.03.2008] |
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SUNDAY NEWS ROUNDUP: More parents, national experts weigh in on our battle
There’s another round of articles and letters to the editor today. Continued thanks to those who are writing to their papers, going to town meetings with legislators in there communities and everything you’re doing to fight for our public schools.
Please take a few minutes to read what all sides have to say, including a national expert who talks about the benefits of virtual learning.
[03.02.2008] |
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FRIDAY NEWS ROUNDUP -- Much coverage of our issues in statewide media
Our issue issue continues to dominate the news in Wisconsin. We hope you will take a few minutes to stay up to date on the ongoing debate in the state capital. And, THANK YOU to everyone who has called their legislators, written letters to the editor, or somehow contributed to our effort. We are making a difference. But it’s not yet over, so keep an eye on our web site and your email for updates!!
[02.29.2008] |
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Editorial Roundup - Papers across state go after Doyle/WEAC lockout plan
Editorial Roundup
Newspapers around the state are calling WEAC’s and Gov. Doyle’s plan to lock out public virtual school students wrong.
Sheboygan Press
Doyle, WEAC wrong to try to scuttle virtual schools compromise
February 26, 2008
When is a compromise not a compromise? When the state teacher's union says so.
Wisconsin lawmakers thought they'd come up with a way a couple of weeks ago to keep the popular virtual schools operating while requiring Internet-based education to have greater teacher involvement and be more accountable to standards. Republicans and Democrats crafted the compromise after lawmakers from each party introduced proposals that were diametrically opposed to each other and would have solved nothing.
The compromise was needed because last December the Court of Appeals ruled that the 12 virtual schools — including Northern Ozaukee School District's Wisconsin Virtual Academy — were operating outside of the state law on charter schools, mainly because the schools lacked oversight and curriculum planning by licensed teachers. The suit that resulted in this decision was filed by the Wisconsin Education Association Council, which represents teachers.
While neither side got everything they wanted in the compromise, the plan saved virtual schools — to the overwhelming delight of the parents of the 3,500 students enrolled in them.
Just when it looked as if this deal were about to be passed, Gov. Jim Doyle tossed in a very real monkey wrench. Taking WEAC's side in this fight, Doyle now wants enrollment in virtual schools capped at the current 3,500 students while the Legislative Audit Bureau does a three-year study of how effective virtual schools are in meeting student needs.
While the enrollment cap doesn't kill virtual schools, it puts the status of the compromise in jeopardy since the Assembly bill doesn't contain the cap and Doyle said he would veto any measure that doesn't cap enrollments. Not only does this 11th-hour switch set legislative negotiation and compromise back significantly in Wisconsin, it also leaves virtual education in limbo. Without a compromise plan, the Court of Appeals ruling will shut down all virtual schools in Wisconsin.
That would be a huge blow to the 3,500 students already enrolled and the hundreds more who are considering moving from regular schools to online learning.
We don't know what three more years of study will show beyond what test scores for these students already show: Many who struggled in regular schools are thriving in virtual education.
The deal that lawmakers thought they had covered the teacher/instruction issues raised in the court decision and provided for closer scrutiny of the quality of education provided in virtual schools.
It was a serviceable solution and should have been adopted.
http://www.sheboygan-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080226/SHE06/802260411/1109/SHEopinion
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The Waukesha Freeman
Laurels and Darts
February 23, 2008
By: The Freeman Editorial Board
DART. To Gov. Jim Doyle. A rare deal between Democrats and Republicans in the state Legislature to keep state virtual schools afloat was torpedoed by Doyle this week. The governor threatened to veto the plan unless it included some last-minute changes which included an enrollment cap. What a shame. It seems the governor cares more about his loyalties to the teachers union than he does about Wisconsin students eager to learn in an alternative format.
Rose Fernandez, president of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families, blasted the last-minute gamesmanship.
"What a circus ... they went back on their word," she said. "The amendment is disgraceful."
We agree.
http://www.freemanol.com/editorials/misc_editorials.htm
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Wisconsin State Journal
ON., FEB 25, 2008 - 4:42 PM
Study but don't cap online schools
A Wisconsin State Journal editorial
An audit to help gauge how virtual schools are performing in Wisconsin is reasonable.
But slapping a cap on how many children can enroll in online schools is unnecessary and potentially harmful.
Gov. Jim Doyle 's last-minute demand for a cap threatens to ruin a solid bipartisan deal to keep these interesting schools going.
The governor should drop his veto threat, and the Legislature should give Doyle and the teachers union the audit they want.
That way, a dozen virtual schools in Wisconsin serving 3,500 students can stay open and expand if more parents choose to enroll their children.
Key state lawmakers recently put together compromise legislation to keep virtual schools going after a court ruling threatened to shut them down. A court ruled in December that the Wisconsin Virtual Academy, based in suburban Milwaukee, violates state laws controlling teacher certification, charter schools and open enrollment.
The fault lies not in the Wisconsin Virtual Academy, whose students score at or above the state average in most subjects at nearly every grade level. The real problem is that state laws never anticipated students learning over the Internet from home.
The court decision prompted quick action by leaders in both houses of the state Legislature. Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, and Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, helped negotiate a legislative fix with input and support from state Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth Burmaster.
Their bipartisan proposal would keep online schools going with more accountability. Primary instructors would have to be certified teachers with training tailored to online teaching techniques. Only certified teachers could develop lesson plans and grade assignments.
The Davis and Lehman plan also would require online teachers to respond to inquiries from parents and students within 24 hours during the work week. And online schools would need to track absences and offer a set number of hours of instruction.
The speed and thoughtfulness of the bipartisan compromise was impressive.
But the whole package is now in jeopardy -- along with the education of thousands of children next year -- because the governor and the teachers union want to limit enrollment.
An arbitrary cap should not be the priority. Let an audit help determine the performance of online schools. And in the meantime, let more parents choose the online option if they believe it works best for their children.
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MJS Editorial: A failed compromise
The state Senate scuttled a compromise that would have kept Wisconsin's online schools alive and instead imposed an unnecessary cap on enrollment.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=720762
From the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Feb. 21, 2008
There is still time to save Wisconsin's virtual schools, but the clock is ticking after a state Senate vote this week that unwisely capped enrollment and blew up a bipartisan compromise.
In a letter to legislators on the eve of the vote, Gov. Jim Doyle called for a cap on enrollment and recommended a study to determine how well virtual schools were serving students and what their fiscal impact was on existing public schools and property taxes.
The request for a study is sensible enough, but the cap is a solution looking for a problem. And now, despite exceptions for siblings of existing students and for students who signed up during the current open enrollment period, some children may be denied the opportunity to learn in an environment that is best suited to their needs.
Legislation was needed after a state Court of Appeals ruled in December that the Wisconsin Virtual Academy, operated by the Northern Ozaukee School District, was not eligible for state aid. That ruling threatened the existence of all 12 online schools in the state, which serve more than 3,000 students.
The compromise plan was a good one that balanced the need to legalize virtual schools while imposing new standards on them. It had the support of the state Department of Public Instruction.
The Senate vote sends the measure back to the Assembly, where Rep. Brett Davis (R-Oregon) said Thursday he would draft new legislation that includes a financial audit but not a cap. He also planned to send a letter to Doyle inviting the governor or his staff to a hearing on Monday to explain why a cap is necessary.
"In eight and a half hours of testimony the last time, no one brought up a cap," Davis said. "Even the teachers union came and testified." Time is running out on Davis, because the Assembly has only a few more days of work scheduled before it adjourns next month.
Mary Bell, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state's largest teachers union, noted correctly that the financial impact of virtual schools on existing public schools isn't well known. She argues that because the virtual schools may be attracting new students into the public system - students who were home-schooled, for example - state aid is being divvied up among more students. A cap is needed until the effects can be determined, she argues.
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Beloit Daily News
http://www.beloitdailynews.com/articles/2008/02/25/editorials/edit02.txt
EDITORIAL: Special interest wins, people lose
Innovation should be encouraged, not stifled.
NO ONE IS surprised those connected to public schools in Wisconsin (or anywhere else) lack warm feelings for innovations that could compete with them for dollars.
Virtual schools, for example.
A compromise bill intended to shore up the financial foundations of online schools was undermined by the Wisconsin Senate, which attached a last-minute requirement to cap enrollment. The change was pushed by Gov. Jim Doyle and the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the powerful state teachers' union which tends to lead Democrats around on a leash.
THIS IS THE SORT of unnecessary impediment the bureaucracy imposes to stifle innovation and competition. And that, in turn, locks the status quo in place, whether citizens are satisfied or not.
The argument for caps revolves around how virtual schools might grow and how that may impact finances for traditional public schools. If tax dollars that otherwise would go to public schools are siphoned off to virtual schools, opponents apparently believe, then this baby needs to be strangled in its crib.
It's another chapter in an old story, about how the education establishment opposes competitive choices for parents and students. The implication is clear: It's not about providing the best education for kids. It's about keeping the money and the jobs.
Maybe that's understandable, from the teachers.
But the governor and senators ought to see a bigger picture. ------------------ Superior Daily Telegram
EDITORIAL: Virtual schools concept will be difficult to slow
The Daily Telegram
Published Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The virtual school concept, which provides instruction via the Internet, is off to a rough start in Wisconsin, in part because it’s opposed by a special interest.
Last December, a court ruling jeopardized virtual school funding. The case, filed by the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), a union that represents teachers, said Wisconsin Virtual Academy violated state laws addressing teacher certification, charter schools and open enrollment.
A bill now in the Wisconsin Legislature seeks to make the schools more accountable, but Gov. Jim Doyle is demanding attendance be capped. Republican lawmakers said Doyle previously agreed to a compromise — one that didn’t include the limit. He now denies any such accord.
The governor argues more time is needed to study how Internet-based schools will affect property taxes and the traditional school system, according to a Tuesday Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story. He seeks a two-year cap before attendance is gradually allowed to increase.
Competition has never been a popular concept in the public sector, and it appears that’s at the root of this dispute. A growing number of parents want the state to allow alternatives to the existing public school system. That possibility obviously frightens educators employed in traditional settings.
As always, they’ve got the attention of state lawmakers. During 2006, the education industry donated $484,717 to Wisconsin candidates, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics.
The idea of slow growth may appeal to Doyle, but it likely will face opposition by parents whose children are denied access to virtual schools. With students’ test scores and school violence under a microscope, people want alternatives, and Internet instruction may be the answer.
No other industry has been able to stifle Internet growth. It’s unlikely educators will be the first.
http://www.superiortelegram.com/articles/index.cfm?id=26045§ion=Opinion
[02.26.2008] |
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Letters to the Editor: Parents weigh on on lockout plan
Parents from public virtual schools across the state are writing to their papers and sharing their concerns about the Doyle/WEAC lockout plan. Thanks to every one who’s written. Keep it going!!
Wisconsin State Journal
Letters To The Editor
Monday, February 25, 2008
Bipartisan virtual schools bill gutted
Anyone who has been following the progress of the virtual schools bill should be as outraged as I am to read the Feb. 21 Wisconsin State Journal article explaining how a bill with tremendous bipartisan support and the support of the Department of Public Instruction has been gutted by Gov. Jim Doyle and Sen. Tim Carpenter. I won 't even get into WEAC 's culpability in this.
In the original hearings on these bills, two at the time, testimony was very clear that the test scores of virtual school students on standardized tests were statistically higher than the scores of brick-and-mortar school students in most, if not all, levels and areas. Not only higher, but produced with a lower cost per student.
It amazes me that because of actions by Gov. Doyle and Sen. Carpenter, Wisconsin’s message is not "what can we do to raise the lower performing students to a higher level. " Instead, it is "how can we cap the advances of the high performers." Progressive we’re not.
These two, Doyle and Carpenter, need to be dragged into the proverbial principal’s office and held accountable.
Randy Krause, Poynette
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Speak up for our virtual schools
With great excitement, my daughter and I went to the Capitol on Tuesday to watch the Senate vote on the much-praised bipartisan virtual school rescue bill. That excitement quickly turned to dismay when we discovered the governor had, the night before, informed the senators he would veto the bill if they didn’t 't include a draconian enrollment cap lockout that WEAC demanded.
Gov. Doyle could have told the senators he wanted a lockout provision during the long negotiations on this bill or during the 16 hours of public hearings the compromise received. Perhaps he suspected it would never survive an open and honest debate -- that’s why he demanded it at the last minute. I 'm dismayed that, instead of honoring their word and standing up for the children of Wisconsin, the senators gave into this bullying.
I am angry and disillusioned. I am even more upset that my daughter had to witness what cowards many of our lawmakers are. I’ve taught her to stand up for what’s right and to never give in to bullies. What a shameful display she saw on Tuesday!
But it’s not too late for these schools. It’s not too late to do the right thing. Please call Gov. Doyle. Tell him you are tired of special-interest groups like WEAC writing our laws. Tell him to drop his demand for a lockout on virtual schools.
-- Julie Thompson, Cross Plains
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/opinion/readersviews/273901
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Letters to Editor
February 24, 2008
VIRTUAL SCHOOLS
Experience was a sobering civics lesson for children
As a Wisconsin taxpayer, I decided that I would let my children see civics in action as the Legislature met to consider virtual schools. We turned off our computers, shut our books and headed to Madison. Yes, our virtual school was closed for the day.
That day will remain forever etched in my children's minds. They were able to see that profiles in courage exist in a few. They were able to see what a puppet Gov. Jim Doyle is for the Wisconsin Education Association Council. They were able to see that WEAC is not here for the kids but for the money. They were able to see that a senator can be so influenced by his peers he can change his vote. They were able to see how afraid WEAC is of virtual public school success.
What they saw was a mockery of our legislative system. How do you explain that to them? Special interest groups need to stop having the influence they do. It is time Doyle stopped giving us lip service and practice what he is campaigning about with Barack Obama. Doyle needs to be accountable for his actions. I demand it as a taxpayer. He has ignored my phone calls asking for explanations. Please help us save our virtual public school - we need it.
Jenny Lecato
Grafton
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No need for attendance cap for virtual schools
Other than greed and politics - which seem to go hand in hand - I don't see the reason for a cap on attendance in virtual schools. Teachers, unions and school boards have held the public hostage long enough.
Welcome to the age of computerization. The ever-increasing costs of education and maintenance - or lack of maintenance - in our brick and mortar schools, have inspired an alternative approach. Teachers, unions and school boards have refused to govern themselves and set standards. Students spend minimal time every day on academics and bring home hours of work with pounds of books.
Virtual schools give parents the ability to contact accredited educators for assistance without time restraints. They also allow students to work together - not cheat - creating a sense of team work. All this with low maintenance costs and fewer employees. Gov. Jim Doyle should encourage this type of education, rather than put up roadblocks. It is more fiscally responsible and in the best interest of taxpayers, not the teachers union.
Russ Peck
Jackson
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=721146
[02.26.2008] |
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Tuesday News Roundup -- Media across WI are paying attention to our issue!
Tuesday news roundup
The Associated Press
Wis. governor defends plan to cap virtual schools enrollment
By RYAN J. FOLEY, Associated Press Writer
February 25, 2008 Monday
Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle on Monday defended his last-minute insistence that lawmakers cap enrollment in virtual charter schools as Republicans continued to slam the proposal as unfair.
Lawmakers have tried to keep the schools open after a December court ruling said they were violating state laws on teacher licensing, open enrollment and charter schools. If lawmakers adjourn next month without changing the laws, as many as 12 schools that enroll 3,500 students could start closing as early as next school year.
Doyle recently told lawmakers that he would veto any bill that does not cap enrollment while state officials study several issues related to the schools, which allow students to learn from their homes using the Internet.
That infuriated Republicans and one Democratic senator, who thought they already had a bipartisan agreement on a bill. They claim the enrollment cap would deprive some students of an educational option that might work better for them than traditional public schools.
Republican members of the Assembly education committee kept up the criticism during a hearing on Monday.
"There are a lot of kids in the state that are going to be hurt in the next couple of years," said Rep. Scott Newcomer, R-Hartland. "We're going to lock them out."
The Republican-controlled Assembly is advancing a plan that does not include an enrollment cap but pressure is mounting on lawmakers and Doyle to come to agreement to avoid school closures.
Doyle said he cannot understand how lawmakers could oppose his plan, which he said allows current students and their siblings to enroll in the schools during the study.
He and other Democrats said it would be irresponsible to allow the schools to grow rapidly without knowing how well students are being served and the effect on public schools and property taxes.
"The easy thing to do is send me a bill where they take care of the immediate concern and we protect those kids and give a little bit of room for natural growth and take a really hard look at where we go on this," he said. "We need some time to work through these very significant policy issues."
Lawmakers and the administration said the dispute also centered on miscommunication as lawmakers tried to respond to the court ruling.
Doyle said lawmakers never sought his blessing before announcing a bipartisan deal on Jan. 24 that would allow the schools to stay open under new rules designed to ensure quality.
Rep. Brett Davis and Sen. John Lehman who lead the education committees of both houses drafted the agreement. Education Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster backed the deal, and Doyle said that day that if it was good enough for Lehman, he could probably support it but he wanted more details.
Doyle waited until Feb. 18 the day before the Democratic-controlled Senate planned to take up the measure to warn in a letter that any bill without an enrollment cap and an audit of the schools would be vetoed.
The Senate voted 17-16 to accept those changes, capping enrollment at next year's level for the next two years before allowing it to gradually increase to 4,500.
Doyle aide Dan Schoof said he was sorry if lawmakers felt the administration should have informed them of its position earlier. But he blamed lawmakers for failing to seek the governor's approval, which "basic civics class would teach you" is needed for a bill to become law.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080226/GPG0101/802260540/1207/GPGnews
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Doyle says virtual-school bill must cap enrollment
By STEVEN WALTERS
Feb. 26, 2008
Madison - Gov. Jim Doyle said Monday that he will veto any Assembly-passed bill to continue virtual schools that doesn't include an enrollment cap.
The GOP-led Assembly is planning to debate a virtual-school measure on Thursday that would not limit enrollment.
About 3,500 students are enrolled in virtual schools.
Doyle defended his version of the bill that would cap enrollment at the current number of students, plus their siblings and any other students who met the Friday deadline to enroll for fall. The Senate passed that bill last week.
The cap would be in place two years, then could increase slightly each year through the 2014-'15 school year.
Doyle said his proposal would "sort of keep things where they are," as a major study of how virtual schools affect property taxes and bricks-and-mortar schools is conducted.
The Democrat spoke in a conference call with reporters from Washington, where he was meeting with other governors and federal officials.
Republican legislators said Doyle's last-minute changes killed a compromise they negotiated a few weeks ago. Doyle said he never agreed to that compromise.
Rep. Brett Davis (R-Oregon), one of the sponsors of the Republican-backed bill, said, "There's no need to lock out these students in the future."
Another Assembly sponsor, Rep. Dan LeMahieu (R-Oostburg), said, "I'm waiting to hear the justification from the administration for the cap."
Dan Schooff, deputy secretary of the state Department of Administration, told the Assembly Education Committee on Monday that the enrollment limit would amount to a "breather" while the schools are studied. "These schools will shut down, if we do not take action and a bill doesn't get to the governor's desk," he said.
Lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn for the year by mid-March.
The future of virtual schools is in doubt because the state Court of Appeals ruled that Virtual Academy, which the Northern Ozaukee School District operates, did not qualify for state aid of $5,845 a student. The district has appealed to the state Supreme Court, which has not yet said whether it would accept the case.
Davis said he would ask the committee, of which he is chairman, to pass the bill with no enrollment limit today. That would clear it for full Assembly debate Thursday.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=721854
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Wisconsin Radio Network
Governor defends virtual school cap
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
By Andrew Beckett
Just before a Senate vote on the bill last week, Governor Jim Doyle said he'd veto virtual school legislation if it didn't cap enrollment and require a financial study of the programs. The Senate amended the measure to meet his request, even though some lawmakers had already worked out a compromise on the measure.
The Governor's last minute action has drawn complaints from Republicans, who argue the Governor is trying to limit the growth of virtual schools. Doyle says his proposal would allow those programs to stay open, but it also gives the state a chance to review the impact of virtual schools and consider changes that may be needed in the future.
The legislation is needed after an Appellate Court ruled in December that virtual schools don't qualify for state aid. They could be left without public funding if legislation is not passed before the end of the session.
Republicans are trying to restore the compromise that was de-railed in the Senate, with legislation introduced in the Assembly. That measure includes the study requested by the Governor, but removes the enrollment cap. Doyle says he would veto that bill if it makes it to his desk.
http://www.wrn.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=530C181B-CB9A-F9B7-88AFCFC832BB7CE8
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Appleton Post Crescent
Doyle: Virtual schools need enrollment cap
State feud could close charter schools
Staff and wire reports
February 26, 2008
MADISON — Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle on Monday defended his last-minute insistence that lawmakers cap enrollment in virtual charter schools as Republicans continued to slam the proposal as unfair.
Lawmakers have tried to keep the schools open after a December court ruling said they were violating state laws on teacher licensing, open enrollment and charter schools. If lawmakers adjourn next month without changing the laws, as many as 12 schools that enroll 3,500 students could start closing as early as next school year.
Among the 12 is Wisconsin Connections Academy, based in the Appleton Area School District. The K-8 online school enrolls 390 pupils, most of them from out of district. Appleton's other online school, Appleton eSchool, enrolls 25 full-time high school students and more than 200 part-time students, most of them from Appleton. Its out-of-district students are served through contracts with their home districts.
Doyle recently told lawmakers he would veto any bill that does not cap enrollment while state officials study several issues related to the schools, which allow students to learn from their homes using the Internet.
That infuriated Republicans and one Democratic senator, who thought they already had a bipartisan agreement on a bill. They claim the enrollment cap would deprive some students of an educational option that might work better for them than traditional public schools.
Republican members of the Assembly education committee kept up the criticism during a hearing on Monday.
Appleton Supt. Lee Allinger, who submitted testimony for the hearing, said late Monday that Appleton can live with caps. "We can make a go of it, but the downside is for students and families if we have to say no."
If caps are part of the final legislation, Allinger thinks they should allow for growth. "Families that view virtual schooling as the best option for their children need access to this opportunity."
"There are a lot of kids in the state that are going to be hurt in the next couple of years," said state Rep. Scott Newcomer, R-Hartland. "We're going to lock them out."
The Republican-controlled Assembly is advancing a plan that does not include an enrollment cap but pressure is mounting on lawmakers and Doyle to come to agreement to avoid school closures.
Doyle said he cannot understand how lawmakers could oppose his plan, which he said allows current students and their siblings to enroll in the schools during the study.
He and other Democrats said it would be irresponsible to allow the schools to grow rapidly without knowing how well students are being served and the effect on public schools and property taxes.
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080226/APC0101/802260633/1979
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Wisconsin Radio Network
Another push to save virtual schools
Monday, February 25, 2008
10:03 AM
By Andrew Beckett
A state lawmaker is hoping to keep legislation going that some say is needed to save virtual schools.
A compromise on the legislation funding virtual schools fell apart last week in the Senate. That was after Governor Doyle said he would veto the bill unless it capped enrollment and studied their impact on bricks and mortar schools.
State Representative Brett Davis (R-Oregon) says such a move would lock future generations of students out of virtual schools. He says the bill can't be allowed to die, so he's introducing new legislation that would include the financial audit. However, it would not cap enrollment.
Virtual school enrollment in Wisconsin is estimated to include about 3,500 students. Davis says the parents of those kids want the programs to continue.
The legislation is needed after an Appeals Court ruled in December that virtual schools can't receive state aid. The state teacher's union opposed the legislation, arguing that schools are already facing tough financial times.
The new version of the bill from Davis is expected to receive a committee hearing today at the Capitol.
http://www.wrn.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=51566662-E592-53AA-B9E33F4604BA4FD8
[02.26.2008] |
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Ruling could shut down state's virtual schools
Ruling could shut down state's virtual schools
Superintendent not worried about Appleton academy
Staff and wire reports
December 6, 2007
MADISON — Online education programs for thousands of Wisconsin students, including one in Appleton, could be shut down after a court ordered the state Wednesday to stop funding a virtual school, an advocacy group warned.
The ruling could result in many districts having to close their online charter schools and distance learning programs, the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families said.....
[12.06.2007] |
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Strong delves into online learning
Strong delves into online learning
By ELIZABETH HOCHSTEDLER mailto:elizabeth.hochstedler@lee.net
Thursday, November 8, 2007 9:55 AM CST Melyssa Strong will graduate from high school with a diploma. She will take all the standardized tests and meet all state requirements.
But she will never have to set foot in a school building.
Strong is a sophomore at iQ Academies, an online charter high school which is part of the School District of Waukesha. She accesses all of her schoolwork online from the comfort of her Chippewa Falls home.
Strong was home schooled from kindergarten to eighth grade, but began attending iQ last fall.
“We wanted to try something new for my high school years,” she said....
Read more by clicking on link above.
[11.09.2007] |
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Barrier to Open Enrollment in Madison
If he lived anywhere else in Wisconsin, Zachary Walton, 12, wouldn't have this problem.
If he were black, Asian, Hispanic, or American Indian, Zachary wouldn't have this problem, either.
But he's in Madison, where growing numbers of white students are discovering that because of their race, the state's open enrollment program actually is closed.
"I feel like I'm left out," said Zachary, who wants to attend a public online school — one like his big brother Daniel, 15, enjoys. Read the entire article.
[09.09.2007] |
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Students Plug-In to a New Kind of School
Wisconsin Virtual Academy and Honors High Online of Wisconsin Students Plug-In to a New Kind of School Year
FREDONIA, Wis./PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Students across Wisconsin are saying goodbye to the dog days of summer today. But for some, the new school year starts no further than their home computer chairs. Thanks to an innovative online curriculum developed by K12 Inc., students of the Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA) and Honors High Online of Wisconsin, schools of the Northern Ozaukee School District, are plugging in to their individualized learning programs. Read the entire article.
[09.05.2007] |
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A virtual education
By DAN BENSON
dbenson@journalsentinel.com Fredonia - The Northern Ozaukee School Board will expand the district's online school offerings by creating a virtual high school that would be available to students statewide beginning next fall. Superintendent William Harbron said the school, called Honors High Online of Wisconsin, initially will serve students in grades 9 and 10. The district already offers online classes for students in kindergarten through eighth grades through its Wisconsin Virtual Academy, which the district established three years ago. Read more.
[12.20.2006] |
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Voters' Guide is Here
As you know, in our efforts to not only educate policy makers, but also get their feedback, the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families conducted a survey of candidates for governor and the state legislature. We asked them questions regarding a variety of educational issues.
I am happy to tell you that today, we've posted the results online. You can find them here.
[11.02.2006] |
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WCVSF -- Keeping you informed
The passage and subsequent gubernatorial veto of AB 1060 was an issue of huge importance to our coalition in 2006. We are providing the information below as another tool to help parents and friends of virtual schools evaluate the candidates for state office.
[11.01.2006] |
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PARENT UPDATE: Parents keep tabs on court case
We wanted to make sure that each of you knew the latest on the lawsuit that could affect virtual learning across the state of Wisconsin. We consulted with our Coalition attorney who had this to say:
[10.30.2006] |
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Coalition Update: Candidate Surveys
We have some exciting news for you. In our efforts to not only educate policy makers, but also get their feedback, the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families is in the midst of conducting a survey of candidates for governor and the state legislature. We have asked them questions regarding a variety of educational issues and hope to hear back from them within the week....
[10.13.2006] |
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PRESS RELEASE: Governor Refuses to Respond to Concerned Parents
[Madison, WI] How long does it take for the Governor's office to respond to a group of parents? How long did WEAC have to wait to hear from him?
It's been more than one month since a group of parents and teachers concerned about education in Wisconsin filed an open records request with Governor Jim Doyle's office and they've yet to receive the documents they seek.
[06.13.2006] |
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PRESS RELEASE: WEAC Continues to Try to Close Public School
[Madison, WI] The state's teachers' union is trying, once again, to shut down a successful Wisconsin public school. On Monday, the Wisconsin Education Association Council filed notice that it would appeal a decision made by Ozaukee County Circuit Judge Joseph McCormack in March.
[06.05.2006] |
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Defending Public Virtual Schools
Dear Supporter of Public Virtual Education -
We previously shared the news with you regarding Governor Doyle's veto of Assembly Bill 1060, which would have helped provide guidance and clarity on several issues related to online public education. We also shared with you the column by Board Member Bob Reber, regarding the veto of AB 1060, which appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal. (Read the entire column here)
[05.22.2006] |
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PRESS RELEASE: Grassroots Coalition Seeks Documents from Governor's Office
[Madison, Wisc...] The Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families announced today it has filed an open records request with Governor Doyle's office, requesting all information related to Assembly Bill 1060. The bill, which was recently vetoed by Governor Doyle, would have provided additional guidelines for school districts who wish to offer public online schooling as an educational option for parents
[05.04.2006] |
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Doyle Flunks Test on Virtual Schools
Governor Doyle recently vetoed Assembly Bill 1060 which would have reaffirmed and clarified the state's commitment to virtual public schools in Wisconsin. Prior to his decision to veto the bill, WEAC (the teacher's union) was making noise about the "outsourcing of education" to people who would not be qualified teachers, instructors or presenters to our children. In other words, parents! Governor Doyle reiterated the concerns of WEAC after vetoing the bill by stating, "Actual pupil instruction could be delivered by persons without a state-issued license or permit."
[04.27.2006] |
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PRESS RELEASE: Doyle Sides with WEAC over Parents
[Madison, Wisc...] Governor Doyle has sided with special interests over the public interest. Yesterday, the Governor vetoed Assembly Bill 1060. "The hundreds of calls and emails he received in support of AB 1060 were obviously no match for the one call from WEAC," said Rose Fernandez, President of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families.
[04.19.2006] |
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Op - Ed: Virtual Schools, Real Innovation
A Wisconsin court rejected a high-profile lawsuit by the state's largest teachers' union last month seeking to close a public charter school that offers all its courses online on the ground that it violated state law by depending on parents rather than certified teachers to educate children. The case is part of a nation trend that goes well beyond virtual schooling: teachers' unions are turning to the courts to fight any deviation from uniformity in public schools.
[04.10.2006] |
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PRESS RELEASE: Citizen Coalition Runs Full Page Ad Aimed at Doyle
[Madison, Wisc...] The Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families has taken out a full page ad, publishing an open letter to Governor Jim Doyle. The Coalition is encouraging Governor Doyle to sign Assembly Bill 1060, legislation which reaffirms the state's commitment to public virtual schools.
[04.05.2006] |
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PRESS RELEASE: Citizen Coalition Begins Statewide Radio Ad Campaign
[Madison, Wisc...] The Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families has launched a statewide advertising campaign to motivate citizens to contact Governor Doyle. The Coalition is encouraging Governor Doyle to sign Assembly Bill 1060, legislation which benefits public virtual education.
[03.14.2006] |
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Virtual Public Schools a Great Option; Coalition Leader Praises AB 1060, Refutes NCLB Argument
The bill should have been an easy vote for anyone concerned about quality public educational opportunties for Wisconsin's families. Yet, it faced some spirited, if inaccurate opposition. In the Assembly floor debate earlier this week, opponents of the bill mistakenly assert that the legislation, and virtual schools in general, run afoul of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).
[03.13.2006] |
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COALITION UPDATE ON AB 1060
We've published a column today on WisPolitics, which refutes some of the arguments of those opposed to the bill. Click here to read the column. We are also set to launch a statewide radio campaign regarding the legislation. The ad will be up on the Coalition website shortly, so check back soon.
[03.13.2006] |
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VIRTUAL SCHOOL BILL PASSES SENATE
I bring you more good news from Madison. The "Virtual School Bill," AB 1060, has passed the State Senate. It will now be sent to the Governor's office for review. The Coalition is still unsure what the Governor intends to do regarding the bill once he receives it.
[03.10.2006] |
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SUPPORT VIRTUAL SCHOOLS, CALL THE GOVERNOR TODAY
I bring you good news...and a request. The bill, AB 1060, has passed the State Assembly and is expected to pass the State Senate this week. We don't, however, know what the Governor intends to do regarding the bill. However, three minutes of your time could go a long way to help make sure he signs the bill.
[03.08.2006] |
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COALITION UPDATE - VIRTUAL SCHOOL LEGISLATION
There is good news relating to the bill. The Senate Education Committee and the Assembly Committee on Education Reform each passed the bill out of committee, by a vote of 4-3 and 7-2 respectively. The bill should be heard before the entire Senate and Assembly early next week.
[03.03.2006] |
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Testimony of Kathy Hennings, WCVSF before Assembly and Senate Education Committees
My name is Kathy Hennings. I am a 1st and 2nd grade teacher with the Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA), one of Wisconsin's most successful public virtual schools. Prior to working at WIVA, I spent 33 years employed in traditional brick and mortar public schools. In addition, I am also a dues paying member of the Wisconsin Education Association Council.
[03.01.2006] |
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HEARING IN MADISON - YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
Last week in our newsletter we let you know about a pending public hearing regarding a piece of legislation that is important to every parent of a virtual school student.
[02.24.2006] |
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COALITION ALERT - January 18, 2006
State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster has moved to strike the affidavits that were submitted by Rose Fernadez and Bob Reber, along with WIVA's recent brief.
[01.18.2006] |
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Virtual schools hold promise for education
As a board member of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families (WCVSF) it is great to hear that another virtual school may soon be opening its doors in Wisconsin. Congratulations to the Fond du Lac School District for receiving a grant from the Department of Public Instruction to study the possibility of opening a public virtual school in the district.
[10.24.2005] |
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IMPORTANT - Development in lawsuit against WIVA
Those of you who have followed the Wisconsin Virtual Academy case will be interested to know that yesterday the judge reopened "Discovery" in the pending litigation. Discovery is the time in litigation when the parties gather the facts which will form the record upon which the judge will make his decision. Changes in WIVA operations (implemented in this school year) can now be explored, entered into the court's record, and considered as the case moves forward. The Judge allowed 60 days for the process to occur.
[09.16.2005] |
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COALITION ALERT: August 16, 2005
As you know, Johnson, WEAC, et.al. v. Burmaster, et.al., is the litigation brought by the state teachers union against the Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA)...
[08.16.2005] |
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Testimony of Kathy Hennings, WCVSF: Before DPI Virtual Education Task Force
My name is Kathy Hennings and I am a 1st and 2nd grade teacher with the Wisconsin Virtual Academy, one of Wisconsin's most successful public virtual schools. I will be starting my 3rd year with WIVA this fall. In addition to my employment of 33 years within the public school system, my two daughters have been enrolled in public education from Kindergarten through college. I am a dues-paying member of WEAC and a member of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families. I'm a proponent of the public school system in Wisconsin and proud to be a part of it.
[07.19.2005] |
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Testimony of Bob Reber, WCVSF: Before DPI Virtual Education Task Force
My name is Bob Reber and I have a child who is excelling with Internet-based learning through a public school in Wisconsin. I am also an officer with the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families. Our coalition is the voice of the families who have selected this technology based learning as the best public education option for their children. Together with our fellow parents, families and friends, we strive to educate policy makers and others on why we chose a virtual public school for our children; how those schools work; the close, working relationship we have with our teachers and administrators; and much, much more.
[07.15.2005] |
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A Memo Regarding Statements by Mr. Stan Johnson
In a recent column by Mr. Stan Johnson, published in The Wisconsin State Journal on May 15, 2005, Mr. Johnson takes issue with three assertions made in an earlier parent column about the Wisconsin Virtual Academy ("WIVA"). The three assertions Mr. Johnson complains of are: (1) that WEAC is attempting to "shut down" WIVA; (2) part of the reason that WEAC opposes WIVA is that the parents participate "too much" in their children's education; and (3) WEAC has questioned the "moral fitness" of parents who participate in WIVA.
[06.15.2005] |
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June 12: Summer to-do list
Congratulations to all our school families on completion of your year of studies. As you reflect upon the school year you've just completed and look forward to the one that is ahead, I just wanted to remind you of the fragility of our right to chose virtual public education. We can't make the mistake of taking it for granted.
[06.13.2005] |
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Test Results Prove WIVA is a Great Public School
[Madison, Wisc.] Fourth grade students at the Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA), an online public school under siege by the state teachers' union and department of education, are among the highest achievers according to the most recent statewide test results.
[05.24.2005] |
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Update on the lawsuit against Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA)
The Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families has asked our attorney to give our supporters an update on the lawsuit against Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA). That document follows this note. There is good news to tell and reason to be proud of the impact of our Amicus Brief on the case now under the judge's consideration.
[05.16.2005] |
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WEAC should leave virtual schools alone
There is a battle being waged throughout Wisconsin to keep a public school open. Those of us fighting on behalf of this school are not asking for more tax dollars. All we want is to provide our children with the opportunity to achieve.
[05.03.2005] |
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