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| Tuesday News Roundup -- Media across WI are paying attention to our issue! |
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February 26, 2008
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
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