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| FRIDAY NEWS ROUNDUP -- Much coverage of our issues in statewide media |
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Keep up the GREAT work
February 29, 2008
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!!
Associated Press
Assembly approves virtual schools bill; no agreement yet
Friday, February 29, 2008 7:48 AM CST
MADISON — Democrats and Republicans still cannot agree on a plan to keep virtual charter schools open.
The Republican-controlled Assembly voted 53-44 early Friday to approve a bill to bring the schools in compliance with several state laws while allowing the online learning option to continue growing rapidly.
A measure approved by the Democratic-controlled Senate last week included a tight enrollment cap at the urging of Gov. Jim Doyle, who has signaled he would veto the Assembly plan.
Republicans say the cap would lock out students from enrolling in the schools, which allow them to learn from home using computers under the guidance of their parents. Doyle argues it is irresponsible to allow the schools to grow without knowing more about their quality.
Time is running out for a compromise because lawmakers plan to adjourn in two weeks.
About a dozen virtual schools that enroll 3,500 students across the state are facing the prospect of closing after a December court ruling said they were operating illegally.
http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/02/29/local_news/doc47c80d263fa27255377826.txt
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI)
By PATRICK MARLEY and STEVEN SCHULTZE
February 29, 2008
…Assembly Republicans were poised to pass a bill on virtual schools that differs from one passed by Senate Democrats last week -- a move that Democrats said would kill the measure.
"This is one of those things I don't see Democrats capitulating on at all," said Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser (D-Kenosha).
The Senate passed a bill last week giving aid to the schools but essentially freezing enrollment at the current 3,500 students through the 2011-'12 school year. After that, the schools could grow by about 875 students.
Assembly Republicans want no enrollment cap but were pushing a version of the bill Thursday that would allow virtual schools to grow to include up to 1% of all K-12 students statewide. Today, that would be 8,760 students.
The governor has said he would veto the bill if it does not cap enrollment and require a study of the program. Republicans have agreed to the study, but Doyle backs the Senate version of the bill.
Without a legislative fix, the schools' future is in doubt.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=723263
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“All Politics” Blog
GOP passes virtual schools measure, as clock ticks
By Patrick Marley
Friday, Feb 29 2008, 04:07 AM
Madison -- With time running out on the legislative clock, the Republican-run Assembly passed a bill on virtual schools that differs sharply from one passed last week by Senate Democrats.
Lawmakers need to reach agreement before the legislative session ends March 13 to ensure the schools can continue. A December appeals court ruling found one online school is not eligible for state aid, which advocates said could mean the demise of the schools.
The bill Assembly Repulicans passed would allow enrollment -- now about 3,500 -- to grow to up to 1% of the statewide student population, or about 8,760. The Democratic version of the bill would keep enrollment at current levels until the 2011-'12 school year, when it could grow by about 875 students.
Rep. Brett Davis (R-Oregon) said Republicans were "going more than halfway" toward Gov. Jim Doyle's position, but Democratic Leader Jim Kreuser of Kenosha said Davis "negotiated with himself and then called it a compromise."
Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) said the Democratic version of the bill was brokered between Doyle and the state teacher's union. "This isn't compromise," he said. "This is the governor shoving it down 3,500 students' throats."
http://blogs.jsonline.com/allpoliticswatch/archive/2008/02/29/gop-passes-virtual-schools-measure-as-clock-ticks.aspx
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WRN News
Virtual schools bill clears Assembly
Friday, February 29, 2008, 4:46 AM
By Andrew Beckett
The Assembly approves virtual school legislation that increases the size of an enrollment cap.
The latest version of the legislation would set an enrollment cap at about 8,700 students. State Representative Brett Davis (R-Oregon) says it gives the Governor what he asked for, because it includes a cap and a study of the financial impacts of virtual schools.
However, State Representative Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) says Republicans were wasting their time with the bill. Speaking during an early morning floor debate on the bill, he "guaranteed" Republicans that the Governor would veto the bill if it makes it to his desk.
The Senate approved a version last week that sets the cap at about 3,500 students, which is the version supported by the Governor. State Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) says that bill would lock out students. He says the version passed by the Assembly this time around set a more realistic cap on the programs.
The bill passed on a 53-44 vote.
http://www.wrn.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=64CE3364-E387-CEE5-85C5852E3E447703
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WisPolitics
February 29, 2008
In addition, a GOP-backed bill to keep state virtual charter schools operating in response to an Appeals Court ruling that invalidated them passed on a 53-44 vote. The bill provides an enrollment cap of 8,760 students, but is at odds with a Senate-passed bill that caps enrollment at about 4,500.
Gov. Jim Doyle will veto a bill without a cap. He said he's open to some negotiation on an enrollment cap for virtual schools, but said the 8,760-student limit proposed by Assembly Republicans was not a "serious" offer.
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=119533
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New Richmond News
Letter: Virtual schools work for some families
Friday, February 29, 2008
To the Editor:
I am a self-employed person in Holmen, Wis. My wife and children recently traveled to Madison as a show of support for virtual school.
We, as a family, had high expectations the politicians on this day would act like adults and come together on a compromise promoting this highly effective form of education.
I have a bachelors of science in middle school education. I taught in Wisconsin and Georgia.
Virtual school works for a percentage of students that, for whatever reason (academic, social, mental etc.) the brick and mortar school, although they have the best intentions, cannot serve effectively.
Virtual schools work because the parents are involved. As a parent, that is my right and responsibility. I would not be wasting my time writing this letter if WEAC, the afraid-of-change teachers union, had not filed a lawsuit against virtual school.
Any good educator knows effective pedagogy requires constant change. So Gov. Jim Doyle and other democratic legislators come to your senses, do what you know is right for children (not the WEAC teacher union) and get out of our way so we (certified teachers and responsible parents) can do our jobs.
Tom Kruse
Holmen
http://www.newrichmond-news.com/articles/index.cfm?id=20249§ion=Opinion
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Wisconsin State Journal
Letter to Editor: Take time to study online school issues
February 28, 2008
Online schools have a place in educating our students. But some questions need answering, and I agree with Governor Doyle and the teachers union on capping enrollment at this time while we find the answers.
The most important question for me is whether online schools will divert money from the general public school system, which is already reeling from cuts and failures to find new sources of income. Also, we need to know that the money to educate a pupil online does not exceed that needed to educate a student attending a school in person.
Last, our state needs to rededicate itself to teaching all our students, not only those who have a computer at home to work online. There is still a significant number of homes which do not have access to a computer. To face the future, Wisconsin needs to have a totally educated work force, and no one is sure that online schools will help or hinder that in the long run.
- John Murphy, Madison
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