SAC Legislative Bulletin

The following is from the School Administrators Coalition (SAC) legilative newsletter (January 27, 2006 - No. 2 - Copyright 2006)

VIRTUAL SCHOOLS
Bills authorizing the establishment of virtual schools have now been filed in both the House and Senate. HB 1276 (Baker) and SB 916 (Goodman) would authorize the creation of one public virtual school with oversight provided by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. All school age children would be eligible to attend but would be required to go through a selection process established by DESE in order to participate. Participation would be limited by appropriation to 500, 750 and 1000 students during the first three years of implementation.
The bills provide a basic structure for a virtual school program while leaving much of the details and specific operations of the program to be determined by DESE through rulemaking.
Essentially, the bills would establish a 525th public school district operated by DESE. This virtual school district would be required to comply with all statutes, rules and regulations applicable to public schools, including participation in MSIP and MAP, fulfilling the requirements of NCLB, and complying with teacher certification and curriculum standards. Students would enroll in their local "brick and mortar" school district and advise that district of their intent to participate in the virtual school program. The virtual school would then report to the school district information about students enrolled in the program, including eligibility for free or reduced lunch, LEP status, special education needs, and the number of courses in which the student is enrolled. Students would be full-time equivalent students either in the virtual school or a combination of virtual and public school, as authorized by ! the local school district. In addition, students attending the virtual school would be eligible to participate in clubs and activities at the local school district if they meet the local districts eligibility requirements.
The virtual school would receive 85% of the state adequacy target for each child enrolled. The "brick and mortar" school district would receive 15% of the current state aid per eligible pupil and would retain all local monies. Funds supporting the virtual school portion of state aid would be subject to annual appropriation and would not reduce the state appropriation for the foundation formula. Rep. Baker estimates that the cost for the first three years of the program would be approximately $5 million.
DESE would be granted the authority to promulgate rules detailing how the virtual school would function. The SAC met with Rep. Baker this week to discuss the intent of the legislation and his expectations regarding implementation. Rep. Baker indicated that it is his intent to support public education and he views HB 1275 as a way to expand educational offerings to meet growing needs and expectations of students. He indicated that it was his intent that school age students be required to maintain full-time equivalency status or be subject to truancy provisions. In addition, HB 1275 would require parents to enter a contract with DESE agreeing to provide a minimal level of assistance to their children. Rep. Baker, further, envisions that students would take the MAP at the local s! chool district, with DESE reimbursing the school district for costs associated with administration of the exam.
A number of education associations have expressed support for HB 1275. The School Administrators Coalition has not taken a position.