Public Virtual Schools

I'll have more, much more, on this tomorrow.

Rose Fernandez, the President of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families has a column up today at WisOpinion. In it, she refutes the arguments of those who continue their attempts to close her children's school.

Writing specifically about a bill that sits on the Governor's desk, she writes:

The public virtual school community is incredibly appreciative of the choice and flexibility by existing Wisconsin statutes. Wisconsin's Charter Schools and Open Enrollment laws combine to allow - indeed encourage - the creation of a range of public school opportunities for Wisconsin's parents and children, including public virtual schools. Because of the foresight of the Wisconsin legislature in adopting both the Charter and Open Enrollment laws, once again, Wisconsin leads the way in public school innovation. And the No Child Left Behind Act is not an obstacle to our continued progress.

WEAC, educational bureaucrats and their legislative allies who fail to understand exactly how virtual public schools operate also underestimate the families who make this choice for their children. We are not easily duped by the weak and inaccurate arguments that AB 1060's opponents have attempted to make.

The Coalition is hopefully optimistic the Governor will do the right thing and sign the bill.

The Coalition's battles on behalf of thier children and students is chronicled here.

As I mentioned, more tomorrow.

*Full disclosure, I have an interest in this issue; the families, teachers

and students that comprise this coalition are clients.