Oppose Virtual Charter Schools Example
House Bill 1554 by House
Public Education Committee Chair Rep. Grusendorf and Senate Bill 933 by
Senate Public Education Committee Chair Senator Florence Shapiro have been
filed and are scheduled to be in committee this week. Under these bills,
home-schooled students and students in private and religious schools could
enroll in the new virtual charter schools part-time or full-time, with all
costs paid by the taxpayers. The bills provide that taxpayers will pay to
lease or purchase a computer and printer to loan each student and ship it to
their home school or private school, as well as reimburse with public funds
the cost of each charter school student's monthly Internet connection.
This bill provides
unlimited numbers of virtual charter schools that could be authorized by
more than 50 public senior colleges and universities in Texas. There are an
estimated 150,000 home-schooled students in Texas and more than 300,000
student enrolled in private and religious schools.
Two states have
implemented a plan similar to this. Pennsylvania and California have been
plagued with controversies related to virtual charter schools. Problems
include complex litigation regarding funding, lack of special education
services, irregularities in attendance accounting, finance and auditing
problems, enrollment of more students than cyber schools were equipped to
handle, lack of a well-balanced learning experience, software flaws
resulting in frozen screens and lost lessons, parental complaints, not
delivering computers on time, etc.
For-profit on-line school
corporations that are seeking to be paid $4700 for each full-time child
enrolled in their virtual are pushing the virtual charter school concept.
By the way, this bill includes virtual kindergarten offered on-line!!!!!!!
I would strongly encourage
you to retain public funds for public education. Help our schools to
continue the successful practices that have resulted in national recognition
for the exemplary performance of all students. Allocate funds for quality
teachers in quality classrooms teaching quality curriculum. Home-school
programs range from high quality to non-existent, many serving only as
recourse in lieu of truancy charges filed for non-attendance in school, not
dissatisfaction with the educational system. In my 30 years of education
experience, I know of two families that have provided a quality home-school
program for their children. Both families chose to enroll their children in
public schools beginning in 8th grade. The mothers of both
sets of children were certified teachers. I have no doubt the intent of
this bill is to address those children in unique situations in unique areas
of the state; however, these bills are not in the best interest of the state
at large. Moving public education from the classroom to the living room is
not the answer. Please OPPOSE BH 1554 and SB 933.
Respectfully yours,
Mary Ann Whiteker
Superintendent
TAMS President |
