Virtual Charter Schools

Virtual Charter Schools Make their Debut in Washington State

In the 2005 legislative session a bill was passed to allow for “digital learning programs” (SB5828 and HB1633)

http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Law%202006/3098-S2.SL.pdf

These programs have in effect, created “virtual charter schools” in Washington State. There are approximately 38 school districts operating these programs. As of this year, some programs are now being administered by for-profit companies such as K12, Insight, and the Digital Learning Commons.

These programs are public school-at-home programs and should not be confused with independent homeschooling under the home-based instruction law 28A.200. Any homeschooler who enrolls in the program relinquishes their homeschool freedoms and must adhere to state standards, goals, testing and curriculum. CHN worked hard to require by law a “full disclosure” form. Our goal was to help parents make a more informed decision and so there was no question as to the enrollment status of the child.

At this point in our preliminary research, many of the sites do not appear to be including this form in the enrollment process. Some sites are also not allowing for part-time access. We are in the process of investigating these allegations and will update this page when we have conclusive evidence.

Note: According to OSPI, a program can deny part-time access for out-of-district students. These may be “virtual schools” but they are administered by a local school district and fall under local school district policies.

The state superintendent’s office was given authority to write rules governing the programs. They included the “digital learning programs” under a revision to the alternative learning experience rules WAC 392-121-182.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=392-121-182

Below is a brief program overview from the state rules (editor’s emphasis added):

WAC 392-121-182 Alternative Learning Experience requirements

  (1) An alternative learning experience may be counted as a course of study. A school district alternative learning experience may make use of digital and/or on-line curricula, and may be delivered over the internet or using other electronic means. A school district alternative learning experience may also include significant participation by students, parents, and families in the design and implementation of a student's learning experience. This section provides an alternative method of determining full-time equivalent enrollment and claiming state funding for public school learning experiences that are:

     (a) Individual courses of study for students who meet the definition for enrollment specified by WAC 392-121-106. Students may enroll part-time in alternative learning experiences. Such enrollment shall be subject to the provisions of RCW 28A.150.350 and chapter 392-134 WAC;

     (b) Supervised, monitored, assessed, and evaluated by school staff. As used in this section, "school staff" means certificated instructional staff of the school district according to the provisions of chapter 180-82 WAC, or a contractor pursuant to WAC 392-121-188;

    (c) Provided in accordance with a written alternative learning experience plan that is implemented pursuant to the school district board's policy for alternative learning experiences; and

     (d) Provided in whole or part, outside the regular classroom setting, including those learning experiences provided digitally via the internet or other electronic means.

3 (b) It is the responsibility of the school district or school district contractor to ensure that students have all curricula, course content, instructional materials, and other learning resources essential to successfully complete the requirements of the written student learning plan. Curricula, course content, instructional materials, and other learning resources for alternative learning experiences shall at minimum be consistent in quality with those available to the district's overall student population. Instructional materials shall be provided in accordance with RCW 28A.320.230.

Editor’s note: This means district approved curriculum.

(e) A school district that provides one or more alternative learning experiences to a student shall provide the parent(s) or guardian of the student, prior to the student's enrollment, with a description of the difference between home-based instruction pursuant to chapter 28A.200 RCW and the enrollment option selected by the student. The parent or guardian shall sign documentation attesting to his or her understanding of the difference and the documentation shall be retained by the district and made available for audit.

Editor’s note, this form is known as the Statement of Understanding Form.

Preserving homeschool freedoms for today and tomorrow!

Permission to copy and distribute if copied in its entirety, or contact chnow@msn.com

If you support the work of the Christian Homeschool Network, please join us at http://www.chnow.org/id14.html

This information is not intended to be and does not constitute the giving of legal advice