National Charter School Watch Blog

Well, that is if the Indiana Democrats and the state Teachers’ Association has their way.  

State budget could restrict virtual charter schools

Monday, April 16, 2007
By DEANNA MARTIN

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INDIANAPOLIS - Two virtual charter schools were prepared to start teaching hundreds of Indiana students this fall _ but some lawmakers want to stop them from opening their online doors.

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Some legislators want to put the brakes on the schools that have teachers and lessons like traditional public schools but offer most instruction online to students at home.

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Some critics wonder if the online instruction is a form of taxpayer-funded home schooling because students work at home with a parent or other learning coach.**snip**
A state budget plan drafted by Democrats who control the House would ban all virtual charter schools, including Indiana Connections Academy and the Indiana Virtual Charter School. The budget proposed by the GOP-led Senate would allow those two schools to open this fall but would prevent any new ones from being established until 2009. Lawmakers will begin working soon on a compromise version of the budget.

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Some Democrats argue that taxpayer money shouldn’t be used for the online schools, which Ball State University chartered. **snip**
Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, said that money would be better spent elsewhere.“Are virtual charter schools more important than full-day kindergarten? I think not,” Porter said.  (end of snips, see link above)