National Charter School Watch Blog

Group: Ruling could shut down virtual schools across Wis.

BY RYAN J. FOLEY

Dec 5, 2007 4:42 PM

snip:

MADISON, Wis. (Map, News) - Virtual schools that enroll thousands of Wisconsin students could be shut down after a court ordered the state to stop funding its largest one, an advocacy group warned Wednesday.

The ruling could result in school districts having to close their online charter schools in coming months and years, said Rose Fernandez, president of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families.

The warning came after the District 2 Court of Appeals ruled the Wisconsin Virtual Academy was violating state law by allowing parents to assume the duties of state-licensed teachers.

The court said the school also has been violating a law requiring charter schools to be located in the district that operates them. It ordered the Department of Public Instruction to stop shifting funding to the school from other districts where students live.

The school will appeal to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and ask for a stay so that it can remain open until the case is settled, principal Kurt Bergland said.

(end of snip, click link above)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COURT OF APPEALS DECISION

http://www.wicourts.gov/ca/opinion/DisplayDocument.html?content=html&seqNo=31069

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mary Bell, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, explains in this editorial why the WEAC opposes the Wisconsin Virtual Academy.

Filing suit the right thing to do for students
By MARY BELL
Posted: Dec. 22, 2007

I was asked in the comments section recently as to a specific example of a charter school where allotments were in the $2000 - $3000+ range.

Here it is: Family Partnership Charter School in Alaska. The highest amount that could be alloted is actually $3300.

Time to get back to work here this week.  It was a good time of refreshment and getting the kiddos focused on the new homeschool year.

Annette

Thank you for visiting this blog.  I’m taking a blogging break for a bit.  Life is calling me away for this month, and I must heed it’s call.  I’ll be back in October catching up this blog on the news events that I’ve missed in September.

In the meantime, you can check out HEM: News & Commentary and the NCSW yahoogroup to be sure not to miss anything.

On the basis, that some consideration is being given to my concerns, I’m hereby calling a truce.

Terri W. has begun a new yahoogroup that some of our readers may be interested in.

From Terri:

To: AHA-PoliticalAction@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, August 31, 2007 11:38 AM

Subject: [AHA-PoliticalAction] New group: Home Based Learning Support

Home Based Learning Support
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Home_Based_Learning_Support

This list is not moderated (except for new members) and all posts are
public.

Home Based Learning Support is a national email list supporting
family choice in learning, and promoting discussion, interest,
evaluation, resources and networking for all types of family led
learning options like homeschooling, virtual schools, and private and
public school programs that provide home-based learning options.

We believe education requires accountability first and foremost to
the student – and a student who is enjoying learning in a supportive,
engaging, exciting and flexible environment has the greatest
opportunity to become an involved citizen and a lifelong learner.
This list is *not* for deciding the merits or lack thereof, of others
choices or interests, but for learning from one another and making
our own choices. This list is guided by a single Rule of Civility,
asking that kindness, compassion and understanding be honored by all,
for all.
________________________________________

Please feel free to share this with others, and to invite families
you know who may be using home based learning options and might
benefit from such a forum.

Thanks for you patience while I’ve figured things out, and thanks for
helping me figure them out.

Terri
HomeEdPower
http://homeedpower.blogspot
Home Based Learning Support
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Home_Based_Learning_Support

Over at the AHA-Political Action yahoogroup, we are having quite the discussion. Discussion points range from what is homeschool activism, how does it differ from ps at home activism, what things might we (the two different groups of parents) have in common that would bring us together and what things will always separate us. If this sounds of interest to you, come on over.

I thought readers might enjoy a sampling of the posts that are being generated (posted with permission).

Judy Aron shared her point of view on homeschool activism:

Activism is in part trying to remove government interference, restrictions and regulations on homeschooling, not just work with them. The best way to do that is to educate our legislators and agency heads as to why those restrictions are unnecessary and counterproductive. They most likely will legislate that which they do not understand and that which they have fears about.

Most of my work centers around dispelling the myths and stereotypes of homeschooling, and to prevent homeschooling from just being another version of public school (government controlled education), while also educating people on how to figure out and how to find the laws in their state that allow them to homeschool. In lots of cases, we find that the law is quite different then what the state boards of education say the law is. People are easily duped into doing things without finding out what they are statutorily bound to do, merely because some authority figure tells them they have to do something. Every person who is told they must file or test or do whatever should be asking the question, “show me the law that says I have to do this”, if they haven’t looked it up for themselves (and actually they ought to look it up for themselves just the same). One does not have to look very far to find an agency that abuses its authority. Activism is fighting against that by being armed with the knowledge of what the law says and then working to change it if you do not like what it says.

Accepting the law because it is there is not what activism is about. We have the ability to get laws changed - as has been seen in New Hampshire regarding the elimination of cumbersome reporting.

Personally, I’d like to see every state be like CT, and a few others that do not require reporting or testing of any kind. That is true homeschool freedom. The point is that there should be a choice in education that has no government control or oversight attached to it. If all education is controlled by the state (and yes we are seeing private schools begin to be controlled by the state) then what real choices do we have?

Judy

Lynda’s thoughts about the homeschool activist’s job:

I think the activists job is two fold. To work to ensure that the government does not assume and work to enforce any more than the law actually states and requires AND educate homeschoolers so they don’t voluntarily give up their rights under the law thus setting up a scenario where more regulations are put in place due to homeschoolers ignorance of the law.

Lynda

Recently, I did a blog entry entitled:

“A Level Playing Field for Ps-at-home Folks within Homeschool Activism?”

Emilie Fogle, homeschool advocate in Washington state, and I have been having a discussion about homeschool activism and public school at home programs in her state. With Emilie’s permission, I’m moving this discussion up to this blog entry. My comments are in italics to set off Emilie’s good information about homeschool activism in Washington state.

In a “A Level Playing Field for Ps-at-home Folks within Homeschool Activism?”

Annette wrote:
There are some situations upon enrollment where the information is presented with parents having to acknowledge in some way, such as signing a consent form, that they do understand the difference between a public school program and homeschooling. It is quite possible that the work of homeschool advocates have led to this buyer beware clause.

Emilie Fogle replied:
This clause, or Statement of Understanding, in WA State is solely due to the work of Homeschool advocates, particularly the Washington Homeschool Organization (WHO) and Washington Association of Teaching Christian Homes (WATCH).

Sadly we also fought and won part time enrollment rights for hsers in these programs. Sometimes it appears as though independent homeschool support groups are the only ones who provide answers, direct people to the law and generally do the majority of supporting. Lost are the individual families who come together to forge new connections and find new resources without advice from teachers and money from the State. The school schedules have changed slightly to allow for taking a holiday mid week but the schedule for “outcomes” is still there for full or part time students. Some families are more comfortable with School-at-Home than their own creative alternative to Public School.

Yes, we will continue to promote and protect independence from public school schedules and materials as public schools are becoming conduits for Education Management Organizations. We’ve hit the big time - we’re money makers for For Profit companies and school districts.

Annette wrote:
Thanks, Em for sharing. I’m curious what problems were you seeing that created a need for the clause in the first place? Was it easy or difficult to get the clause inserted? How time consuming was this? For that matter, how time consuming is it for WA homeschool advocates in keeping the distinctions clear between the two options?

Emilie Fogle wrote:
The specific problem Washington homeschoolers experienced without this form, called the Statement of Understanding were misrepresentation of the alternative ed. programs. If a program had the word homeschooling in it or if someone called the schools and asked about homeschooling, they were often directed to these programs and believed, given the word, homeschooling, that it was indeed independent homeschooling. We were forever explaining the law to public school families. The battle had to be addressed with each school district, over and over. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) did not do much. So there was definitely a need.

It was not that easy. You have to have communications with the State and be notified of meetings/changes. We did have rapport with state officials and we had a state hsing representative (Washington Homeschool Organization ) on a loooong standing committee.

History lesson:
This committee, by the way, was formed when changes were proposed back in the late 1990s; I believe to the Alternative Learning Experience Program law which had been passed in 1996. While the State and legislative bodies thought homeschoolers were in love with these programs, homeschoolers were having Heated Debates over them. Public hearings were so contentious, the State decided to table the changes and form this committee. Two major issues that were on the table; part time enrollment and the use of Homeschooling in the titles of these programs. I can’t remember how long many watched and were updated on the progress or lack of progress of this committee. Definitely years.

We got this simple sheet (Statement of Understanding), part time enrollment, as well as the capability for online schools in 2005. We felt great. However, some feel defeated. By pushing for part time enrollment for home-based instruction students (legal term for independent homeschoolers), we have allowed EMOs more reason to market to us. The number of virtual schools operated by EMOs or schools districts have exploded. There is a caveat to the part time enrollment, schools/EMOs can deny part time enrollment if it is a financial burden to the schools.

Opinion:
I believe we have kept the distinctions fairly clear ONLY due to constant debates and information sharing on the EMOs and school district’s operations. Many, many want only to merrily go about their daily lives “schooling at home” and calling themselves homeschoolers. Most families now know they choose to enroll in a public school program (with the school schedules/progress, teacher advise, curriculum limitations) and when pressed will admit they are not homeschooling. What we are facing now is the direct and indirect blitz of “I’m so happy with this program” of part time enrollees.

Fact:
These new rules have spawned some creative programs. And it will probably be independent homeschoolers who once again ask the State to audit them to keep them within their legal limits.

The fun never stops. And like getting old, activism is NOT for sissies.

Annette asks:
As much work as these programs are causing for some homeschool advocates, do you oppose these public school at home programs?

Emilie Fogle wrote:
I don’t oppose these programs, never have. I’m getting more cynical after all the years of pointing out the law to those who should know it, that’s for sure. I never wanted the advocacy job but it’s amazing what you can do when you see such chaos. I was truly afraid homeschoolers would be blamed for the lack of accountability these programs had in the early years. I’m feeling more comfortable at explaining the differences to new homeschoolers, school officials and our legislators. I also don’t mind explaining why it is in all our best interests to not only keep these programs separate but to know enough about each educational choice so we can inform young families.

Annette wrote:
Thank you for taking time to inform us here of how things are in
Washington state from a homeschool advocate point of view.

Over at The Eclectic Telegraph is an interesting allegory from the Editor. I consider it worth reading when one has a few minutes to chew it over.

The Wild and Free Pigs of the Okefenokee Swamp

Mary Nix has a post up at Home Education Magazine’s News and Commentary:

Responding to ‘A Look at Homeschooling & Education Choice’
By Terri W. (webring owner of Homeschool Empowerment)

A bit of background information that relates for readers:

A good effort, I believe, was started on behalf of homeschool activism a few months back. Terri W., longtime Florida homeschool advocate, put together a webring for the purpose of supporting grassroots homeschool activism. I’ll include here the description of the webring:

Homeschool Empowerment Webring

This is the homepage for the Homeschool Empowerment Webring. Webring members consist of grassroots homeschool support groups, blogs and websites committed to empowering home educators to make educated decisions in their own lives by sharing information and resources freely and equally. Member groups are outspoken, highly interested in homeschool activism and willing and able to participate in media outreach.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? I certainly thought so until Terri W. approved membership for charter school founders whose children are enrolled in that charter school. Now, I don’t have a bone to pick with these three moms who state that they are homeschooling while their children are enrolled in a public charter school. These parents do not reside in my state. I don’t agree with them, but then again, I don’t live in Alaska as they do.

However, I had joined a national homeschool webring based upon its description. I am not disappointed in the webring itself, on the contrary. I am disappointed in the lack of discernment from the webring owner in changing the focus of the webring without any notification to the current members. I cannot seem to get an answer from Terri as to why public school parents with a blog which promotes schooling with a public charter school is eligible for membership in a “homeschool” webring. If the criteria for membership is that any parent or blog owner *can claim* that they are homeschooling while their children are actually enrolled in a public school at home program, then I would like to know this is the case.

Previously, I blogged: “A Level Playing Field for Ps-at-home Folks within Homeschool Activism?”

My inspiration for this blog entry came about because of a recent discussion with Terri W. that took place at the Home Education Magazine Networking yahoogroup that involves this situation.

To encourage readers this should not be a case of “live and let live”, I’ll share the links to posts which are now tied to “Homeschool Empowerment Webring”.

About Homeschool 2 Point 0

3 Steps to Making State Standards Useful at Home:

No Child Left Behind Homeschool

If this as a homeschool advocate causes your blood pressure to rise, please do not flame these blog owners. It is my opinion that unless a person lives in Alaska, what is on that blog is not a problem to them. However, it is also my opinion that a national homeschool webring whose members are stated (in the group description) to be willing to participate in media outreach should be a huge concern to homeschool advocates everywhere. Why should homeschool advocates be so accommodating to the point of their own downfall? To even have to invest time to refute information generated from the webring that one can homeschool through a public school at home program is self-defeating to homeschool advocates. At one point, on a large national list, Terri stated that the webring belonged to the members. If this was a sincere statement, then the members, potential members and readers should be able to have the opportunity to influence the webring owner that an error has been made; an error which should be reversed.

If you’re interested in discussing in a public forum how homeschool and public school at home advocates might work together to influence the webring owner, please feel free to do so at the American Homeschool Association’s Political Action Yahoogroup. This is something that should be of concern to public school at home parents as well. It is important to the survival of both educational options that we do not allow these options to be blended into one–not even by a homeschool webring owner. I can be reached via email at: ajcjdm@localnet.com

Please read the title of this blog entry again. It is a concept that can totally boggle the mind of the homeschool advocate.

In this era of various public school at home programs, things can get mighty confusing in the realm of homeschool activism. While there are many places where there is increasing clarity between what is homeschooling and what is not, there are other areas where a flashlight doesn’t seem to be able to brighten the darkest corner.

After having spent much time discussing and reading the issues of homeschooling and public school at home, I wanted to share a few items for the reader’s consideration here:

1. There are school districts and even parents involved who are shepherding families into public school at home programs without offering any or complete information about homeschooling. This happens because there is money to be made by keeping people uninformed between the differences of homeschooling and public school at home. As much as some homeschool advocates would like to think parents are fully informed of the distinctiveness of the two options, it is…well, a bit naive to think this is the case all the time. I ask is that a level playing field for homeschooling?

There are some situations upon enrollment where the information is presented with parents having to acknowledge in some way, such as signing a consent form, that they do understand the difference between a public school program and homeschooling. It is quite possible that the work of homeschool advocates have led to this buyer beware clause.

2. There are public school at home programs (including charter schools) where families are given an allotment of $2000 - more than $3000 per child. Families homeschooling their children receive no government assistance as such. Is that a level playing field for homeschool families?

3. Public school at home programs usually have big money for advertising and for paid employees to keep the wheels turning, while homeschool support groups mostly depend on volunteers. Active homeschool support groups have been known to melt away with the introduction of public school at home programs. Often in its place, resource centers for public at home students have arisen; while gone or difficult to find are the groups for homeschooled children. Is that a level playing field for homeschooling?

Lest the reader think this is a whine about the have’s and have not’s, or think this is a plea to some wealthy philanthropist to donate a million or two to some homeschool cause, let me assure readers that it is neither.

The uneven playing field is not a new thing to homeschooling. Homeschooling has always been about individuals making a way through the difficulties to accomplish the education of one’s children. Both homeschooling and public schooling are different political choices. Respecting parents’ choice to use public school at home programs is one thing. But to assert that a level playing field is needed for public school at home folks within homeschool activism is beyond credible or understandable.

Since when did a level playing field become the goal for homeschool activism? Was there a meeting where the “Fairness Doctrine” was passed? The goal of homeschool activism, as I was familiar with, was to protect and promote homeschooling as a viable alternative to public schooling. It is not for the purpose of gathering in a hand-holding circle and singing, “Kumbiya, My Lord”. Homeschool advocates and public school at home advocates are on two different places of the political spectrum. It’s not wrong to be different. It’s wrong and dangerous to both educational options to pretend that they are not. Both groups of advocates should be proudly and unapologetically finding their place in their own distinct activism.