MADISON - The growing popularity of online schools means some students could be turned away next fall.
To address this issue, Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, announced Wednesday he plans to introduce legislation next month to eliminate caps on virtual school enrollment.
Last year, the Legislature passed a bill limiting the number of virtual school students in the state at 5,250. Davis said early estimates from school districts around the state indicate the number of students could meet or exceed the state's limits.
In the 2008-09 school year there were about 3,500 students enrolled in virtual schools.
If the number of students who want to enroll in virtual schools goes above 5,250, there will be a lottery to determine who is accepted into the schools.
Returning students and siblings of students automatically are enrolled and are exempt from the lottery, Davis added.
"There could be students turned away from virtual schools," he said.
The enrollment caps were part of a compromise bill that resulted from a court ruling that threatened to shut down virtual schools. In December 2007, an appeals court ruled that the state's largest virtual school was operating in violation of open-enrollment, charter school and teacher licensing laws. The same logic could have been applied to the state's other virtual schools.
Legislation to eliminate the enrollment caps are needed before the start of the school year in September, Davis said.
He knows getting a bill passed could be difficult, however.
"I'm a realist. I know the Republicans don't control the Legislature," he said.
Davis was able to work with Democrats last year to get virtual school legislation passed. He hopes to work with Democrats again this year.
"We need to take politics out of this," he said. "I'm open to working with anyone."
Davis said virtual schools are needed.
"Not all students learn the same and virtual schools have benefited gifted students and students with special needs," Davis said.
Virtual schools allow students to learn from home under the guidance of their parents and instructors who teach over the Internet. They are popular with families who want their students to learn from home, but the schools are opposed by teachers' unions and critics who say they drain money from traditional public schools.
Monroe is one of 12 districts in the state that have virtual schools.
"Wisconsin can lead the nation in education policy if it takes the bold step of removing the arbitrary cap on these public schools," Davis said.
To address this issue, Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, announced Wednesday he plans to introduce legislation next month to eliminate caps on virtual school enrollment.
Last year, the Legislature passed a bill limiting the number of virtual school students in the state at 5,250. Davis said early estimates from school districts around the state indicate the number of students could meet or exceed the state's limits.
In the 2008-09 school year there were about 3,500 students enrolled in virtual schools.
If the number of students who want to enroll in virtual schools goes above 5,250, there will be a lottery to determine who is accepted into the schools.
Returning students and siblings of students automatically are enrolled and are exempt from the lottery, Davis added.
"There could be students turned away from virtual schools," he said.
The enrollment caps were part of a compromise bill that resulted from a court ruling that threatened to shut down virtual schools. In December 2007, an appeals court ruled that the state's largest virtual school was operating in violation of open-enrollment, charter school and teacher licensing laws. The same logic could have been applied to the state's other virtual schools.
Legislation to eliminate the enrollment caps are needed before the start of the school year in September, Davis said.
He knows getting a bill passed could be difficult, however.
"I'm a realist. I know the Republicans don't control the Legislature," he said.
Davis was able to work with Democrats last year to get virtual school legislation passed. He hopes to work with Democrats again this year.
"We need to take politics out of this," he said. "I'm open to working with anyone."
Davis said virtual schools are needed.
"Not all students learn the same and virtual schools have benefited gifted students and students with special needs," Davis said.
Virtual schools allow students to learn from home under the guidance of their parents and instructors who teach over the Internet. They are popular with families who want their students to learn from home, but the schools are opposed by teachers' unions and critics who say they drain money from traditional public schools.
Monroe is one of 12 districts in the state that have virtual schools.
"Wisconsin can lead the nation in education policy if it takes the bold step of removing the arbitrary cap on these public schools," Davis said.