MONROE - It didn't take long Wednesday for the Senate to approve a compromise virtual school bill similar to one passed Monday by the Assembly.
Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, said the measure passed by a voice vote after senators voiced their appreciation to Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, who put in a lot of time to reach a compromise.
Erpenbach said he wasn't surprised the bill passed so quickly.
"We needed to come up with a resolution," he said.
Erpenbach said the Senate, Assembly and governor's office had worked out the agreement and all that was left was to approve it.
About a dozen virtual schools with about 3,400 students have faced the prospect of closing after a December appeals court ruling said the largest one was in violation of state laws, raising the possibility all would be shut down.
One of the schools is in Monroe.
The appeals court had 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 be applied to the others.
Supporters begged lawmakers to keep them open, saying they are vital for students who do not learn well in traditional schools and for parents who want to educate children from home.
In February, the Republican-controlled Assembly had approved a bill to bring the schools in compliance with several state laws while allowing them to keep growing rapidly. Gov. Jim Doyle announced he wouldn't sign any legislation that didn't include an enrollment cap. The Democratic-controlled Senate included a two-year enrollment freeze in the first version of the bill it passed.
Leadership in the Senate and Assembly, along with Lehman and Assembly Education Committee chairman Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, worked to arrive at a compromise to settle the issue.
The compromise allows the schools to increase to a permanent cap of 5,250 students, not counting siblings of current students, who are guaranteed the opportunity to enroll.
Doyle has said he will sign the bill into law.
Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, said the measure passed by a voice vote after senators voiced their appreciation to Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, who put in a lot of time to reach a compromise.
Erpenbach said he wasn't surprised the bill passed so quickly.
"We needed to come up with a resolution," he said.
Erpenbach said the Senate, Assembly and governor's office had worked out the agreement and all that was left was to approve it.
About a dozen virtual schools with about 3,400 students have faced the prospect of closing after a December appeals court ruling said the largest one was in violation of state laws, raising the possibility all would be shut down.
One of the schools is in Monroe.
The appeals court had 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 be applied to the others.
Supporters begged lawmakers to keep them open, saying they are vital for students who do not learn well in traditional schools and for parents who want to educate children from home.
In February, the Republican-controlled Assembly had approved a bill to bring the schools in compliance with several state laws while allowing them to keep growing rapidly. Gov. Jim Doyle announced he wouldn't sign any legislation that didn't include an enrollment cap. The Democratic-controlled Senate included a two-year enrollment freeze in the first version of the bill it passed.
Leadership in the Senate and Assembly, along with Lehman and Assembly Education Committee chairman Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, worked to arrive at a compromise to settle the issue.
The compromise allows the schools to increase to a permanent cap of 5,250 students, not counting siblings of current students, who are guaranteed the opportunity to enroll.
Doyle has said he will sign the bill into law.