MADISON - Monroe superintendent Larry Brown supports a plan introduced Friday by Reps. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, and Dan LeMahieu, R-Cascade, to preserve virtual school funding.
Brown said Davis' bill maintains "the flexibility necessary for virtual schools to continue to provide an innovative educational opportunity."
Brown said virtual school legislation is important.
"The next few weeks will be critical in determining the future for virtual education in the state of Wisconsin and the survival of the Monroe virtual schools," he said.
The bill proposed by Davis and LeMahieu retains funding and enrollment as it is now for virtual schools. The bill was proposed as a countermeasure to one introduced by Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine.
Under Lehman's plan, virtual schools would continue to enroll students from across the state but they would receive less money than they currently receive per student. The bill also would cut in half the amount of money a school district would receive per student to about half, Davis said Friday.
Davis said Lehman's plan would restrict virtual schools by cutting in half the money given to school districts that operate a virtual school. For example, each district in the state is given about $11,000 per student. If a student from Oregon decides to attend Monroe's virtual school, the Monroe school district receives about $6,000 and the Oregon school district receives about $5,000. Lehman's bill would give the Monroe school district $3,000 and the Oregon district $8,000.
"If that happens, the Monroe school district would have a difficult time operating," Davis said Friday.
Brown opposes Lehman's bill.
"Lehman's bill would close the doors to the Monroe Virtual School and requires the families of over 400 students to find an appropriate alternative education solution," Brown said. Lehman's bill would also put "significant" operational restrictions on existing and new virtual schools, he added.
The bill is expected to go the Education Committee, which Davis chairs, and a public hearing could be held as early as next week.
There are 12 virtual schools in Wisconsin, including Monroe.
Brown said Davis' bill maintains "the flexibility necessary for virtual schools to continue to provide an innovative educational opportunity."
Brown said virtual school legislation is important.
"The next few weeks will be critical in determining the future for virtual education in the state of Wisconsin and the survival of the Monroe virtual schools," he said.
The bill proposed by Davis and LeMahieu retains funding and enrollment as it is now for virtual schools. The bill was proposed as a countermeasure to one introduced by Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine.
Under Lehman's plan, virtual schools would continue to enroll students from across the state but they would receive less money than they currently receive per student. The bill also would cut in half the amount of money a school district would receive per student to about half, Davis said Friday.
Davis said Lehman's plan would restrict virtual schools by cutting in half the money given to school districts that operate a virtual school. For example, each district in the state is given about $11,000 per student. If a student from Oregon decides to attend Monroe's virtual school, the Monroe school district receives about $6,000 and the Oregon school district receives about $5,000. Lehman's bill would give the Monroe school district $3,000 and the Oregon district $8,000.
"If that happens, the Monroe school district would have a difficult time operating," Davis said Friday.
Brown opposes Lehman's bill.
"Lehman's bill would close the doors to the Monroe Virtual School and requires the families of over 400 students to find an appropriate alternative education solution," Brown said. Lehman's bill would also put "significant" operational restrictions on existing and new virtual schools, he added.
The bill is expected to go the Education Committee, which Davis chairs, and a public hearing could be held as early as next week.
There are 12 virtual schools in Wisconsin, including Monroe.