'Virtual school' pilot program clicks with Senate, House panels [Jeb leads the way online]

The Palm Beach Post ^ | April 5, 2006 | Andrew Marra

[summer]

TALLAHASSEE — When students go to school, they usually have to go to school. That is, walk into a classroom setting, sit down with a teacher and scribble some notes while surrounded by their peers.

The Internet age is changing that, and state lawmakers seem ready to jump on the wagon for good.

Committees in the [FL] House and Senate advanced bills with little opposition Tuesday that would make Florida's pilot "virtual school" program a permanent reality.

The [FL] state Department of Education has been paying private companies to run a pilot program that allows 800 students from kindergarten through eighth grade to receive instruction over the Internet while being home-schooled.

The bills advancing in the legislature (SB 1282, HB 7039) would fix the program permanently in state statute and leave it to lawmakers to decide how many students to pay for each year.

The [FL] Department of Education operates a similar program for high school students but does not contract with private companies to provide the curriculum.

State Rep. Shelley Vana, D-Lantana, voted against the proposal Tuesday, arguing that she had not seen enough documentation that the virtual school produced real results.

"I haven't seen the evidence that they're doing all that well," she said. "I'm a skeptic still."

The state's pilot program was operated by two for-profit virtual schools, including K12, which was run by former U.S. Education Secretary and drug czar William Bennett.

Students received a $4,800 voucher to attend, were taught primarily by their parents and were required to take the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

[summer]

The bills advancing in the [FL} legislature (SB 1282, HB 7039) would fix the program permanently in state statute and leave it to lawmakers to decide how many students to pay for each year.

...Students received a $4,800 voucher to attend, were taught primarily by their parents and were required to take the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

I think this is terrific news for FL. Thanks to Gov Bush, it seems that virtual schooling will continue to expand in FL. Most kids love learning on a computer.

[summer]

PS This Dem leader sounds like she is clueless, in light of all the distant learning already happening, successfully, in K-12 and college:

State Rep. Shelley Vana, D-Lantana, voted against the proposal Tuesday, arguing that she had not seen enough documentation that the virtual school produced real results.

"I haven't seen the evidence that they're doing all that well," she said. "I'm a skeptic still."

[traviskicks]

Bush is my favorite gov on education bar none.

[summer]

FYI. :)

BTW, I added that link in the article to FL Virtual School. That grade 6-12 school is already a big sucess, and is free to FL residents. It offers AP courses, GED programs and a lot more! All online!

[summer]

Overall, he has been great on education. An A+ for him. Even if voters don't like everything he does, the majority of voters here still love him for trying. Because he's ALWAYS to improve education for all kids! God bless him!

[summer]

I meant to type: success

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

FYI. I thought you'd be interested in this in light of this thread:

(WI)Ruling supports virtual schools Teachers union loses in Ozaukee (County)court

[summer]

FYI.

[Nightshift]

homeschool ping

[summer]

I like your tag line. :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[taxesareforever]

State Rep. Shelley Vana, D-Lantana, voted against the proposal Tuesday, arguing that she had not seen enough documentation that the virtual school produced real results.

But she HAS seen the results of public education and if she thinks that it is better that a new program, she is in denial.

[expat_panama]

This Dem leader sounds like she is clueless...

She knows exactly what she's doing-- locking up her union support no matter what it does to the kids.   At the same time she keeps the anti-education press in her camp-- notice how they use the word 'voucher' (negative) instead of 'scholarship' (positive).

My daughter the teacher just told me that K12 is fabulous and a similar program is in development here in Ohio.

[summer]

Funny you mention Ohio. There was an Op-Ed in the NYT yesterday, complaining about the union standing in the way of innovation such as online education in charter schools. Here's an excerpt:

...To be sure, virtual charter schools raise some accountability problems. The Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, Ohio's largest virtual school, and two online charter schools in Florida ran into trouble recently for such practices as enrolling ineligible students. The schools clearly need better state regulation and oversight.

What they don't need is reflexive opposition from the teachers' unions. And virtual charter schools are just part of a larger debate about public education. There is a universal American desire for customization and variety in goods and services, and education must respond to that demand, whether the unions like it or not....

The writer does not have his facts updated about Florida, since the op-ed does not mention Florida's decision, as discussed in the Palm Beah Post article here, to take over its two online pilot programs for K-8. Nor does it mention Florida's very successful virtual high school for grades 6-12, already well known, and long championed by Gov Bush.

But the writer did make some good points elsewhere, and mentioned Ohio a lot.

It took me a little while until I remembered: Ohio was a real battleground state in the last presidential election.

So -- maybe national Dem leaders are now thinking they need to distance themselves from the union when the union does not support changes clearly supported by the public. I'm not sure how far they can distance themselves without losing money from the union, and I don't know that the union wants to embrace changes like virtual education. When I think of education reform, and virtual education, I think of Republican leaders who have consistenly supported choice, especially Gov Bush.

[summer]

Yes, I think she's more than a little off here. She should be supporting efforts to improve education. Plus, this is a program uniquely suited for some kids who really do prefer learning online, with accountability the same as other kids (FCAT).

[kittymyrib]

But won't they miss the social advantage of having four of your fellow schoolmates planning to murder kids in the cafeteria like the teenage thugs in NJ? Won't they miss the gang fights and the drug pushers in the bathrooms, not to mention the horny women teachers who want to molest then? And who would indoctrinate them about the glories of liberalism/Marxism, Gaia worship, and the homosexual lifestyle?
There is no reason for any child to have to go to public schools in the internet age. Most would get much better educations by having excellent teachers teach them over the net. And they would certainly be safer physically, mentally, and spiritually by staying away from the anti-God hellholes many public schools are today.

[summer]

There is no reason for any child to have to go to public schools in the internet age.

I think that's what the teachers union fears. So, either the union will get on board, or the train leaves without them.

I do believe in 100 years or so, public schools as they have historically existed will no longer exist, because of technology. And, more people will be educated as a result of technology. I just don't see how that can NOT happen in another century. It seems so obvious and inevitable to me.

[livius]

Great idea! He's really going full steam ahead on this, too.