Printed on 6/5/08
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Week 11, 2006
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Dear Friends and Supporters,
As of Thursday night, 600 bills have been introduced in the Senate and the House. We have 48 days until the end of the session.
This week's update will focus mainly on K-12 education since the House passed HB 1375, our School Finance Act that placed $164 million more into the state's public schools. HB 1375, the measure that determines how much in per-pupil funding each of the state's 178 school districts, increases the per-pupil finding by $209 per student. The total funding for the previous year was a little over $9,000 per year per student.
HB 1375 added additional funding for charter schools, kept the funding for our online school program, and provided programs for the neediest students for the opportunity to succeed in the Pre-School program. We did lose an amendment that would have channeled part of the money for the Pre-School program to private schools.
I would like to present to you an analysis I have completed concerning "online" or also known as "virtual schools." I find that there is a general lack of knowledge of how these public schools work in Colorado, who can join them, at what cost, etc.
Please feel free to pass this information about online schools on to those in your email list.
Attached is a list of the "Bills in the News" for the week ending 032406.
Online Schooling
In 1998, the Colorado legislature and the Governor that made it possible to set up virtual public in Colorado. In 2000, there were 3 schools and in 2005, there are 25. In fact, the number of students in Colorado taking courses over the Internet jumped from 3,483 in the last school year to 5,730 this school year. The increase drove a 66% in state aid for online students from $19.6 million to $32.6 million.
Many people ask "what are online schools?" Public virtual schools are full-time public schools that deliver a full curriculum, learning program, and instruction using both the Internet and traditional materials. Students are able to learn from hone or other remote locations outside of a traditional classroom. There is NO direct financial cost to the parent or student.
Public virtual schools (also known as online schools, cyber schools, or e-schools) include all the goals and features of a traditional public school strong curriculum, skilled teachers, involved parents, high accountability but use powerful technology to create a flexible program that meets the needs of many students.
Public virtual schools are a growing trend and option in education. According to a 2004 U.S. Department of Education report, every state and most schools will offer some form of virtual schooling by the end of the next decade.
Public or Private?
Public virtual schools are public schools. They are not private schools, nor are they "home schools." Although public virtual schools may contract with private vendors to receive curriculum and management services, public virtual schools are governed by public entities, such as:
Public school districts
State department of education
Independent, non-profit boards of directors
Academics and Accountability
Public virtual schools are similar to traditional "bricks-and-mortar" schools in many ways, including academic services and accountability requirements:
Public virtual schools employ state-certified teachers
who are responsible for managing student learning.
Teachers track student attendance and academic
progress.
Teachers receive regular training and professional
development.
Students must take statewide assessments.
Schools are responsible for applicable daily attendance
for students.
Schools must meet federal AYP (Adequate Yearly
Program) goals.
School academic progress standards are determined,
implemented, and published, with teachers tracking
individual student performance against those standards.
A school office is required for staff.
Strong school administrators, (e.g., Principal,
Assistant Principal, Special Education Director, and
Technology Director) are needed.
Any eligible student may enroll, regardless of income,
race, academic ability, special needs, etc.
A requirement in Colorado is that the student must
attend a "bricks-and-mortar" public school for one
semester before enrolling in a virtual school, plus
they must have a grade on their report card.
There are also certain requirements that must be met
such as the need for a parent at home during the school
hours, conditions with foster children, parents with a
criminal history, etc.
Notify your local school district office if you wish
for your child to learn through a virtual school.
The curriculum aligns with state standards.
Schools are accountable for academic results,
operational effectiveness, and financial viability.
Special education needs, IEPs (Individual Education
Plans), and other related services are identified and
met by school's special education staff.
School grades, transcripts, report cards, and parent
conferences are required.
School policies and procedures, discipline policies,
and due process procedures are implemented.
School audits and state reporting are mandatory.
God's blessings to you and our country,
Sincerely,
Jim Welker Representative
Colorado District 51
As of Thursday night, 600 bills have been introduced in the Senate and the House. We have 48 days until the end of the session.
This week's update will focus mainly on K-12 education since the House passed HB 1375, our School Finance Act that placed $164 million more into the state's public schools. HB 1375, the measure that determines how much in per-pupil funding each of the state's 178 school districts, increases the per-pupil finding by $209 per student. The total funding for the previous year was a little over $9,000 per year per student.
HB 1375 added additional funding for charter schools, kept the funding for our online school program, and provided programs for the neediest students for the opportunity to succeed in the Pre-School program. We did lose an amendment that would have channeled part of the money for the Pre-School program to private schools.
I would like to present to you an analysis I have completed concerning "online" or also known as "virtual schools." I find that there is a general lack of knowledge of how these public schools work in Colorado, who can join them, at what cost, etc.
Please feel free to pass this information about online schools on to those in your email list.
Attached is a list of the "Bills in the News" for the week ending 032406.
Online Schooling
In 1998, the Colorado legislature and the Governor that made it possible to set up virtual public in Colorado. In 2000, there were 3 schools and in 2005, there are 25. In fact, the number of students in Colorado taking courses over the Internet jumped from 3,483 in the last school year to 5,730 this school year. The increase drove a 66% in state aid for online students from $19.6 million to $32.6 million.
Many people ask "what are online schools?" Public virtual schools are full-time public schools that deliver a full curriculum, learning program, and instruction using both the Internet and traditional materials. Students are able to learn from hone or other remote locations outside of a traditional classroom. There is NO direct financial cost to the parent or student.
Public virtual schools (also known as online schools, cyber schools, or e-schools) include all the goals and features of a traditional public school strong curriculum, skilled teachers, involved parents, high accountability but use powerful technology to create a flexible program that meets the needs of many students.
Public virtual schools are a growing trend and option in education. According to a 2004 U.S. Department of Education report, every state and most schools will offer some form of virtual schooling by the end of the next decade.
Public or Private?
Public virtual schools are public schools. They are not private schools, nor are they "home schools." Although public virtual schools may contract with private vendors to receive curriculum and management services, public virtual schools are governed by public entities, such as:
Public school districts
State department of education
Independent, non-profit boards of directors
Academics and Accountability
Public virtual schools are similar to traditional "bricks-and-mortar" schools in many ways, including academic services and accountability requirements:
Public virtual schools employ state-certified teachers
who are responsible for managing student learning.
Teachers track student attendance and academic
progress.
Teachers receive regular training and professional
development.
Students must take statewide assessments.
Schools are responsible for applicable daily attendance
for students.
Schools must meet federal AYP (Adequate Yearly
Program) goals.
School academic progress standards are determined,
implemented, and published, with teachers tracking
individual student performance against those standards.
A school office is required for staff.
Strong school administrators, (e.g., Principal,
Assistant Principal, Special Education Director, and
Technology Director) are needed.
Any eligible student may enroll, regardless of income,
race, academic ability, special needs, etc.
A requirement in Colorado is that the student must
attend a "bricks-and-mortar" public school for one
semester before enrolling in a virtual school, plus
they must have a grade on their report card.
There are also certain requirements that must be met
such as the need for a parent at home during the school
hours, conditions with foster children, parents with a
criminal history, etc.
Notify your local school district office if you wish
for your child to learn through a virtual school.
The curriculum aligns with state standards.
Schools are accountable for academic results,
operational effectiveness, and financial viability.
Special education needs, IEPs (Individual Education
Plans), and other related services are identified and
met by school's special education staff.
School grades, transcripts, report cards, and parent
conferences are required.
School policies and procedures, discipline policies,
and due process procedures are implemented.
School audits and state reporting are mandatory.
God's blessings to you and our country,
Sincerely,
Jim Welker Representative
Colorado District 51
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