Bipartisan Deal on Virtual Charter Schools in Wisconsin Stalls

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/02/27/25brief-b1.h27.html

A bipartisan agreement in the Wisconsin legislature, backed by the state schools superintendent, that would have allowed virtual charter schools to remain open but under new rules fell apart after Gov. James Doyle hinted he would veto the measure without last-minute changes. The Democratic governor told lawmakers in a letter February 18 that he wanted a study of how well students are being served in online charter schools and a temporary cap on enrollment at the existing level. The Democratic-controlled Senate initially voted 17-16 to reject those changes, but then accepted them after one Democrat flipped his vote. Rep. Brett Davis (R) and Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R) sent a letter to Doyle on February 27 saying they will agree to cap enrollment at 1 percent, with siblings being exempt from the cap. They also agreed to an audit. Rose Fernandez, president of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families, said in a written statement that Davis and Hubert's deal is better than the two-year freeze Doyle wants. "You got your cap. You got your audit," she said. "Accept bipartisanship and compromise." The Assembly will consider the issue this month.

Source: Education Week (subscription required)
Date: 02/27/2008
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