STATEHOUSE (Feb. 14, 2019) – A bill authored by State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) that would help ensure proper oversight of virtual education programs recently passed the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development unanimously.
Senate Bill 567 would give the State Board of Education the authority to adopt rules related to virtual education. Additionally, SB 567 would, among other things:
• Require virtual charter schools and school corporations to establish and implement an onboarding process for students prior to enrolling in a virtual learning program;
• Require school corporations that have at least 100 students or 25 percent of their students receiving a majority of their instruction virtually to separate those students into a stand-alone virtual school;
• Allow only statewide authorizers to oversee virtual charter schools;
• Require that schools with students who receive a majority of their instruction virtually to receive 90 percent of the average daily membership funding for those students; and
• Prohibit virtual charter school operators from transferring students between the schools they operate to avoid state accountability grades.
“It is clear that virtual education will be a part of education moving forward, but we need to make sure these programs have the proper oversight so our children are receiving the best education possible,” Raatz said. “If passed, this bill would help ensure these programs are transparent and of good quality.”
SB 567 will now move to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
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For a high-resolution photo of Sen. Raatz, click here.
