Contact: Lindsey Ross, Senior Press Secretary
Lindsey.Ross@iga.in.gov
317-232-9498
STATEHOUSE (April 9, 2019) – A bill authored by State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) that would help ensure proper oversight of virtual education programs recently passed the House Committee on Education unanimously.
Senate Bill 567 would, among other things:
• Require teachers employed by a virtual program or charter school to comply with any mandatory licensed teacher trainings;
• Require virtual charter schools and school corporations to establish and implement an annual onboarding process for students, in which parents must participate;
• Require virtual charter schools to enroll only Indiana residents as well as withdraw students who are habitually truant;
• Require school corporations that have at least 100 students or 30% of their students receiving a majority of their instruction virtually to separate those students into a stand-alone virtual program; and
• Require each virtual charter school's annual report to include the methodology used to determine attendance as well as student engagement requirements.
“It is clear virtual education will be a part of education moving forward, but we need to make sure these programs have the proper oversight so our students are receiving the best education possible,” Raatz said. "This bill would help ensure these programs are transparent and of good quality.”
SB 567 will now move to the full House of Representatives for further consideration.
-30-
For a high-resolution photo of Sen. Raatz, click here.
