What is a "Virtual Charter School"??

[Redfairen]

This is a new concept to me and the article that introduced me to the notion doesn't really tell much. From the Portland (Maine) Press-Herald...

http://www.pressherald.com/politics/Lawmakers_to_hear_bill_creating_state-run_virtual_school_.html?pageType=mobile&id=3

AUGUSTA -- A bipartisan group of state lawmakers is backing a bill that would lead to the creation of a state-run virtual charter school.

The bill, L.D. 1736, is sponsored by Sen. Brian Langley, R-Ellsworth, and co-sponsored by several Democrats on the Education Committee. The proposal directs the state Department of Education to establish a virtual charter school that would allow students at public schools to access online courses. The proposal would also freeze the state’s authorization of private virtual charter schools until the state academy is up and running by Aug. 1, 2016.

The LePage administration has been a strong advocate of charter schools and virtual charter schools, saying both are critical to reforming the state’s education system and accommodating different student needs.

While charter schools have their share of critics, the virtual charter schools have come under additional scrutiny, locally and nationally, for performance and governance issues that involve concerns over whether the schools are sufficiently independent from the large national companies that provide curriculum and manage the schools.

[Phlem]

1. Charter Schools IMHO

are a way to take money from established brick and mortar schools. It's fraught with fraud and a virtual one? An easier mechanism to funnel more money out.

Thus the constant levies by school district and making tax payers foot the bill for more teachers and better schools, bldgs, equip, etc... year after year.

The frightening part is in these times a college education and degree can get you nothing but a McDonald's job.



-p

[femmocrat]

2. Online courses.

We have them in PA. The kids get a free computer while they are enrolled and take all their classes online. Sounds like the state of Maine wants to start its own, though.

I have had students who enrolled and sat at home looking at a computer screen all day instead of interacting with their peers and real live teachers. I suppose it has a place for students who cannot attend actual schools, but we have had some kids try it and then come back to real school.

It's another way for *someone* to make money from public tax dollars.

[JeffHead]

3. Looks like a scam to me.

http://dianeravitch.net/2013/09/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-virtual-charter-schools/

[Phlem]

6. yep!

-p

[longship]

4. It's called home schooling.

As soon as Mommy leaves the room, the student goes to the porn site.

[2pooped2pop]

5. it's online courses and is where they are heading for all schools

for the non rich. They don't really feel that they should have to pay for the non rich to go to school. I mean, why should they? We are, after all, going to all be in prison or dead in the coming years. Why should we be educated for that? It's a lot less money than they will have to pay for brick and mortar buildings and live teachers. Rich don't want to be taxed for commoners to get educated. So this is just the next step. Once enough are getting their crappy education this way, they will flip it to all must get it this way.

Only the rich deserve a real education, don't cha know?