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Virtual School Expansion Moves Forward
April 26, 2011
A bill that requires all students in Florida to take one virtual class before graduating and permits kindergarteners to take full-time virtual classes was approved by the Senate Budget Committee on Monday.
The measure (SB 1620) was amended to match a carefully negotiated House version. The Senate bill is now scaled back from its original version, which would have permitted a statewide virtual school with open enrollment to any student in public, private or home schools.
In its amended form, the bill now only permits virtual charter schools and expands the ability of the Florida Virtual School to offer full-time and part-time enrollment to students in grades K-12.
Many Democrats on the committee expressed concern about allowing kindergarteners to take full-time virtual instruction. Bill sponsor Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, defended the bill as likely only attracting a small number of new virtual school students.
“This isn’t just a kindergarten student waking up one day and saying ‘Gee, I want to be in virtual classes,’ ” Flores said. “There will be discussion with parents, of course, and the district as well.”
Other lawmakers said they were concerned about the fiscal impact, which was estimated at over $6 million. A rally will be held on Tuesday to support the bill and its House companion (HB 7197) with Gov. Rick Scott and Senate President Mike Haridopolos as well as other lawmakers in attendance.
Comments
5 Responses to “Virtual School Expansion Moves Forward”
To David,
If a family can afford a computer, then the schools don’t need to provide breakfast
and lunch.
It wasn’t clear if the classes were to be at home or school.
Any child can learn to ‘cut and paste and get alone with others” at home. They are there to learn how to read and count.
REGARDING:
“Is the Senate foolish enough to assume that every student in Florida has a computer at home with reliable internet access? If so, they are out of touch with the realities of life in rural Florida. ”
What makes you think they’ll have to take it at home? I imagine they plan on having it taken at school although there are also libraries.
What are the numbers of people without internet access nowadays, anyway? You can buy a new netbook computer for around $130 anytime. If you have a phone connection, you have an internet connection and if it comes with wi-fi, just being near Burger King gives wireless access.
Further, all people reading this have access to the internet. Therefore anybody you know, knows somebody with access to the internet.
David considering resources
and reciprocal relations
How are kindergarteners going to learn to cut and color and paste and get along with other kids in a “virtual” class?
Why are they trying to require all students to take at least one virtual class before graduating? Is this seen as a cost-saving measure for school systems? While I guess that could be true, what about the cost for parents? Is the Senate foolish enough to assume that every student in Florida has a computer at home with reliable internet access? If so, they are out of touch with the realities of life in rural Florida. It seems ludicrous that a school system that provides free breakfast and lunch for low-income students would see no problem with requiring those same students to purchase the equipment and services needed to take an online course.
It should be volunteer not “required”. Will it be done in the classroom or home?
Sounds like we will be paying the teachers to babysit while the k-5 watch videos. Waste of tax payer’s money.
Don’t be surprised when you find out that your k-5 has to listen to the teacher read “My Two Mommies” or “the Penquins” teaching homosexuality,for fun at rest time. Or teach them to worship the earth on earth day.
If everybody pulled their child out of the public school, taxes would go down, children would be better off, and the buildings could be rented.
Sounds good to me.