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Interesting experimental reforms signed into law by Gov. Snyder, probably to expand if they go well. Two programs:
cyber charter schools (charters are publicly funded, but work like a private school), and
simplified/expanded dual-enrollment in both high school and college (currently mostly gifted kids)
Gotta give him and his (bipartisan) team credit - he said a top-down reform of the state & education system and they're doing just that. OTOH the teaches unions are freaked.
Detroit Free Press....
cyber charter schools (charters are publicly funded, but work like a private school), and
simplified/expanded dual-enrollment in both high school and college (currently mostly gifted kids)
Gotta give him and his (bipartisan) team credit - he said a top-down reform of the state & education system and they're doing just that. OTOH the teaches unions are freaked.
Detroit Free Press....
Snyder signs bill to expand cyber charter schools in Michigan
Gov. Rick Snyder today signed into law controversial legislation that will greatly expand online charter schools in Michigan.
He also signed bills that will make it easier for students to dual-enroll, allowing them to take both high school and college courses at the same time; and bills that allow for private school and home-schooled students to take advantage of public school programs.
“Michigan students can now achieve a quality education without boundaries,” Snyder said in a press release this afternoon. "Empowering more parents and students with the option to enroll in cyber charter schools and attend college level courses increases not only their educational opportunities, but also their potential for success."
All of the bills are part of a package of bills that originated in the Senate last year - dubbed the Parent Empowerment Education Reform package - that were designed give parents more options for their children's education.
The cyber charter expansion was among the more controversial of the bills. It was opposed by many in the traditional K-12 community, who said there weren't enough safeguards to ensure quality for the new cyber charters.
Up until now, Michigan law allowed only two cyber charters to exist and capped enrollment in the first year to 400, with a maximum of 1,000 students. The schools also were required to enroll a significant number of students who have dropped out of school.
The new law will now allow up to five cyber charter schools to open by Dec. 31, 2013. The cap would increase to 10 by Dec. 31, 2014, and to 15 after that date.
Enrollment would be restricted in each cyber charter to 2,500 in the first year, to no more than 5,000 in the second year, and to no more than 10,000 in the third and subsequent years.
No more than 2% of the state's student population would be allowed to enroll in cyber charters, a limitation Snyder and State Superintendent Mike Flanagan recently said would be strongly enforced.
Cyber charters are public schools in which students take all of their coursework online.
Supporters of the legislation hailed Snyder's endorsement.
"We know that we can't put all students in a one-size-fits-all box. Students and parents need a robust assortment of quality educational choices, and that includes online learning opportunities"; said Dan Quisenberry, president of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies, a charter school advocacy group.
Gov. Rick Snyder today signed into law controversial legislation that will greatly expand online charter schools in Michigan.
He also signed bills that will make it easier for students to dual-enroll, allowing them to take both high school and college courses at the same time; and bills that allow for private school and home-schooled students to take advantage of public school programs.
“Michigan students can now achieve a quality education without boundaries,” Snyder said in a press release this afternoon. "Empowering more parents and students with the option to enroll in cyber charter schools and attend college level courses increases not only their educational opportunities, but also their potential for success."
All of the bills are part of a package of bills that originated in the Senate last year - dubbed the Parent Empowerment Education Reform package - that were designed give parents more options for their children's education.
The cyber charter expansion was among the more controversial of the bills. It was opposed by many in the traditional K-12 community, who said there weren't enough safeguards to ensure quality for the new cyber charters.
Up until now, Michigan law allowed only two cyber charters to exist and capped enrollment in the first year to 400, with a maximum of 1,000 students. The schools also were required to enroll a significant number of students who have dropped out of school.
The new law will now allow up to five cyber charter schools to open by Dec. 31, 2013. The cap would increase to 10 by Dec. 31, 2014, and to 15 after that date.
Enrollment would be restricted in each cyber charter to 2,500 in the first year, to no more than 5,000 in the second year, and to no more than 10,000 in the third and subsequent years.
No more than 2% of the state's student population would be allowed to enroll in cyber charters, a limitation Snyder and State Superintendent Mike Flanagan recently said would be strongly enforced.
Cyber charters are public schools in which students take all of their coursework online.
Supporters of the legislation hailed Snyder's endorsement.
"We know that we can't put all students in a one-size-fits-all box. Students and parents need a robust assortment of quality educational choices, and that includes online learning opportunities"; said Dan Quisenberry, president of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies, a charter school advocacy group.