Virtual Schools

30 hours of professional development for K-12 online teachers required starting July 2010

Wisconsin Act 222, enacted in April of 2008, states that, "Beginning July 1, 2010, no person may teach an online course in a public school, including a charter school, unless he or she has completed at least 30 hours of professional development designed to prepare a teacher for online teaching.” [Wisconsin State Statute 118.19(13)]

DPI Guidance for online course providers on how to implement this law may be accessed by clicking here.

Wisconsin Web Academy now open

DPI partners with CESA 9 to provide online courses

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster reminds students, parents, and school districts that the Wisconsin Web Academy (WWA) provides additional educational opportunities through online courses available to students throughout Wisconsin.

“Virtual education is an innovative reality in the 21st century and an effective educational strategy for some students,” said Burmaster. “I encourage students and parents who are seeking additional educational experiences to contact their local school district for the options available through the Wisconsin Web Academy.”

The WWA is the state-led, supplemental online education program made possible through state legislation adopted last April. The law requires the Department of Public Instruction to provide equitable access to high-quality online education by offering online courses to school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, charter schools, and private schools located in Wisconsin. The DPI has partnered with the Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 9 to operate the WWA.

Students interested in taking courses through WWA can enroll year round through their local school districts and the Wisconsin Web Academy-Wisconsin Virtual School. Districts interested in offering courses through WWA should contact Dawn Nordine at CESA 9, (715) 453-2141, ext. 231, dnordine@cesa9.k12.wi.us.

The entire press release is available at: Wisconsin Web Academy provides online courses .

Wisconsin online schools certify quality criteria to DPI

The following online schools have certified that they comply with a set of critera for quality online courses developed by the DPI for the 2008-2009 school year:

The MOU requires that all teachers are appropriately licensed in the subject area and grade level that they are teaching. For each student, the teacher is responsible for: 1) improving learning through planned instructions; 2) diagnosing learning needs; 3) prescribing content delivery through class activities; 4) assessing learning; 5) reporting outcomes to administrators, parents and guardians; and 6) evaluating the effects of instruction. It requires class sizes of 25 or less. Teachers must respond to all inquiries from students and parents within 48 hours. Additional requirements may be viewed in the MOU by clicking here.

News Releases

Wisconsin Web Academy now open: DPI partners with CESA 9 to provide online courses - July 29, 2008
Burmaster statement on signing of several education-related bills - April 7, 2008
Statement by State Superintendent Burmaster on virtual education bill compromise - January 24, 2008
Burmaster statement on proposed virtual charter school legislation - January 10, 2008

Online Programs and Virtual Schools

If you are interested in virtual programs or schools, contact your local school district first as many have virtual and online programs available. The difference between the "Online Programs" and "Virtual Schools" sections below is that the online programs usually offer courses to school districts, while the virtual schools usually offer courses directly to students.

Online Programs:

Virtual Charter Schools for 2009-2010:

For questions about this information, contact Stephen N. Sanders (608) 266-3856

Last updated on 11/9/2009 10:18:08 AM