Virtual Schools

Wisconsin Has New Virtual School Law

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster issued the following statement on the new virtual education law signed by Gov. Jim Doyle on April 7, 2008. " We now have a virtual education law that supports quality instruction, creates a statewide web academy, and ensures that students who use this education option will have teachers that have received training in on-line education."

2007 Wisconsin Act 222 defines a virtual charter school in Wisconsin; requires licensed educators and a minimum number of days of instruction for virtual charter schools; creates a state web academy, which will open on-line learning to more students without having to open enroll in another school; and requires the Legislative Audit Bureau to conduct a financial and performance audit of virtual charter schools by the end of 2009. Other provisions include:

• Teachers must be available to provide direct pupil instruction for at least the minimum numbers of hours specified by grade level under current law. No more than 10 hours in any 24-hour period may count toward this requirement.
• Teachers must respond to inquiries from pupils or from the parents or guardians of pupils by the end of the first school day following the day on which the inquiry is received.
• Teachers are prohibited from teaching on-line, beginning July 1, 2010, if the teacher has not had 30 hours of professional development designed to prepare teachers for on-line teaching.

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News Releases

• 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

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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:

• Wisconsin Virtual School
• WiscNet Digital Districts Online
• Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth (WCATY)
  

Virtual Charter Schools:

• Appleton eSchool: Grades 9-12
• Insight School of Wisconsin: Grades 7-12
• iQ Academies at Wisconsin: Grades 9-12
• Janesville Virtual Academy
• JEDI Virtual High School: Grades 9-12
• Kenosha eSchool
• Kiel eSchool: Grades 7-12
• Monroe Independent Education Charter School: Gr. 9-12
• Monroe Virtual Charter Middle School
• Northeast Wisconsin Online Charter School: Grades 6-12
• Rural Virtual Academy: Grades K-8
• Wisconsin Connections Academy: Grades K-8
• The Wisconsin Virtual Academy: Grades K-7
  

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

Last updated on 4/10/2008 2:00:30 PM