State Stepping in to Delay Virtual Online Learning

By Natalie Stevens

A one-year moratorium on the creation of virtual online charter schools is making its way through the Illinois legislature.

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After school boards from around the Fox Valley area voted last week to deny Virtual Learning Solutions' K12 Inc. admittance to their curriculum, State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) is crafting legislation that would stop the online learning proposals for up to a year, according to a report in the Kane County Chronicle. 

The moratorium would give the state more time to study virtual online learning and its effects on education.

The legislation, which is co-sponsored by State Rep. Kay Hatcher (R-Yorkville), passed Chapa LaVia’s House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee last week, and soon could make its way to the full House for a vote, the Chronicle reported.

“All my school boards voiced their concerns about this topic. Online learning has great value, but the (Illinois State Charter School Commission) was not created to address a totally virtual environment,” Hatcher said in a post on her Facebook page. “This gives everyone time to address our changing education platform.”

In March, Naperville School District 203 held a public hearing regarding a proposal to bring the online charter school to Naperville. District 203 is set to vote on the issue during tonight's board of education meeting.  

Read the full report from the Kane County Chronicle. 

Related:

• K12 Virtual Charter School Under Heavy Fire by Illinois Jobs Activists
• UPDATE: Charter School Controversy: K12 Disputes Reports of Grade Tampering
• Charter School Plan to Go Before Naperville District 203 Board