A Slice of Last Friday....

Last Friday, there was a hearing before the Oregon Department of Ed (ODE) regarding amendments, challenges, etc of SB 767, the bill that has us virtual schoolers up in arms. Got the video of one of our reps rebutting many many many of the arguments against virtual schooling. Here is what Rep Wingard is rebutting.

1) Virtual schools (the company of Connections Academy (CA), based in Baltimore, MD) is profiting on Oregon tax dollars. We are outsourcing our tax dollars.

My answer, Oregon Connections Academy (ORCA) is an established non profit organization, in full compliance with all state mandated rules and regulations of a non profit. ORCA does contract with CA nationwide for curriculum. You'll hear Mr. Wingard continue this thought.

2) Kids have no accountability in virtual programs. A bald faced lie was stated at a hearing two weeks ago by a president of a teacher's union saying that there is no student supervision and that "five years old are left in front of the computer for hours."

My answer, shame on her for such a lie! Folks forget schooling, that is illegal from a child protective standpoint. Parents, from a coaching perspective, have to sign an agreement to do things such as 1) Stay in the same room as their student. 2) Take attendance. 3) Monitor their work. 4) Sacrifice their own schedule. 5) Understand this is a huge time commitment. If we don't sign and comply with that contract, which is very serious when you read it, you're out.

Another thing I noticed in this video....the huge lack of attendance of the ODE board members. Half of the seats are empty. A big concern has been raised recently that ORCA families are being shut out of testifying at these hearings. And now I see the ODE members aren't attending. Politics are getting nasty!

Jefferson High School, reference in this video, is right down the street from us. It's close cousin, Madison High, where our kids are allowed to attend, is also on the No Child Left Behind red list. It "should" be closed, but Mr. Wingard shows very succinctly, that rarely never happens.