Republican sponsored legislation, Senate Bill 619 recently passed the Senate. This bill represents would could be the first steps toward eliminating large numbers of teachers from Michigan classrooms.
A proposal in Lansing would remove most restrictions on the ability of students to attend school over the Internet, in their pajamas, without setting foot inside a classroom.
The proposal would remove caps on enrollment in and the number of "cyberschools," or those in which students learn online through a teacher in another location.
Students either spend a portion or the entire school day learning in front of a computer — an option some lawmakers say expands opportunities for students who learn differently than others.
Senate Bill 619 follows legislation stemming from the federal Race to the Top competition that created two pilot cyberschools in Michigan. The program was to be reviewed after two years, but the Senate bill — passed in the Senate in late October — could be signed into law before that happens.
The two pilot studies have not yet been completed but that hasn't stopped Republicans from moving forward with the plan anyway. And why not? It's a simple way to save costs by making brick and mortar schools (and many teachers) unnecessary.
Educators are understandably upset.
That's a particular danger because there is no evidence cyberschools match the classroom experience, Livingston County educators said.
Several Hartland High School students have participated in cyberschool three or more hours per day in the past two years.
"They generally, by and large, were not successful with it. They just did not have enough structure and discipline in order to take care of it," said Janet Sifferman, Hartland Consolidated Schools superintendent.
"I think it's just because of the lack of structure for them," Sifferman added. [...]
Students who don't attend real classrooms are deprived of social growth and supervision of progress, Sifferman said. Those critical of cyberschools maintain there is no way to verify if a parent or sibling is doing online work, rather than the student.
"How closely are those kids monitored? How much of a personal interaction and relationship do they make with those teachers?" she asked. [...]
Michigan Education Association is obviously against this plan, as well.
This is no evidence proving cyberschools produce better results than brick-and-mortar schools, said Doug Pratt, Michigan Education Association spokesman.
Pratt said the Senate bill only will benefit cyberschool operators, which he said are for-profit companies.
"It's not putting kids first. It's not putting the focus on making sure the resources are there. It's about being cheaper and siphoning money away from neighborhood schools, and that's just wrong," he said.
More outsourcing of our kids' education and fewer public employees (teachers, custodians, etc.) It's a Republican dream world right here in Michigan.
Cross-posted at Eclectablog.