Healthy, Happy Students at Wisconsin Virtual Learning

For many students, medical illness can sideline their education. Routine doctor’s visits, extended hospital stays, and reoccurring symptoms can keep a student out of class for days or even weeks at a time—where they miss out on valuable instruction time, test preparation and are penalized by attendance tracking.

For students that have manageable diseases, such as diabetes or severe allergies, a tradition school setting may not be ideal. Receiving insulin shots during the day has to be coordinated with the office. Students with food allergies have to be especially careful with their diet and what they are in contact with.

Health issues are another reason that many families choose to educate their children via virtual schooling, enrolling them in Wisconsin Virtual Learning.

At WVL, students are able to work at their own pace, from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. So that means if a child is hospitalized for a day, a week, or a month, they don’t have to miss out on class. They can log in right from their hospital room.

If a child gets the flu, chicken pox or has a severe allergic reaction, no one has to know about it except them. They can log in to class from the privacy of their own home, participate in the lessons, and never miss a minute of their education.

We spoke with families currently enrolled in our sister virtual program in Pennsylvania to hear their thoughts on online learning and the health of their children:

“I love this benefit of [online school]. Not worrying about influenza going around, chicken pox, or whatever it may be.”—Dave Bressi

“This is the exact reason my husband and I signed our daughter up for [online school] this year. Our daughter isn't sick but she has inherited my muscle condition that causes severe pain and makes her muscles weak and she injures herself so easily. She could fall on the playground in a "regular" school and her teacher would see it as no big deal, all kids fall, when in reality it makes her muscles weaker and hurts much worse than a normal child would. THANK YOU [online school] for being there; you are EXACTLY what we needed!”—Kellie Wellman

“My children have normal immune systems and have been significantly healthier (even while attending public gym classes and other events) since starting [online school]. It may not be why we chose cyber school, but it is a great benefit!”—Lisa Campbell Johns

How have health issues affected your child’s education?

Call us today at 866-301-0401 to speak to a Wisconsin Virtual Learning admissions representative -today to learn how your child can be a happier, healthier and better educated student.

The Future of Science Education is at Wisconsin Virtual Learning

In May 2009, the Wisconsin Tech Council called on state business leaders and educators to encourage greater emphasis on STEM education throughout the state. In an article published by BizTimes.com, Ryann Petit-Frere of the Wisconsin Technology Council said that “Wisconsin has an opportunity to get a leap ahead of the nation and produce graduates in the fields that we know have high growth potential, the fields in science, technology, engineering and math.”

That same month, a report from the Public Policy Forum said that Wisconsin needed to do more to prepare students for careers in the STEM Fields, especially since Wisconsin students currently score above the national average on science and math tests, and more than 40% of the state's college-bound students indicate an interest in STEM-related majors (as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).

The STEM program offered at Wisconsin Virtual Learning is answering that call. At WVL, we are just as focused on science and mathematics education as our state leaders and STEM professionals.

WVL’s Cutting Edge Science program is unlike any other kind in the state. Developed by Lincoln Interactive, this innovative curriculum covers topics including computer engineering, bio-fuels, genetics, sports medicine, alternative energy, stem-cell research forensics and much more. Lincoln Interactive, has partnered with experts from Los Alamos National Laboratory, the California University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University to develop this state of the art and cutting-edge STEM curriculum.

The program, taught entirely online, uses videos, digital labs, simulations, multimedia, and online video chats to engage students and explore some of the more pressing topics in STEM education today. Our 20+ courses (with more added every semester!) are open to all middle and high school WVL students.

Here is what students currently enrolled in the program are saying:

“I have taken epidemiology, stem cell research, and am now taking forensic anthropology. My favorite so far has been stem cell research because I truly believe that it is the future of science and medicine and holds so many opportunities to cure sicknesses that people thought would never be curable.”—Lori Mahle, 11^th grade

“My CES course, Biotechnology, has been very interesting in that it gives so much information as to how Biotechnology is being used today and what steps are being taken to give better food quality and medical care and how it has been used to further scientific explorations. I now know more about what goes on in making better medicines and foods and have obtained a better understanding of how common biotechnology is.”—Stephen Larson, 12^th grade

“I loved my forensics class! I whizzed right through it! The book is really easy to understand and the information is very interesting!! I would definitely recommend this class to students who are bored with regular old science!”—Cheyenne Watson, 11^th grade

“I took both Emerging Genetics, and Stem Cell Research. I enjoyed both courses, and I couldn't tell you which one I liked more... I’m diabetic, and have been for 14 years, so Stem Cell Research was important to me, because the cure to my disease could be in that field of research. The course helped me understand what goes into the research, and how it works. I didn't know how many diseases could be cured by Stem Cell Research! I took Emerging Genetics because that was one of my favorite parts of Biology last year. I really learned a lot from that course.”—Victoria Klein, 10^th grade

“I have taken Forensics and Genetics. I would say that Forensics is my favorite because I enjoy human anatomy and the course was mostly Anthropology. I was planning to major in Forensic Science, but now I realized that is very specific. I am now considering Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or Biology. I am definitely going to major in science though.”—Jen Cranmer, 11^th grade

“I like that the courses are so different than the average courses you take while in high school. They are about very interesting topics that you don't expect to learn about until college. With my Forensics course I can now make more sense of all the crime shows on TV. I am considering different fields of Forensics for the future. It is definitely something I can see myself pursuing as a career.”—Emily Furl, 10^th grade

Don’t you want your student to be a part of the future of Wisconsin, and this country? He can be, by enrolling in Wisconsin Virtual Learning. Call us at 866-301-0401 or visit us at www.wisconsinvl.net to learn more today!

An Education Free From Bullying

Bullying in schools has become an epidemic across the country, even here in Wisconsin.

In May 2010, a former high school student from Brookfield, Wisconsin wrote a letter to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel advocating for bullying laws and telling her own story of being bullied. She wrote:

“I know firsthand what it's like to be abused and ignored by students and school administrators. I even know how it feels to think that the only way to be taken seriously by bullies and school staff is to end your life. … Throughout middle school and high school, I was bullied non-stop. People would smash into me in the halls, shout crude comments at me, threaten me, spread false rumors about me, harass me online…Every time I went to [the administrators] about a bullying incident, they'd tell me the same thing, "We'll talk to them about what they're doing and make sure they stop." ...My mom would come to school and talk to the counselors about what was happening. They assured her that my situation wasn't as bad as I was making it out to be…”

Later that month, Governor Doyle signed a bill requiring schools to crack down on peer-to-peer bullying. But the law cannot stop kids from bullying and does not ensure that victims will be protected and offenders punished.

In May of 2011, a 15-year old boy from Waupun walked into the bathroom of his high school, covered himself in gasoline, and tried to light himself on fire. The student claimed he was a victim of bullying and was “trying to make a statement.” The superintendent of the boy’s school told news sources that kids in his school may have “occasionally” bullied this student but that the school didn’t have any “direct evidence that that's the case. We have some indications that there may have been some bullying involved” and that the claims we under investigation.

That our children would have to endure any form of bullying, from the smallest action to the most severe, is every parent’s worst nightmare. And as evidenced by these stories, the effects of bullying can be traumatic on children—even deadly. How can you, as a parent, protect your child and ensure they are getting a quality education? The answer is with Wisconsin Virtual Learning.

At WVL, students go to school completely online. They interact with their teachers and peers in real time, but they are known to the rest of the school by their thoughts, their ideas, and who they are as a person. There is no worry about people not liking how they look or how they act, what kind of clothes they wear or how good they are at sports. There is no bullying at Wisconsin Virtual Learning. The focus is on quality education for every student, and the WVL student body understands that and thrives in this type of environment.

To learn more about Wisconsin Virtual Learning or to enroll for the upcoming school year, visit our website, www.wisconsinvl.net.

And if your child has been a victim of being bullied or you would like more information on bullying prevention, please consider using one of these online resources:

• Stop Bullying | www.stopbullying.gov
• Kids Against Bullying | www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.com
• Stop Bullying Now | www.stobbullyingnow.com
• Bullying Prevention Resource Guide | http://bullyingprevention.org
• National Crime Prevention council | www.ncpc.org
• PACER Center | www.pacer.org
• Kidshealth.org article on Helping kids deal with bullies

Breaking News! SB 2 could open doors for WI families!

Greetings!  The regulations regarding open enrollment in Wisconsin are about to change dramatically! Wisconsin Virtual Learning is pleased to announce that Senate Bill 2 continues to be worked on in the senate and assembly.  WVL is a huge supporter of this bill, contacting Wisconsin's legislators to make sure they know about the hundreds of families that reach out to us during the school year looking for an alternative to the traditional model of education.  Currently, we are not allowed to accept students during the school year for any reason. These students might have to wait a year or more before being able to attend our school. If a student wants to "open enroll" in WVL, he or she needs to apply during a three week period in February and then wait until the following school year to start. This bill would expand the open enrollment period for all public schools from February until the end of April. Additionally, if the student satisfies any one of the following criteria, it would allow for open enrollment at any time during the school year: 1) The resident school district determines that the pupil has been the victim of a violent criminal offense, as defined by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) by rule. 2) The pupil is or has been a homeless pupil in the current or immediately preceding school year. 3) The pupil has been the victim of repeated bullying or harassment, the parent has reported the bullying or harassment to the resident school board, and the repeated bullying or harassment continues. 4) The place of residence of the pupil's parent or guardian and of the pupil has changed as a result of military orders. 5) The pupil has moved into this state. 6) The place of residence of the pupil has changed as a result of a court order or custody agreement or because the pupil was placed in a foster home or with a person other than the pupil's parent or removed from a foster home or from the home of a person other than the pupil's parent. 7) The parent of the pupil and the nonresident and resident school boards agree that attending school in the nonresident school district is in the best interests of the pupil, with an appeals process to DPI when the resident district does not agree the move is in the best interest of the pupil. We are extremely excited that families may have more freedom and choice over where they send their child to get an education. Students will no longer have to wait to get the education they deserve in the environment that is the best fit for them. Wisconsin Virtual Learning will keep you posted as additional details are released from the state and the Department of Public Instruction. We plan on accepting applications for full-time enrollment as soon as this bill passes and those applications are made available. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. Visit our website for more information about our school, www.wisconsinvl.net. We look forward to your family joining ours at Wisconsin Virtual Learning! Sincerely, Jessica Berish Wisconsin Virtual Learning Director of Admissions and Project Coordinator Office Phone: 262.416.8648 jberish@nosd.edu

More Students Forgo Classrooms for Laptops

Michael Dieffenbach works on a laptop in his bedroom at his Milwaukee home. Dieffenbach is a senior at Northern Ozaukee’s Wisconsin Virtual Learning school.  Jeff Sainlar

27 virtual schools set to open, a jump over 15 in 2010-'11

By Erin Richards of the Journal Sentinel

Sept. 5, 2011 7:49 p.m. |(4) Comments

Michael Dieffenbach returned to school last week to listen to teachers explain what would be expected during the term.

It was his last first day of high school. Senior year. Top of the heap.

But it didn't feel like that when Dieffenbach opened his laptop, stretched out on his twin bed, and logged into his AP government class. Lucky, the family dog, sprawled on the floor beneath his feet.

Since eighth grade, Dieffenbach has attended Wisconsin Virtual Learning, a public charter school of the Northern Ozaukee School District and one of the dozens of virtual schools in the state that educate students each year without desks, lunch periods, yellow buses or extracurricular sports.

His small bedroom has been his classroom for years. His laptop the portal to some students he's never seen, some teachers he's never met.

"I suppose you could use it as an excuse to become a hermit," says Dieffenbach, 17, who is wearing a black T-shirt and jeans as he waits for the other classmates to arrive to the AP government webinar. "But if you make just a little effort, it's pretty easy to get involved in your community and stuff outside of school."

People often question how students could go to school in an entirely online environment, devoid of regular face-to-face contact with teachers. What about social interaction with friends? Is it rigorous? What about prom and senior skip day? How do kids do once they graduate and go to college?

That shouldn't be a concern for Dieffenbach. The College Board recently informed him that he scored a perfect 36 on his ACT last year, something accomplished by less than one-tenth of 1% of all test takers. Dieffenbach got a 34 the first time. He thought he could do better.

This year he's taking a host of advanced placement classes: AP calculus, AP macro and micro economics, AP physics, AP Spanish and AP government. Wisconsin Virtual Learning contracted with a national provider of online courses for some of those because there's not enough demand in the high school.

Instead of physical education class, Dieffenbach goes for a jog, lifts weights, does chores or walks Lucky. He's also training for a marathon, but the cost to do one is pretty expensive, so he thinks he might just run it on his own, around the neighborhood.

"I looked up a training schedule online," he said.

School lunch is whenever he wants it, which is sometimes not at all.

After-school activities are replaced with a full itinerary of church and youth group meetings: National Honor Society, juggling, rock climbing, geocaching and Boy Scouts. Dieffenbach became an Eagle Scout at age 14 and has so many merit badges that they completely fill more than one sash. His dad says they total 85.

Proud parents

Dieffenbach's parents do a lot of the talking. They had their only son later in life, and they're pretty proud of him.

Sylvia Dieffenbach decided to home-school Michael after he came back from the neighborhood elementary school near where they live on Milwaukee's northwest side and said he wasn't learning anything.

Warren Dieffenbach works second shift, and home schooling at that time allowed them to have breakfast and prayer as a family in the morning.

Then the Dieffenbachs learned about Wisconsin's virtual school programs. Wisconsin Virtual Learning started in 2003 and now has about 700 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, with about 180 at the high school level.

Back in Dieffenbach's bedroom, the voice of AP government teacher Eric Conn came through the laptop. Conn teaches from a home office in his house in Oshkosh. He talked to the students about class expectations and ran through a PowerPoint-like slide show that appeared on all six of the students' screens across the state.

Later in an interview, Conn said it's a challenge to keep kids engaged without in-person visual cues.
"You have to convey material without it being boring," Conn said. "I don't use a webcam, so I treat it like I'm on the radio. I use a lot of inflection."

Conn says most of the students prefer to correspond by typing live in response to his verbal questions. Sometimes he tells them to use their microphones instead. It's faster for discussion, he said.
Because of the high school's size, Dieffenbach and his classmates have had Conn and some of their other teachers every year for the same subjects.

Conn called Dieffenbach extremely independent, the sort of student teachers love because he asks challenging questions that you have to think about, and that makes you a better teacher.

Dieffenbach is considering a career in bioengineering or molecular research. He hopes to go to Brigham Young University or MIT.

His parents hope for that, too. And for scholarships.

"(Virtual school) isn't for everyone," said Silvia Dieffenbach. "But he wanted it, so that was part of it. You do have to be a self-starter."

***

Virtual schools

Twenty-seven virtual schools in Wisconsin were scheduled to open this academic year - a substantial increase over the 15 virtual charter schools operating in 2010-'11, which enrolled just under 4,000 students.

Gov. Scott Walker's budget recently eliminated the cap on the number of students who can use the state's open enrollment system to enroll in virtual charter schools. The cap had limited the number of students enrolled in virtual schools to 5,250.

Enrollment numbers for 2011-'12 won't be known until schools count their students on the third Friday of September.

Exploring Your Options?

Wisconsin Virtual Learning was featured in MetroParent Magazine's September issue!  Why might online schooling be the best choice for your child?  Check out the article by clicking HERE.

Welcome Back!

Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year! We're excited to work with your family to make this a fun and successful year for all! If you have questions, please contact your SLA or check our website announcements at www.Wisconsinvl.net/family. Have a great first week!

Good News Travels Fast!

Click here to view WVL's Good News Travels Fast Newsletter

WVL- A Call to Act!

A Call to Act!                                               May 27, 2011 Assemblyman André Jacque Writes Bill to Remove Virtual School Student Cap We need your help! During the past two weeks, we have been in close communication with members of the Wisconsin legislature to bring attention to the 2,712 students currently on the Department of Public Instruction's waiting list to enroll in a virtual charter school. Our hopes were to get as much support as possible for the bills already written concerning removal of the virtual charter school student cap. However, we got more than we hoped for! After speaking with us last week, Assemblyman André Jacque agreed to write a bill focused solely on the removal of the virtual school student cap. While there are other bills in Madison that propose to remove the cap, they all contain additional proposals that may slow the process. We are extremely excited about the prospect of this bill moving quickly. Representative Jacque contacted us today to let us know that the bill is already written and he is ready to move forward! More importantly, he asked us to provide him written testimonials in support of removing the virtual charter school student cap. As families of Wisconsin Virtual Learning, whether new or returning, on the waiting list or already accepted, we hope you might be able to take a few moments over this extremely busy holiday weekend to write a short testimonial on why virtual education is important to your family. Why did you choose this route? Why will virtual education be a better fit for your child? Many of you have already been instrumental in helping shape virtual education in Wisconsin, and this is one more opportunity to bring about meaningful reform for Wisconsin families and students. Representative Jacque would like as many testimonials as possible to share with his fellow representatives, in hopes of gaining support for this bill and aiding in its quick passage. He believes hearing the voices of the students and parents affected by this waiting list will be the easiest way to get the other legislators to understand the urgency and the need to remove the cap. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. If you would like to contribute, please email me your testimony at jberish@nosd.edu by noon on Tuesday, May 31st. I wish you a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend! Sincerely, Jessica Berish Director of Admissions Wisconsin Virtual Learning jberish@nosd.edu Phone: (262) 416-8648 Questions on the waiting list? Read our recent blog post by clicking below: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL WAITING LIST

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOL WAITING LIST

1.      Why is there a waiting list for attendance at a virtual charter school? 

2007 Wisconsin Act 222 established a limit on the number of students who can attend virtual charter schools under the open enrollment program. 

2.      May students who are currently attending virtual charter schools under open enrollment continue to do so under open enrollment?  

Students who are already attending a virtual charter school under open enrollment (and who intend to continue attendance in the following school year) are not affected by the enrollment limit.   That is, students who are currently attending virtual charter schools under open enrollment may continue to do so even if the limit has been reached or exceeded. 

3.      Are siblings of students who are currently attending virtual charter schools affected by the enrollment limit?

New applicants who are siblings of students already attending a virtual charter school under open enrollment are not affected by the limit.   That is, even if the number of current virtual charter school students and their siblings exceeds 5,250, these students may attend virtual charter schools, but no additional students may be approved. 

4.      What is the enrollment limit?

With the exception of students currently attending a virtual charter school under open enrollment and their siblings, no more than 5,250 students may attend virtual charter schools under open enrollment in any school year.  

5.      What if a student is attending a virtual charter school but not under open enrollment; that is, under a tuition agreement or under a tuition waiver due to a move?

Students and siblings of students who are attending a virtual charter school, but not under open enrollment, are subject to the enrollment limit and will be included in the group of students who may be subject to random selection. 

6.      May students who are currently attending one virtual charter school attend a different charter school if the student applied and was accepted to attend a different virtual charter school? 

Yes. 

7.      Must siblings of virtual charter school students attend the same virtual charter school in order to be exempt from the enrollment limit? 

No.  Current open enrolled virtual charter school students and siblings are exempt from the limit, even if they attend different virtual charter schools. 

8.      How is it determined whether the enrollment limit has been reached?

First, the Department must determine the number of students who are currently attending virtual charter schools under open enrollment in the 2010-11 school year and who intend to continue to attend virtual charter schools under open enrollment in the 2011-12 school year.  That number is 2,554 students. 

Second, the Department must add the number of siblings of students currently-attending virtual charter schools under open enrollment:  2,554 current students plus 307 siblings = 2,861 students who are not subject to the enrollment limit and who may immediately be assigned to virtual charter schools.   

Third, since the total number of currently-attending students and siblings is less than 5,250, the Department must determine how many additional applications may be approved.   5,250 minus 2,861 current students and siblings = 2,389.  This is the number of additional students who may be assigned to virtual charter schools under the open enrollment program.   

Fourth, the Department must determine the number of new, non-sibling open enrollment applicants who have been approved by at least one of the virtual charter schools to which they applied.  There were 5,101 such students.  

Finally, the Department must determine how many of the 5,101 students may be immediately assigned to virtual charter schools and how many must be placed on a waiting list.   5,101 total new non-sibling applicants minus 2,389 new students who may be assigned to virtual charter schools = 2,712 students who will be placed on the waiting list. 

 (Note:  a student may apply to up to three nonresident school districts under open enrollment, but a student who applied to more than one virtual charter school is counted only once in determining whether the limit has been reached and is included only once in any random selection.)

9.      What happens if there are more applications than can be approved under the statute? 

In that case, the Department must conduct a random selection of new non-sibling applicants to (1) determine which students’ applications may be immediately approved and (2) establish a waiting list of students whose applications may be approved if any students decide not to attend a virtual charter school under open enrollment.

10.  How and when will the random selection be done? 

All new, non-sibling applicants (5,101) were chosen in a random order using an algorithm based on portions of 3 different pieces of data.  Selection was not related to the student’s position in an alphabetical list or related to the order in which they had applied for open enrollment.  When each student was chosen, a random number between 1 and 5,101 was chosen using a random number program supplied with the Department’s database management system (Oracle).  This random number was assigned to the student, unless the number had already been assigned to another student.  This process was repeated until all students were assigned a number.

The student data was selected from the OPAL database on Wednesday, May 11^th, by one of the Department’s information technology professionals. The random numbers were assigned to students shortly thereafter.  The data is stored in a manner where it cannot be altered.  The open enrollment program consultant was then allowed read-only access to the information to aid in administration of the applications to the virtual charter schools.

11.  Will the random selection include a mechanism to ensure there is a relatively equal distribution of selected students among the virtual charter schools? 

No.   The statute does not authorize such a mechanism. 

12.  If a student is selected randomly for assignment to a virtual charter school, will that student’s siblings also be assigned to a virtual charter school? 

Each student is individually included in the random selection

13.  How will the virtual charter schools be notified of the names of students who may be assigned to virtual charter schools? 

The Department has sent four lists (spreadsheets) to each virtual charter school*: 

·         List 1 includes the names of the 270 students who have submitted applications and been approved to attend different virtual charter schools than the ones they are currently attending.  These applicants are already included in the 2,554 currently-attending students. 

·         List 2 includes the names of new applicants who are siblings of current open enrolled virtual charter school students.  These applicants may be immediately assigned to virtual charter schools.  

·         List 3 includes the names of the 2,389 non-sibling new applicants who were randomly selected and may be immediately assigned to attend virtual charter schools. 

·         List 4 includes the names of the 2,712 students who have been placed on a waiting list in the order they were randomly selected.   

*Each virtual charter school will receive only the names of students who are currently attending the specific virtual charter school or have applied to attend the specific virtual charter school.   

14.  How will parents be notified if their children will be immediately assigned to virtual charter schools or will be placed on the waiting list? 

The virtual charter schools will either send a school assignment to the student or send notification that the student is on the waiting list. 

15.  If a student receives a virtual charter school assignment from more than one virtual charter school, may the parent choose which assignment to accept?  

Yes. 

16.  How long does the parent have to decide whether to accept assignment to a virtual charter school? 

The first group of students who receive virtual school assignments must notify the virtual charter school no later than June 10 whether the student will attend the virtual charter school.   If a parent notifies the virtual charter school that the student will not attend, or has not notified the virtual charter school on or before June 11 whether the student will attend the virtual charter school, the virtual charter school shall notify the Department that the student will not attend the virtual charter school in the 2011-12 school year. 

17.  How and when will the virtual charter school notify the Department if a student has decided not to attend the virtual charter school? 

Virtual charter schools will make this notification on the Open Enrollment Application Log (OPAL), the open enrollment internet-based reporting system.   Beginning on June 10, virtual charter schools must notify the Department whether or not the student has accepted assignment to the virtual charter school.   This should be done as soon as possible after the virtual charter school receives notification from the parent. 

18.  What happens when the Department is notified that a student will not attend a virtual charter school? 

If Student A’s parent has notified all of the virtual charter schools to which Student A has applied that Student A will not attend the virtual charter school, the Department will remove Student A from the waiting list and will notify the virtual charter schools to which the next student on the waiting list (Student B) has applied that the virtual charter school may assign Student B to the virtual charter school.  

 

The Department will notify the virtual charter school by email if Student B may be assigned to the virtual charter school.   The email will be sent to the person designated as the school district’s OPAL contact. 

The virtual charter school must then send the parent a notice of assignment to the virtual charter school.   The parent must respond within 10 days after receiving the notice of assignment.  

19.  May a parent, who has notified a virtual charter school that the Student A will not attend or has failed to notify a virtual charter school that Student A will attend, be permitted to later request that Student A be permitted to attend a virtual charter school? 

Once a parent has notified (or failed to notify affirmatively) all virtual charter schools to which a Student A has applied that Student A will not attend, the next student on the waiting list (Student B) will be selected.  Student A will not be eligible to attend a virtual charter school in 2011-12 under the open enrollment program. 

20.  How likely is it that a student on the waiting list will be offered a space? 

This is unknown.  Last year, the waiting list of 1,756 students was exhausted in August.  However, there is no way to predict whether or when that might occur this year.   

21.  How can a parent check to see the progress on the waiting list?  

The public school open enrollment web site at http://dpi.wi.gov/sms/psctoc.html will contain information about the progression of the waiting list. 

Because of the procedures necessary to notify parents, for parents to notify virtual charter schools and for virtual charter schools to notify the DPI, the list does not necessarily progress from day to day.   Thus, the web site may not be updated on a daily basis, but will be updated when there is information to report. 

22.  What happens if a student’s application was denied by the virtual charter school?  

Only students whose applications were approved by at least one of the virtual charter schools to which the student applied will be included in the random selection. 

23.  What happens if a virtual charter school reverses its decision and approves the student’s application?  

A student whose application was denied by all of the virtual charter schools to which the student applied will not be included in the random selection.  If a virtual charter school reverses its denial for the student, the student may not be assigned to a virtual charter school unless, prior to September 1, the waiting list has been exhausted and the total number of students assigned to the virtual charter school is less than the limit.   

24.  What happens if a virtual charter school’s denial is overturned by the Department on appeal?  

A student’s whose application was denied by all of the virtual charter schools to which the student applied will not be included in the random selection.  If the Department overturns the school board’s denial, the student may not be assigned to a virtual charter school unless, prior to September 1, the waiting list has been exhausted and the total number of students assigned to the virtual charter school is less than the limit.   

25.  What happens if a student’s application was denied by the student’s resident school district?  

As long as the student’s application was approved by at least one of the virtual charter schools to which the student applied, the student will be included in the random selection.  If the student’s resident school district approved one or more applications, the student may accept assignment to a virtual charter school to which the resident school district approved the student’s application.

26.  What happens if a resident school district’s denial is overturned on appeal or if the resident school district reversed its decision? 

Any student whose application was approved by at least one of the virtual schools to which the student applied will be included in the random selection, even if the student’s resident school district denied the application.  Thus, these students will receive either a virtual school assignment or a notice that the student is on the waiting list. 

If the parent filed an appeal (and if that appeal has not been decided), it is recommended that the parent respond affirmatively to a school assignment.  If the department affirms the school board’s decision, the department will enter “will not attend” for that student for the virtual charter school for which the resident district denied open enrollment. 

If the parent did not file an appeal, the department will enter “will not attend for that t will not attend” for that student for the virtual charter school for which the resident district denied open enrollment. 

27.  Will the waiting list continue into the school term?  

No.  After September 1, no more students will be notified that they may attend virtual charter schools. 

28.  Will the open enrollment virtual charter school limit be repealed by the legislature?  

The biennial budget bills (2011 Assembly Bill 40 and 2011 Senate Bill 27), as well as 2011 Senate Bill 22, currently contain a provision that would repeal the limit.  However, unless and until a repeal of the limit is passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, it is state law and the department is required to administer it.  If the limit is repealed effective for the 2011-12 school year, the department will notify virtual charter schools that all students remaining on the list may be offered spaces. 

29.  Can a student who is not originally selected to attend the virtual charter school pay tuition to attend the virtual charter school?   If that student is later drawn from the waiting list can that student attend the virtual charter school under open enrollment? 

A student who is not originally selected to attend the virtual charter school may enter into a tuition agreement with the school district that authorized the virtual charter school* to pay tuition to attend the virtual charter school.   If the student is later selected from the waiting list, the student may attend the virtual school under open enrollment.  However:

·         The last day that a student may be selected from the waiting list is September 1. 

·         A student who attends a virtual charter school on a tuition basis will not be exempt from the enrollment limit in the 2010-11 school year. 

*Virtual charter schools are prohibited from directly charging tuition except to out-of-state students.

Prepared by:

Mary Jo Cleaver, School Administration Consultant

Public School Open Enrollment
Phone:  608-267-9101 or toll-free 888-245-2732
Email:  maryjo.cleaver@dpi.wi.gov

Congratulations WVL SMART Team!

Shannon Colton, Ph.D. from the Milwaukee School of Engineering sent a letter to Dr. Harbron, congratulating WVL teacher, Trish Strohfeldt, and her students for their successful completion of the SMART Team Program (Students Modeling A Research Topic), which brings together high school teachers, their students, and research scientists to explore molecular biology. The program consists of three phases: Qualification, Research and Model Design, and Presentation.  Shannon Colton, Ph.D., SMART Team Program Director, stated that WVL’s SMART Team gave an excellent oral presentation to the Medical College of Wisconsin on March 19. Dr. Colton commended Ms. Strohfeldt and her students for their motivation and curiosity. Visit the following link (and scroll down) to view a summary of the Wisconsin Virtual Learning SMART Team project, including a link to their poster:
http://cbm.msoe.edu/stupro/smart/previous/pre2010-2011.html

Congratulations to Kithara Vogel, Wisconsin Virtual Learning Freshman!

In January of 2010, Adventure Write (a group of freelance writers based in Alaska) announced a national writing contest for aspiring writers up to 18 years of age.  According to the rules, all stories were to begin with "So there I was..."  Kithara Vogel, a freshman at Wisconsin Virtual Learning (WVL), decided on a fictitious story about a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness.  The procedure of writing the story itself took many hours to develop.  Kithara submitted her story, titled "Spirit Bear," on December 28, 2010. 

On February 15, Kithara was notified that out of over 200 entries, she received an honorable mention and would be published on the contest's website.

Question and Answer with the author, Kithara Vogel:

Have you had any real life experiences that helped with your vivid explanation of some of the scenes and experiences in Spirit Bear?

The one thing I can relate to in Spirit Bear is winter! Having went on many walks in the woods with snow on the ground, it wasn't hard to transfer that experience into the story. Otherwise, I have never been in a plane accident and have only ridden in a plane once. Multiple times I have come across black bears, though never at a very close range. Mainly I collected the details through stories from plane crash survivors and movies.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about his/her work?

Ally Carter is one of my favorite authors. Her books have many unexpected twists and are always full of adventure. She has an amazing talent for writing and her books keep me hooked from beginning to end.

What are your aspirations for future writing projects?

Through high school, I want to continue entering writing contests. I love writing short stories, but there are entire novel contests which I am also thinking of. Right now, I'm working on writing another short story for the same contest Spirit Bear was in. Eventually, I hope to publish a few books.

What are your plans for after high school?

After I'm done with high school, I plan on going to UW-Milwaukee to major in science. After that, I want to continue my education by entering veterinary school and becoming a vet.

Please CLICK HERE to read Spirit Bear, by Kithara Vogel!