As schools across Wisconsin now debate and decide how to reopen in the Fall, every family in the state needs to be aware of the fact that they have options.

Let’s be clear: There is a stark difference between virtual schools and the on-the-fly, ad hoc arrangements school districts across the country made as the pandemic was taking hold this Spring.

A virtual charter school is a public school authorized by a locally-elected school board, with a public school curriculum and certified teachers. Our kids don’t just utilize some turn-key lesson plans and watch instruction online.

The educators in Wisconsin’s virtual charter schools are trained how to reach students, and how to educate them, without physically being in the same classroom.

Wisconsin’s online public charter schools have systems in place to make sure students remain engaged. There is a tremendous amount of support offered to kids and the trusted adult in their home that helps facilitate some lessons.

Unlike the family in our coalition, the more than 850,000 students in more than 2,200 Wisconsin public schools did not make the choice to suddenly enroll in virtual schools. Online education was thrust upon these kids, their parents and the educators who work with them.

No matter how well-meaning the educators and administrators were, and still are, it is unrealistic to expect them to have performed at the same level as the established virtual schools.

Students in established online public charter schools did not lose any learning time or fall behind in spring semester 2020. They went right on learning because their public schools did not need to change their usual operations. Teachers went right on teaching.

The upcoming school year now also looks uncertain for many school districts. Fortunately, parents who are looking for expected progress, quality curriculum, & support with managing home learning can find it in the online public schools that have been blazing this trail for years.

Under Wisconsin State Law, open enrollment is basically year round. The wide-open enrollment window closed in May, but the only way your student can be prevented...

...from enrolling in an online public charter school that is willing to accept their applications after the deadline is if both their 'home' district and the State Department of Public Instruction block them.

That’s right. Wisconsin Law Trusts Parents.There is still time to enroll in tuition-free public virtual charter schools in Wisconsin.

Here is a link from the Wisconsin DPI , which lists all the established virtual schools in Wisconsin. https://dpi.wi.gov/sms/charter-schools/virtual-charter-schools

We don’t recommend one school over the other. We encourage you to do your homework, now. And DM is for questions about the enrollment process. #itrustparents #wehaveoptions