Online Learning Coalition Urges Washington Governor to Veto Unconstitutional Education Funding Cut to ALE Programs

News provided by

Washington Families for Online Learning

Jun 10, 2011, 12:23 ET

Other sensible way to achieve budget savings without harming students' education

OLYMPIA, Wash., June 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Washington Families for Online Learning (WAFOL), today urged Governor Gregoire to veto a section of a bill which would unconstitutionally reduce basic education funding up to 20 percent in the 2011-13 Biennial Operating Budget for students enrolled in every ALE program across the state.

The cut in ALE funding violates the constitutional mandate to provide education to all children. It also shifts the duty to fund education to the school districts that offer ALE programs and fails to reduce state expenditures. In addition, the discriminatory funding cut disfavors students in ALE programs by denying basic education to students that the Legislature has already concluded can best learn through ALE programs.

ALE programs serve children who are "at risk" of dropping out of school but can recover through unique student-centered programs. ALE includes state-approved, online public school programs for students who learn best from technology-based instructional methods and non-traditional learning environments.

The projected savings of approximately $41 million from the cut to ALEs could be achieved by other reductions, which would preserve basic education for students in traditional at-risk and innovative online public school programs throughout the state.

First, significant savings can be achieved by restoring accountability in ALE programming that existed prior to the 2005 online learning legislation. The pre-2005 requirement was for one hour per week, face-to-face teacher contact for non-online, ALE programs. Further savings will come from the new rule change prohibiting parent reimbursements through the Parent Partnership Program (PPP).

The best approach is to maintain basic education funding for all students enrolled in ALE programs, restore accountability, end unnecessary reimbursements and through an OSPI emergency rule and restore one hour per week of teacher contact for students enrolled in non-online ALE programs. According to the May 20 fiscal note, the recent rule change and the proposed rule change would achieve $44.9 million in budget savings.

Washington Families for Online Learning (WAFOL) is a non-profit organization of parents, teachers, and other supporters of Alternative Learning Experiences (ALE) through online learning.

For more information, visit http://www.waonlinefamilies.org.

SOURCE Washington Families for Online Learning