The State House recently passed legislation that would allow an increase in the number of Michigan cyber schools.
Cyber schools provide instruction via the internet. There are two currently operating in Michigan.
Michigan Radio's Jennifer White spoke with Republican State Representative Dale Zorn. He voted in favor of the legislation after promising to vote against it.
He said, “We have to move ahead with education, and sometimes we have to make compromised to get where we need to be. But compromise is one of the most important aspects of being a legislator. If we cannot move forward government becomes stagnant, and we just cannot allow the education of our children to become stagnant.”
The Associated Press reported:
The Republican-led House has rejected an attempt to reconsider a narrowly approved bill allowing more online charter schools in Michigan. Tuesday's failed attempt comes a day before the Senate is expected to concur with the House bill passed Thursday by a 56-54 vote. The cyber charter school cap is now set at two. The House-passed bill calls for capping the total number of cyber students at 2 percent of the state's student population, or 15 cyber schools after 2014. Supporters applaud more educational choices while opponents question the schools' track records and the money spent on charter school operators instead of students. Michigan's two cyber schools have a combined enrollment of roughly 1,400 students. Supporters of expansion say the schools have waiting lists and parents want more opportunities to enroll.
