Wisconsin lawmakers unveiled a bipartisan compromise Thursday
that would allow virtual schools to stay online throughout the state.

The compromise comes after a December ruling by the
Wisconsin Court of Appeals that said state statutes on teachers? certification,
open enrollment and charter schools were not being appropriately applied to
virtual education.

The court called on legislators to regulate virtual schools
in order to keep them open.

Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, said this proposal aims to allow
virtual schools to operate, solidify funding sources and ensure quality of
education and academic accountability.

?We know that there are families out there who are thinking
about open enrollment in the next couple of weeks, and we know they?re
apprehensive,? Lehman said. ?We heard from many folks who are satisfied with
the schools, but are apprehensive with what?s going to happen with these
schools.?

Virtual schools educate nearly 3,500 Wisconsin children from
kindergarten to high school. Wisconsin currently has 12 virtual charter schools
in operation, and most students opted out of traditional schools because of the
distance or other personal reasons, like taking advanced coursework not offered
at their local school.

Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said the legislation is
currently in Gov. Jim Doyle?s office for review, and lawmakers hope it will
pass in both houses by Feb. 3, when enrollment in most virtual schools begins.

If passed, the legislation would also allow for a funding of
nearly $6,000 for each open-enrollment student.

?We believe the particulars of the draft are going to be
very satisfactory to both houses and to the governor,? Lehman said.

Last week, more than 1,000 parents and students rallied at
the Capitol to keep virtual schools open, and the issue was discussed at two
public hearings.

?We hope this surge in support of online public charter
schools receives the blessings of legislative leadership, that this deal is not
altered and that we can move forward together,? Rose Fernandez, president of
the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families, wrote in a statement.

Along with allowing schools to continue operation, the compromise
would also require that teachers respond to student or parent inquiries within
24 hours and that virtual charter schools provide certified teachers for each
course and create a parent advisory board to meet on a regular basis.

On the students? side of the deal, truants who fail to
respond appropriately to assignments or teacher-initiated contact within five
schools days may be transferred to their home district after three incidents of
truancy in a semester.

But the Wisconsin Education Association Council is
questioning the funding for the program because it could ?divert state funding
away from school districts across Wisconsin.?

Christina Brey, WEAC communications coordinator, said the
organization is currently analyzing the proposed legislation, but declined
further comment.

?WEAC will analyze the bill on the basis of quality,
accountability and its fiscal impact on all of the children in Wisconsin?s
schools before deciding whether or not to support it,? the organization wrote
Thursday.

The governor?s press office did not respond to a call
seeking comment Thursday.